John Robert Walker

Partner / Houston

P: 713.588.0446

jwalker@sbsb-eastham.com

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John Robert Walker

John Robert Walker is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office. With more than 35 years of handling maritime cases, he has seen nearly every type of issue arising under the Jones Act, the Defense Base Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. As part of his experience, he learned how to handle multi-jurisdictional negotiations, regularly working on deals in locales including Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

A member of the firm since its inception in February 2015, John Robert’s expertise in handling navigable waters cases could be traced back to his experience as a lifelong sailor. A former captain of the Baylor University sailing team, he is well-versed in handling unexpected changes of course. When the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred in 2010, he utilized his understanding of maritime law to facilitate efficient resolutions in the face of multiple lawsuits against one of his clients.

John is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Ninth Circuits, the U.S. Court of International Trade and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He is an authority in maritime law with a prestigious reputation within legal circles.

Practice Areas

General Liability
Admiralty and Maritime
Defense Base Act
Federal Workers’ Compensation
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Subrogation

Practice Areas

General Liability
Admiralty and Maritime
Defense Base Act
Federal Workers’ Compensation
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
State Workers’ Compensation
Subrogation

Education

J.D., South Texas College of Law, 1989
- South Texas Law Review
- Order of the Lytae
B.A., Baylor University, 1985

Court Admissions

State Bar of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of International Trade

Representative Cases

Carter v. Caleb Brett LLC, 757 F.3d 866 (9th Cir. 2014)
Caldera v. Insurance Co. of the State of Pa. 716 F.3d 861 (5th Cir. 2013)
Facility Ins. Corp. v. Gibbs, 298 S.W.2d 791 (Tex. App. – Eastland 2009)
Levingston Ship Building Co. v. Pelaez, 312 Fed. Appx. 711 (5th Cir. 2009)
Do v. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 427 F. Supp. 2d 1224 (CIT 2006)
Sant v. Southern Sandblasting and Coatings, Inc., 35 BRBS 499 (ALJ 2001)
Gutierrez v. Patterson Services, Inc., 30 BRBS 380 (ALJ) (1996)
Borne v. Vantage Petroleum, 949 F. Supp. 492 (S.D. Tex. 1996)
Carter v. Bergaila & Associates, 27 BRBS 279, 283 (ALJ 1993)
Simons v. Texas Mooring, Inc., 27 BRBS 692 (ALJ 1992)
Carriere v. C.C. Crane Corp., 812 F. Supp. 90 (S.D. Tex. 1992)
Smith, Wright & Weed v. Stone, 818 S.W.2d 926 (Tex. Civ. App.– Houston 14th Dist., 1991)

Published Works

“The Contingent Workforce in Texas – What Every Corporate Counsel Using Temporary, Contract or Leased Employees Needs to Know” – Corporate Counsel Review (2010)
“Spoliation of Evidence in Texas and the Corporate Records Retention Policy” – Corporate Counsel Review (2001)
“What Every Corporate Counsel Using Temporaries Needs to Know” – Corporate Counsel Review (1998)

Speeches and Presentations

Regular speeches to industry and trade groups on topics related to litigation and insurance.

Classes and Seminars Taught

CPCU – Insurance Law Instructor

Professional Memberships

Houston Bar Association
Houston Mariners Club

Community Involvement

Represents U.S. citizens, pro bono, seeking redress in trade disputes in the U.S. Court of International Trade.