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Biography

With a strong background in energy and maritime matters, Ken has wide-ranging experience representing corporate clients in litigation and arbitration throughout the Gulf Coast region.

In the Energy industry, Ken represents a host of various upstream and midstream entities in all manners of commercial and personal injury litigation, both defending and prosecuting breach of contract, tort liability, product liability claims, as well as employment-related litigation. Throughout his career, Ken has represented a variety of oil field service providers, drilling and exploration companies, operators, pipeline operators and heavy construction companies.

In the Maritime sector, Ken has extensive experience representing clients in connection with claims brought under the Jones Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA), Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA) and the General Maritime Law. Ken’s clients include dredging contractors, diving contractors, offshore supply vessel owners and operators, seismic and geophysical operators and drilling contractors.

Ken also regularly represents both onshore and offshore service companies and other energy clients in connection with internal investigations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections and in defending against citations and penalties before the Occupational Safety Health Review Commission (OSHRC).

Other Info About Ken

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Jones Act: Won the dismissal of Jones Act claims for offshore exploration and drilling clients based upon lack of vessel status of a deep-water floating gas production and drilling platform.

Maritime Litigation: Successfully defended offshore drilling company in litigation arising from a fatal electrocution occurring aboard a semisubmersible in territorial waters of Angola.

OSHA: Successfully defended a drilling, completions and well services client during OSHA investigations and subsequent OSHRC litigation arising from fatality incident.

Oil & Gas Litigation: Obtained nonsuit of claims against a heat treating client in complex, multi-party litigation involving down-hole failures of casing strings in multiple sour gas wells.

Offshore Representation: Counseled geophysical, offshore construction and offshore operator clients regarding liquidated damages, indemnification and coverage issues in Master Services Agreements and Charter Parties.

Texas Mineral Lien Act: Represented oilfield service providers and maritime construction clients in connection with construction lien and Texas Mineral Lien Act claims.

Temporary Injunction: Successfully obtained a $22 million temporary injunction against an oil and gas refining company.

Education

Law School

South Texas College of Law Houston, J.D.

Graduate School

Texas A&M University, M.B.A.

Undergraduate School

Centre College, B.S.

Bar Memberships

Ken is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Texas, 2006

Courts

Ken is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

“Texas Rising Stars,” Thomson Reuters (2012-2016)

“Houston’s Top Lawyers,” H-Texas Magazine (2013)

“Top Lawyer,” Houstonia Magazine (2016)

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

State Bar of Texas, Construction Law and Oil Section, Gas & Energy Resources Section

Greater Houston Partnership, Energy Advisory Committee

Houston Bar Association

Texas Bar Association

Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow

Texas Young Lawyers Association

Presentations

Ken was invited to speak at the following events:

“OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy: What Is It and Why Should I Care?,” IADC Drilling Onshore Conference & Expo, May 16, 2019

Major Publications

Ken is an author or contributor to the following publications:

Author, “Federal Court of Appeals Breathes New Life Into OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy,” Build Houston Magazine, February 2019.

Author, “Legal – Responding to OSHA’s Multi-Employer Citation Policy,” Construction News, February 2019.

Quoted, “Downside of Drilling of Permian Drilling Boom: Surge of Deadly Truck Accidents,” Energy Intelligence Natural Gas Week, July 2018.

Author, “OSHA’s Final Rule on Electronic Reporting: Why All the Fuss?,” The Texas Lawbook, July 2016.

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