SBSB Law and Eastham Announce Merger of Maritime Law Firms

[By: SBSB Law and Eastham]

Schouest,?Bamdas,?Soshea?& BenMaier?PLLC,?or SBSB Law, and Eastham, Watson, Dale & Forney, LLP today announced that they have completed a merger that brings together two of the nation’s most respected law firms . The merger will combine Eastham’s renowned marine and catastrophic claims practice with SBSB’s highly respected maritime defense, longshoring, base defense and insurance practices, to create a legal powerhouse.

In the maritime sector, the new firm, which operates as SBSB Eastham, combines SBSB’s wide range of maritime and litigating lawyers with Eastham’s decades-long history as a leader in maritime law. admiralty and maritime.

“Merging our firms allows us to leverage the expertise and depth of experience of both firms,” said SBSB Founder and Managing Partner John Schouest, who leads the combined firm. “The result is an even more formidable team. As far as maritime groups are concerned, I don’t know of any other with so much experience.

“We are very pleased to partner with SBSB,” said Robert L. Klawetter, Partner of SBSB Eastham. “Not only will we be working with an exceptional group of lawyers, but we are also excited to be able to offer our clients the experience, exceptional lawyers and resources that this merger provides.”

Christina Schovajsa, Partner at SBSB Eastham, added: “We are confident that Clarence Eastham would be very pleased to see the legacy of the business he founded 82 years ago continue.”

In just seven years, SBSB Law has become one of the nation’s leading firms in admiralty and maritime law, among other areas. Company partners have decades of experience in the Admiralty and Navy representing a wide range of clients, including businesses associated with inland waterways, brown water trading, exploration and production offshore, international shipping and Jones Act and international cruise lines. The firm is also known for its in-depth team of highly skilled litigation attorneys who handle a wide variety of defense work, ranging from defense law and stevedoring claims, to class action defense, commercial litigation, general liability, trucking and insurance.

Founded in 1939, Eastham regularly acts on behalf of the world’s leading protection and indemnity clubs and other liability underwriters and has played a key role in representing parties in virtually every major maritime disaster on the Gulf Coast. of Texas for decades. He provides legal services to a wide variety of industries, including domestic and international shipping companies, the offshore drilling industry, inland towing companies, intermodal equipment suppliers and freight brokers.

“The practice of maritime law is one of our cornerstones,” said Susan Noe Wilson, SBSB Eastham Partner and Head of Litigation. “While SBSB’s current maritime work is primarily in brown waters – energy fields, oil and gas, waterways – Eastham is primarily a blue water maritime business. The combination of the two makes for a very good match for everyone involved, especially our customers. »

The new firm’s primary practice areas include Admiralty and Navy, Base Defense Law, Longshore, Commercial and Commercial Litigation, Commercial Transactions, Personal Injury Defense, Energy, Environmental and Toxic Torts, Transportation and Trucking, General Liability, Insurance, Labor and Employment, Federal and State Worker Compensation, Premises Liability, Arbitration and Appeal.

In total, SBSB Eastham has approximately 110 attorneys in six cities nationwide: Houston, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Chicago, Boca Raton and Milwaukee.

The products and services described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.