Photo of E. Barrett Hails
  • PRACTICE FOCUS
  • EDUCATION+
    • University of Southampton
      LL.M., in Maritime Law, with merit, 2013
    • University of Alabama School of Law
      J.D., cum laude, 2012
    • University of Mississippi
      B.A. in History and Political Science, magna cum laude, 2009
  • ADMISSIONS+
    • Alabama
    • Florida
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • CLERKSHIP+
E. Barrett Hails Associate
Mobile
barrett.hails@phelps.com
251-441-8215  direct
barrett.hails@phelps.com
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Barrett Hails practices in the area of litigation and admiralty. His practice includes representing shipyards, vessel owners, contractors and businesses in commercial and tort litigation. He is licensed in Alabama and Florida.

Experience Insights Memberships & Affiliations Recognition

Practice Focus

Experience

  • Representation of vessel interest and insurers in Jones Act, Unseaworthiness and Maintenance and Cure claims.
  • Representation of vessel owners in capsizing/sinking cases.
  • Representation of shipyard in US L&H injury claims.
  • Representation of vessel repair yard in tort cases.
  • Representation of vessel owners in limitation of liability proceedings.
  • Representation of cargo owners in in rem arrest action.

Insights

Publications
  • "I'll Supervise, Your Honor: Ethical and Legal Considerations Arising from the Use of Law Students in Court Proceedings," 36 J. Legal Prof. 225 (2011-2012) Author
Speaking Engagements
  • "Recent Maritime Law Developments in the Eleventh, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits," Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute 2020 Annual Conference (Webinar, June 2020) Speaker
  • “National Survey on COVID-19’s Impact on Recreational Boating,” Maritime Law Association's Recreational Boating Committee Spring Meeting (Webinar, April 2020) Speaker
  • “Entrenched Inter-Circuit Conflicts in Maritime Law: GML Damages, the McCorpen Counterclaim, and Red-Letter Clauses in Contracts to Repair Vessels,” Maritime Law Association Uniformity Committee Fall Meeting (Scottsdale, AZ, November 2019) Speaker
  • “Choice of law and liability considerations arising from the 2015 Dauphin Island Race,” Maritime Law Association Recreational Boating Committee Spring Meeting (New York, NY, May 2019) Speaker
  • “Applicable and not inconsistent—adjacent state employment law under OCSLA in light of Newton v. Parker Drilling,” Maritime Law Association Offshore Industries Committee Spring Meeting (New York, NY, May 2018) Speaker
News

Memberships & Affiliations

Professional

  • Alabama State Bar
  • The Florida Bar
  • Mobile Bar Association
  • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States - Proctor in Admiralty

Civic

  • Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Mobile

Recognition

  • Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (2018-2019)
  • Beaumont Aviation Prize, University of Southampton (2013)

Education

  • University of Southampton
    LL.M., in Maritime Law, with merit, 2013
  • University of Alabama School of Law
    J.D., cum laude, 2012
  • University of Mississippi
    B.A. in History and Political Science, magna cum laude, 2009

Admissions

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • Representation of vessel interest and insurers in Jones Act, Unseaworthiness and Maintenance and Cure claims.
  • Representation of vessel owners in capsizing/sinking cases.
  • Representation of shipyard in US L&H injury claims.
  • Representation of vessel repair yard in tort cases.
  • Representation of vessel owners in limitation of liability proceedings.
  • Representation of cargo owners in in rem arrest action.
Publications
  • "I'll Supervise, Your Honor: Ethical and Legal Considerations Arising from the Use of Law Students in Court Proceedings," 36 J. Legal Prof. 225 (2011-2012) Author
Speaking Engagements
  • "Recent Maritime Law Developments in the Eleventh, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits," Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute 2020 Annual Conference (Webinar, June 2020) Speaker
  • “National Survey on COVID-19’s Impact on Recreational Boating,” Maritime Law Association's Recreational Boating Committee Spring Meeting (Webinar, April 2020) Speaker
  • “Entrenched Inter-Circuit Conflicts in Maritime Law: GML Damages, the McCorpen Counterclaim, and Red-Letter Clauses in Contracts to Repair Vessels,” Maritime Law Association Uniformity Committee Fall Meeting (Scottsdale, AZ, November 2019) Speaker
  • “Choice of law and liability considerations arising from the 2015 Dauphin Island Race,” Maritime Law Association Recreational Boating Committee Spring Meeting (New York, NY, May 2019) Speaker
  • “Applicable and not inconsistent—adjacent state employment law under OCSLA in light of Newton v. Parker Drilling,” Maritime Law Association Offshore Industries Committee Spring Meeting (New York, NY, May 2018) Speaker
News

Professional

  • Alabama State Bar
  • The Florida Bar
  • Mobile Bar Association
  • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States - Proctor in Admiralty

Civic

  • Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Mobile
  • Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (2018-2019)
  • Beaumont Aviation Prize, University of Southampton (2013)