Michael A. Orlando

Meyer Orlando, LLC 13201 Northwest Freeway, Ste. 119 Houston, TX 77040 (713) 460-9800; Mobile: (713) 530-3250 www.meyerorlando.com

Michael Orlando's column on maritime law presents the basics for a general understanding of the application of admiralty and maritime law.

Since becoming licensed to practice law in May 1982, Mr. Orlando has practiced maritime law, representing many different maritime interests in a broad spectrum of transactions and claims, in venues throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast. His clients have included ship owners, charterers, agents, stevedores, terminal operators, cargo owners, insurers, a wide variety of marine service and supply companies, financial institutions, and many others involved in maritime commerce.

Mr. Orlando has represented many Lloyd's underwriters and foreign insurers, Fortune 500 companies, and business interests of all sizes, as well as individuals involved with the maritime community. He is board certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and has tried cases throughout Texas in federal and state courts as well as in administrative tribunals. His litigation experience includes being lead counsel in a case involving over $100 million in alleged damages from inception through oral argument in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Orlando has been the chairman of the Board of Directors and head of the Executive Committee of the nonprofit Houston International Seafarers Center, known throughout the world as one of the finest centers for visiting seaman. He is an active member of the Propeller Club of the United States and the Houston Mariners Club, in which he served as chairman in 1991. He was also the chairman of The Houston Port Safety Advisory Council in 1992.

Mr. Orlando has been member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States since 1982. He is a Proctor member of that organization and presently serves on the Marine Insurance Committee as well as the Offshore Industries Committee. He has written and lectured extensively on marine and insurance topics. In addition, Mr. Orlando has been the chair of the American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee and the Corporate Counsel Committee. He also served as the chair of the International/London Market Committee of the State Bar of Texas, Insurance Law Section. He is also a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel of DRI.

Mr. Orlando is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, with a degree in Honors Business Program and Finance and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

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Maritime Law

One Beacon v. Crowley Marine: Towing Maritime Contracts into the Internet Age (January 2012)

No Sea Change in Causation Standards under the Jones Act (July 2011)

U.S. Supreme Court Constricts Carmack Amendment (September 2010)

Clearing the Muddy Waters of Offshore Contractual Indemnity Disputes: Implications of Grand Isle v. Seacor (March 2010)

Significant Narrowing of Rule B Attachments (November 2009)

Supreme Court Declares Punitive Damages Available for Maintenance and Cure Claim (September 2009)

Choice-of-Law Clauses in Marine Cargo Insurance Policy (January 2009)

Consistent Dispute Resolute Clauses Needed in Maritime Contracts (July 2008)

Spill Fund Reimbursement Allowed because of Willful Misconduct (January 2008)

Supreme Court Resolves Circuit Split on Forum Non Conveniens (August 2007)

Room for Debate on Proximate Cause versus Relaxed Standard of Causation in a Jones Act Context (February 2007)

OCSLA Trumps Admiralty Jurisdiction (August 2006)

A New Arrow in the Jones Act Employer's Quiver (February 2006)

ADA Applies to Foreign-Flag Cruise Ships—In Theory (August 2005)

Taking Some Teeth Out of the Louisiana Oilfield Indemnity Statute (May 2005)

Supreme Court Rules a Dredge Is a Jones Act Vessel (March 2005)

Enforcement of Federal Law on Foreign-Flagged Ships in U.S. Waters (November 2004)

Circuit Split Widens over Exculpatory Clauses in Maritime Contracts (February 2004)

Jones Act Status Issue Once Again Wastes Resources of All (September 2003)

A Lien Is a Lien Is a Lien, but a Maritime Lien Is Not (June 2003)

Maritime Pollution: Mixing OPA and CERCLA Makes for Foul Waters (January 2003)

OSHA Takes a Dip in the Sea: Chao v Mallard Bay Drilling, Inc. (August 2002)

The Difficulty and Confusion Surrounding Removing Maritime Cases to Federal Court (June 2002)

To Remove or Not To Remove, That Is the Question (February 2002)

In Rem Admiralty Jurisdiction and the Supplemental Rules (November 2001)

Admiralty Jurisdiction: A Challenge for Even the Seasoned Practitioner (May 2001)