Grady S. Hurley

Grady S. Hurley: Maritime Litigation & Energy Law Specialist

Grady S. Hurley is a recognized leader in maritime and energy law, providing sophisticated legal counsel to clients across a wide range of industries. Since 1979, he has dedicated his career to resolving complex disputes involving vessels, oil and gas operations, and related transactions, establishing himself as a trusted advisor and strategic partner. Mr. Hurley’s expertise lies at the intersection of maritime, energy, and commercial law, offering unparalleled depth and understanding to clients navigating the often-challenging landscape of offshore exploration, production, and distribution. He consistently delivers exceptional results through a combination of meticulous legal analysis, strategic advocacy, and a deep commitment to his clients’ success.

As a partner in and co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team, and co-chair of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Industry Team, Mr. Hurley oversees a dynamic team of legal professionals focused on delivering innovative solutions. His expansive experience encompasses all aspects of maritime law, including cargo claims, collisions, allisions, product liability, toxic torts, insurance matters, indemnity issues, and personal injury claims, often involving multi-party commercial litigation in state and federal courts. He is frequently sought after for his expertise in areas such as lease cancellations, right-of-way disputes, explosions, and complex commercial litigation.

An industry thought leader, Mr. Hurley is actively engaged in shaping the future of the maritime and energy sectors. He is deeply involved in emerging issues such as autonomous shipping, cybersecurity, wind energy development, and the evolving regulatory environment impacting these industries. His proactive approach ensures that his clients are well-positioned to address new challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Recognized for his excellence by numerous industry and legal publications and ratings agencies, including Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States, Mr. Hurley’s commitment to providing exceptional legal representation is consistently acknowledged.

Mr. Hurley’s maritime practice spans a diverse range of litigation types, from brown water, offshore, blue water, and pleasure craft disputes to complex international claims. He has represented clients before the US Supreme Court on Suits in Admiralty Act cases, and played a crucial role in defining the Louisiana Oilfield Indemnity Act. He is a certified mediator and arbitrator, specializing in maritime, offshore industry, and energy disputes, facilitating efficient and effective resolutions for his clients.

Beyond his maritime work, Mr. Hurley represents a broad portfolio of oilfield clients, including pipeline companies, offshore platform operators, crewboats, drilling companies, and seismic operators. He possesses extensive transactional experience drafting complex maritime and energy service agreements involving vessels, pipelines, rigs, and platforms. His experience extends to fisheries law and lobbying, including cases related to oyster and coastal restoration. Mr. Hurley’s dedication to providing comprehensive legal support is underscored by his extensive lecturing engagements on risk management, discovery, ethics, indemnities, and admiralty and energy law.

As president of the Maritime Law Association (MLA) and chair of its Offshore Industry Committee, and as a vice chair of the American Bar Association Admiralty & Maritime Law Committee, Mr. Hurley actively contributes to the advancement of the legal profession. He is a past president of the Tulane Alumni Association, serving on the advisory council of Tulane's Admiralty Law Institute and the Tulane Maritime Law Journal board. His expertise is further reflected in his authorship of numerous publications on contracts, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) jurisdiction, and regulatory matters, and his co-authorship of the chapter on admiralty and maritime law in the highly regarded publication, Business and Commercial Litigation in the Federal Courts, updated and published annually by Thomson Reuters.

Practice Areas:

• Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Energy Law
• Litigation - Construction
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Transportation Law

Awards & Recognition: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2005; recognized for Admiralty and Maritime Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Litigation - Construction, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and Transportation Law.

Special Focus Areas: Arbitration and Mediation, Casualty, Catastrophic Injury, Charter Parties, Civil Litigation, Collision, Commercial Disputes, Complex Litigation, COVID-19, Energy, Environmental, Large Case Litigation, Maritime, Mass Tort, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Product Liability, Toxic Tort, Wrongful Death

Affiliations: Maritime Law Association (MLA), American Bar Association Admiralty & Maritime Law Committee, Tulane Alumni Association, Tulane's Admiralty Law Institute, Tulane Maritime Law Journal.

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States