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    Kent Morrison photograph

    Thomas Kent Morrison

    Partner

    New Orleans
    London
    504-584-9306
    kent.morrison@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    AdmiraltyEnergy

    When clients partner with Kent Morrison for their legal matters, they get a counsel who can see the big picture yet not miss any small details. Kent practices in all areas of marine and energy law, including commercial and personal injury litigation, contract negotiations, regulatory compliance and investigation, and insurance coverage disputes. Intent on providing timely and responsive representation, Kent is focused on identifying the most efficient, sensible solutions to satisfy his clients’ goals.

    Clients benefit from Kent’s fluency with local, state and federal courts throughout the Gulf South. With more than two decades of experience and a docket that spans hundreds of cases in a variety of jurisdictions, Kent is well-versed in handling the quickly moving parts of any legal matter. He represents maritime employers, vessel owners, longshore employers, energy companies, dock and terminal owners and their underwriters in all aspects of maritime law.

    Kent’s marine and energy law litigation practice involves, amongst other issues:

    • Contract disputes
    • Platform casualties
    • Pipeline damage
    • Equipment failure
    • Barge breakaways
    • Facility/plant explosions
    • Cargo disputes
    • Collisions
    • Personal injuries
    • Deaths
    • Allisions
    • Wake/wave wash
    • Groundings
    • Products liability
    • Property damage
    • Indemnity and insurance coverage disputes

    Kent also provides representation with respect to coverage issues involving a broad range of energy, marine, general liability, excess and umbrella insurance policies. He further assists marine and energy companies with their corporate structure, regulatory issues and internal and external contractual relationships.

    Kent currently serves as the firm's Regional Practice Coordinator for the marine and energy practice group.

    Kent’s marine and energy law litigation practice involves, amongst other issues:

    • Contract disputes
    • Platform casualties
    • Pipeline damage
    • Equipment failure
    • Barge breakaways
    • Facility/plant explosions
    • Cargo disputes
    • Collisions
    • Personal injuries
    • Deaths
    • Allisions
    • Wake/wave wash
    • Groundings
    • Products liability
    • Property damage
    • Indemnity and insurance coverage disputes

    Kent also provides representation with respect to coverage issues involving a broad range of energy, marine, general liability, excess and umbrella insurance policies. He further assists marine and energy companies with their corporate structure, regulatory issues and internal and external contractual relationships.

    Kent currently serves as the firm's Regional Practice Coordinator for the marine and energy practice group.

    Experience

    • Representation of start-up LNG company regarding land acquisition, regulatory issues, local and state port authority issues and commercial litigation.
    • Long term representation of privately held offshore service vessel company and its affiliated holdings including ship building facilities through a range of legal issues.
    • Counsels south Louisiana offshore construction companies on contracts, leases and insurance and liability issues.
    • Advised vessel owner and its P&I Club in connection with approximately 1,800 property, business interruption and personal injury claims arising from a ship allision with a shopping mall overlooking the Mississippi River.
    • Representation of domestic and international insurer regarding coverage denials in connection with marina, P&I, hull, tug, energy and CGL policies.
    • Attendance at U.S. Coast Guard investigations and hearings for numerous allisions and collisions involving offshore service vessels, crewboats and towboats and representation of vessel owners in subsequent litigation.
    • Drafting and reviewing insurance policy forms for the marine and energy industry.
    • Extensive litigation experience involving personal injuries, exposure and occupational disease, collisions, allisions, pipeline damage, mechanical failures, products liability actions, charter disputes, defense and indemnity obligations, lease disputes, commercial disputes, and other various claims and actions in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
    • Attendance at U.S. Coast Guard investigations and hearings for numerous allisions and collisions involving offshore service vessels, crewboats and towboats and representation of vessel owners in subsequent litigation.
    • Drafting and reviewing insurance policy forms for the marine and energy industry.
    • Extensive litigation experience involving personal injuries, exposure and occupational disease, collisions, allisions, pipeline damage, mechanical failures, products liability actions, charter disputes, defense and indemnity obligations, lease disputes, commercial disputes, and other various claims and actions in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

    Insights

    • March 28, 2025

      Phelps Louisiana Team Honored in Super Lawyers’ 2025 Lists …

    • November 14, 2024

      Lone Star State Campaign and Houston Awards Dinner 2024 …

    More +
    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    • December 19, 2023

      Super Lawyers Recognizes 44 Louisiana Phelps Lawyers in 2024 Honors …

    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • December 19, 2022

      42 Phelps Lawyers Honored by 2023 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars …

    • October 11, 2022

      Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference Presents Legal Ethics…

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • December 29, 2021

      Super Lawyers Recognizes 46 Louisiana Phelps Lawyers in 2022 Honors…

    • April 29, 2021

      Louisiana ACC Presents Looking at Contracts in the New Normal…

    • December 28, 2020

      45 Phelps Lawyers Named to Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2021…

    • November 2, 2020

      Broader Maritime Contract Test Could Help Companies Reduce Risk…

    • May 13, 2020

      Vessel Policies Will Be Closely Eyed in New Lawsuit Involving COVID-19 and Jones Act…

    • March 19, 2020

      How COVID-19 Can Affect Jones Act and LHWCA Claims…

    • December 19, 2019

      44 Phelps Attorneys Named to Louisiana Super Lawyers 2020…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Admiralty and Maritime Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2018-2025)
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2017-2025)
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review, Martindale-Hubbell
    • Admiralty and Maritime Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2018-2025)
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2017-2025)

    Education

    • Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1998
    • University of Georgia, B.S., Political Science, 1995
    • Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1998
    • University of Georgia, B.S., Political Science, 1995

    Credentials

    • Louisiana
    • Louisiana Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    • Louisiana
    • Louisiana Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • Louisiana State Bar Association
    • Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter - Board of Directors
    • Young Leadership Council
    • Maritime Law Association of the United States
    • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
    • Offshore Marine Service Association (OSMA)
    • American Salvage Association
    • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
    • Louisiana State Bar Association
    • Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter - Board of Directors
    • Young Leadership Council
    • Maritime Law Association of the United States
    • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
    • Offshore Marine Service Association (OSMA)
    • American Salvage Association
    • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Admiralty
    • Energy
    • Litigation
    • Insurance
    • Maritime
    • Transportation
    • Renewables
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