Speaking Engagement

Naval Collisions: The Importance of Training and Looking Out the Window

Blank Rome Partner Michael K. Bell and Of Counsel Alan M. Weigel will speak at the 28th Annual David W. Robertson Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference, being held Friday, September 20, 2019, from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.

Michael will moderate and Alan will be a panelist for the “Naval Collisions: The Importance of Training and Looking Out the Window” session, which will take place from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. and will present an in-depth examination of the findings, the importance of pre-deployment crew training and optimal manning, and the lessons learned from two at-sea collisions involving commercial vessels and U.S. Navy destroyers that led to the deaths of 17 sailors.

Other 2019 highlights include:

• The always popular overview of recent developments at the national level and in the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits with Texas Law Professor Michael Sturley, along with Matthew Ammerman of Houston, TX.
• Observations and guidance from Hon. Gregg Costa, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Houston, TX.
• A celebration of David W. Robertson, his lessons, and his impact on the practice.
• A primer on vessel and cargo seizures from the perspective of a federal judge, a U.S. Marshal, and a maritime lawyer.
• 1.25 hours of Ethics, including presentations on “Mediation and Ethics” and “Greed Is[n’t] Good.”

The Admiralty and Maritime Law Conference focuses on legal developments in the specialized area of admiralty and maritime law and offers a unique opportunity for practitioners to stay abreast of global and national developments affecting case law, contracts, and civil procedure.

Michael is also a member of the conference Planning Committee and will preside of the afternoon portion of the conference.

MCLE credit may be available.

For more information or to register, please visit the conference webpage.