Thomas G. O'Brien joined Adams and Reese in 1979 and is the group leader of the firm's regional Litigation Practice Group. Throughout his tenure, Tom has played an important role in the expansion of the firm to its current regional footprint of 13 offices in 12 states throughout the Southeast and in Washington, DC.
Tom serves as a Liaison Partner for Growth and a Member of the Executive Committee. He splits his time between the firm's Houston and New Orleans offices.
In his legal practice, Tom has more than 30 years of experience dealing with transactions and litigation arising out of the exploration, development, production, transportation and regulation of oil and gas operations in the Gulf Coast Region. He has appeared as lead trial counsel in State and Federal Courts in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Wyoming and before numerous governmental agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, the Minerals Management Service and the United States Coast Guard. He has litigated matters ranging from personal injury and property damage claims to collisions, towage, oil pollution, limitation of liability, salvage, oil field liens, construction disputes, contract litigation and marine and energy insurance coverage issues.
Tom has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting contracts for all phases of exploration, development, production, transportation and regulation of oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico. He also routinely counsels clients in preventative measures to minimize risk and avoid the expense of litigation. Strategies include assisting in the development of risk management programs, the analysis of insurance programs, the allocation of risk in contracts, developing safety, health and environmental compliance programs and improving incident reporting, external communication and investigation procedures. He is co-author of Oilfield Risks and American Maritime Law.
Tom is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and all State and Federal Courts in Texas and Louisiana.
His professional recognitions include:
- Named among Leadership in Law – New Orleans CityBusiness class of 2006.
- Listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers® - Transportation/Maritime.
Tom is a member of the Maritime Law Association, the Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Section of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section of the Texas Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, the Louisiana Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. For several years, he has addressed the Energy Resources Industry Section, Oil and Gas Operations of the Risk Insurance Managers Seminars (RIMS) and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.
Tom received his J.D. in 1979 from Tulane University and his Bachelor of Arts in 1976, also from Tulane University.
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