Phelps Dunbar LLP Enhances Admiralty Strength Regionally in Houston Office

August 14, 2008

Phelps Dunbar LLP is pleased to announce that Robert H. Nicholas, Jr. has recently joined the firm's Houston office.

Mr. Nicholas is counsel in the firm's regional admiralty and tort practice group. He concentrates his practice in the admiralty, environmental and international trade law areas for energy industry clients, as well as companies engaged in the international trade areas on the import side. Prior to joining Phelps, Mr. Nicholas was an attorney with Baker Hostetler in Houston. He also previously served as in-house counsel to SeaRiver Maritime, Inc., general counsel for Exxon Shipping Company and Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. He received his J.D. in 1966 from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.S. in 1963 from Lamar University.

"Bob brings valuable experience to bolster our admiralty practice," said George Gilly, Regional Practice Coordinator of Phelps Dunbar's Admiralty and Tort practice group. "Bob's clients will certainly benefit from the regional nature of Phelps Dunbar in that they will have access to the full-service structure of the firm with very competitive rates for Houston-based businesses. It is truly a win-win situation."

Mr. Nicholas is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association. He is admitted to practice in Texas, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits and United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas.

Phelps Dunbar is a regional law firm of approximately 260 attorneys, with offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Tupelo, and Gulfport, Mississippi; Houston, Texas; Tampa, Florida; and London, England.

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