Thomas C. Fitzhugh III

Partner / Houston

P: 713.588.0446

tfitzhugh@sbsb-eastham.com

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Thomas C. Fitzhugh III

Tom Fitzhugh is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s Houston office and is a premier authority on maritime law and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. His expertise in the law and the precedent behind it is a microcosm of his broader knowledge of maritime law, as he has regularly appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Benefits Review Board and administrative judges to litigate related cases. He also created the Maritime Security Council of the United States and has spoken on maritime security issues before foreign governments.

A member of SBSB Eastham’s bench since February 2016, Tom has experience as a research geophysicist and is a frequent lecturer and author on maritime and Longshore law. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he remains deeply involved in the university community, serving as a recurring guest lecturer and a classroom adjunct instructor for courses in business and environmental law, labor and employment law and graduate maritime law.

Tom is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and the District of Columbia Bar and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, multiple U.S. Courts of Appeals and U.S. District Courts across Texas, Illinois, Iowa and California. In addition, he has handled cases in Arkansas, Florida and Massachusetts on a pro hac basis. He has been honored with an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell for professional excellence, and his extensive knowledge in maritime and multiple other practice areas make him an ace resource for clients.

Practice Areas

General Liability
Admiralty and Maritime
Defense Base Act
Energy
Federal Workers’ Compensation
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Subrogation
Transportation
Commercial Litigation

Practice Areas

Admiralty and Maritime
Commercial Litigation
Defense Base Act
Energy
Federal Workers’ Compensation
General Liability
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
Subrogation
Transportation

Classes and Seminars Taught

Texas A&M University

MARA 212, Business Law
MARA 421, Admiralty Law
MARA 435, Labor Law and Policy
MARA 470, Environmental Law
MARA 485, Directed Studies
MARA 486, International Maritime Business (London)
MARA 689, Graduate Topics in Maritime Law

Professional Memberships

The Longshore Institute
American Bar Association – State Bar of Texas
Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States,
Committee on Stevedores, Marine Terminals, and Vessel Services
Association of Average Adjusters of the United States and Canada
Association of Average Adjusters UK
Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
Charter Member of the College of the State Bar of Texas
Houston Bar Association
Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association
Propeller Club Port of Houston
Houston Mariners Club
Houston International Seafarers’ Center
Texas Navy Association
Maritime Security Council
Admiralty Law Institute
American Continuing Legal Education Association
Defense Research Institute
Texas Association of Defense Counsel

Community Involvement

Texas A&M:
- Chancellor’s Century Council
- President’s Advisory Council
- Champe Fitzhugh Jr. International Honors Leadership Seminar, Santa Chiara, Italy
Christ Church Cathedral:
- Lay Ministry
- Liturgical Advisory Council
Episcopal Diocese of Texas:
- Executive Board
- General Convention Lay Deputy

Languages

Fluent in German
Working knowledge of Spanish
Working knowledge of Italian
Working knowledge of French

Education

J.D., University of Texas, 1976
- Graduated with honors
B.S., Geophysics, Texas A&M University, 1971

Court Admissions

State Bar of Texas
District of Columbia Bar
Texas: All Courts
District of Columbia: All Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Iowa
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Representative Cases

Amerada Hess v. Dir., OWCP, 543 F.3d 755 (5th Cir. 2008)
BPU Management v. Dir., OWCP, 732 F.3d 457 (5th Cir. 2013)
New Haven Terminal v. Lake, 337 F.3d 261 (2nd Cir. 2003)
Holcim (US) v. Reed, 291 Fed.Appx. 647 (5th Cir. 2008)
Randolph v. Laeisz, 862 F.2d 964 (5th Cir. 1990)
Oceanic Butler v. Nordahl, 842 F.2d 773 (5th Cir. 1988)
TEIA v. Jackson, 862 F.2d 491 (5th Cir. 1988)
Leeward Marine v. Dir., OWCP, 647 Fed.Appx. 627 (9th Cir. 2017)
Kalaris v. Donovan, 697 F.2d 376 (D.C. Cir. 1983)
Villasenor v. Marine Maintenance Industries,17 BRBS 99 (1985)

Certifications

Proctor in Admiralty, Maritime Law Association of the United States
Maritime Arbitrator, Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association

Honors and Distinctions

Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
Texas Top Lawyer, 2020
Texas Top Lawyer, 2017
Houston’s Best Admiralty Lawyer, 2015
The Gold Band Award
The Hammer Award
The Vice President’s National Performance Review
Award of Excellence from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Outstanding Classroom Teacher, Texas A&M University

Books and Periodicals

The Longshore Newsletter (Managing Editor)
The Longshore Procedure Manual (Publisher)
Longshore Court Index (Editor)
International Perspectives on Maritime Security (Editor)
The Longshore Textbook (Contributing Author)
Benefits Review Board Reporter (Advisory Board Member)
SeaNotes, SeaBright Insurance (2007-2012)