“What matters most is that clients receive appropriate attention and that their established goals are met.
And that’s how we conduct our practice.”
James D. Bercaw
Jim is a member in our New Orleans office whose practice focuses primarily on the offshore oil and gas and maritime industries. His expertise on rising issues in the area produces efficient, strategic solutions for clients. Jim's primary practice fields include personal injury and wrongful death, litigation and maritime collision, and contract and commercial litigation.
Jim attended the University of Alabama where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1987 and his juris doctorate in 1990. During law school, he served as an editor for The Journal of the Legal Profession, was selected as a member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society, and received Best Paper honors in Products Liability. He was also selected to the Jasons Honor Society. He worked for Gelpi, Sullivan, Carroll and Gibbens before joining the firm in August 1996. Jim was born in Allentown, PA, and is the father of two sons. He volunteers his time at the St. Ann School, Christian Brothers School and the Girard Vikings Booster Club.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Alleman v. Omni Energy Services Corp., 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Successfully secured court ruling in issue of law that contract for helicopter services was non-maritime
- Pacorini USA Inc. v. ROSINA TOPIC M/V, 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Obtained successful dismissal of purported claim for maritime lien
- Guevara v. Maritime Overseas Corp., 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Participated in reconsideration en banc that vessel owner was not liable to seaman for punitive damages arising out of provision of maintenance and cure
- Mooney v. W&T Offshore, Inc., E.D.La., Obtained ruling under recent Supreme Court precedent that a tension leg platform was not a vessel as a matter of law
OFFSHORE WINDS MARINE & ENERGY BLOG POSTS
- I’ll Take “Not a Vessel” for $600, Alex: What Is a Tension Leg Platform
- The Fifth Circuit Restates Three Duties Vessel Owners Owe Longshore Employees
- 11th Circuit Approves Pro Rata Apportionment to Plaintiff and Intervenors of Attachment Costs
- What’s Done Cannot Be Undone: The Perils of E-mail Confirmations of Payment for Vessel Necessaries
- If in Doubt, File the Complaint for Limitation of Liability
- When No Privity of Contract Qualifies as “Any Contractual Relationship” under OPA
- Supreme Court Extends the Scope of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Landward
- U.S. Fifth Circuit Clarifies the Role of the Collateral Source Rule with a Seaman’s Recovery of Cure
- Fifth Circuit Focuses on Manning Requirements and Charter Arrangements for Foreign Floating Rigs
- Update: Proposed Regulations on Towing Vessel Inspections – Coast Guard Discusses Proposals at International Workboat Show in New Orleans
- Coast Guard Proposes Changes to Inspection of Towing Vessels Regulations
- Enforcing Internet Terms and Conditions in Maritime Contracts
Honors & Recognition
- Served as advisory editor for The American Mariner
- Served as an editor for The Journal of the Legal Profession
- Selected as a member of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society
- Selected as a member of the Jasons Honor Society
- Received Best Paper honors in Products Liability
