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Robert M. Kallam

Partner

Robert Kallam is a formidable litigator with more than three decades of experience in resolving disputes in state and federal court, at trial, and on appeal. He aggressively defends marine, energy, transportation, insurance, and other companies involved in high-stakes, single, and multi-plaintiff litigation and general casualty defense litigation. He also advises on contractual arrangements and risk mitigation strategies, as well as serves as a mediator in matters pending in state and federal courts.

Appreciated for his focus, credibility, and authenticity, Robert defends serious and complex lawsuits involving marine and energy matters, insurance disputes, premises liability, casualty claims, contractual disputes, and other civil disputes. He is skilled in drafting and negotiating Master Service Agreements and related arrangements, including insurance, risk, loss, allocation, and indemnity.

Among Robert’s clients are marine, drilling, and energy service contractors, energy companies, vessel owners, and other public and private entities – for whom he determinedly defends fatality, bodily injury, commercial, contract, property damage, and toxic tort litigation. Robert has successfully defeated and/or favorably settled disputes involving drilling, energy service contractors, and operators in downhole oil and gas well failures, blowouts, and property damage.

In addition, Robert defends premises owners in litigation involving premises liability and other casualty matters, as well as energy sector clients in arbitration proceedings focused on commercial disputes and property damage losses. He serves as counsel for excess insurers of companies allegedly involved in life-altering explosions, marine and energy casualties, and transportation accidents, including catastrophic and brain injuries and death.

Known for being fair and objective, Robert brings an extensive command of litigation procedure and a deep bench of skill to analyzing the distinct legalities of specialized industries. As a result, he regularly serves as a mediator for disputes involving the energy, maritime, transportation, manufacturing, and insurance industries.

Representative Experience
  • Represented various oilfield service companies and oil companies in litigation resulting from serious casualties and fatalities such as the Deepwater Horizon matter, the Globetrotter II matter, and many others
  • Successfully defended and pursued complex claims for contractual defense, indemnity, and/or insurance coverage involving Master Service Agreements and the interpretation of federal and state laws, Marcel coverage, maritime versus non-maritime nature of contracts, and the impact of Section 905 under the LHWCA
  • Served as a mediator in numerous matters pending in state and federal courts resulting in the amicable resolution of complex litigation
  • Assists clients with the drafting of complex Master Service Agreements and/or insurance arrangements to mitigate and/or eliminate risk
  • Represented various energy companies and service companies in well blow-outs and all claims arising from significant catastrophes, which involved contract disputes, personal injury and death claims, environmental issues, and large property damage claims, as well as insurance coverage associated therewith
  • Represented various drilling companies and oil companies in lawsuits filed by offshore working based on the Jones Act, General Maritime Law, Louisiana and Texas state law, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
  • Represented national business/premises owners in the defense of and favorable settlement of casualty litigation, “slip and fall” cases, and personal injury cases throughout Louisiana
  • Drafted and negotiated master service agreements and related agreements including insurance, risk, loss allocation and, indemnity
  • Represented numerous marine, drilling, and energy service contractors, energy companies, vessel owners, and product manufactures in fatality, bodily injury, commercial, contract, property damage, and toxic tort litigation in state and federal courts
  • Represented drilling and energy service contractors and operators in downhole oil and gas well failures, blowouts, and property damage contract disputes and litigation
  • Represented numerous premises owners in litigation regarding premises liability and other casualty matters
  • Represented energy sector clients in arbitration proceedings in both commercial disputes and property damages losses
  • Represented excess insurers in litigation regarding explosions, transportation accidents, etc. involving catastrophic injuries, death, and/or brain injuries
Education

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1990
  • Louisiana State University, B.S., 1987

Admissions
  • Louisiana
  • Texas
  • Louisiana Supreme Court
  • Texas Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Memberships
  • Member, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
  • Fellow, American Bar Association
  • Member, The Maritime Law Association of the United States
  • Member, Bar Association for the Fifth Federal Circuit
  • Member; Past President, Federal Bar Association, Acadiana Chapter
  • Member; Past President, Lafayette Young Lawyers Association
  • Member; Past President, Lafayette Bar Association, 2022-2023
  • Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Member, Texas State Bar Association
Articles, Publications and Presentations
  • Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources Obtains Funding to Plug and Abandon Orphaned Wells in Louisiana, Louisiana Law Blog, August 19, 2024
  • My Toughest Case: Robert Kallam, mynewOrleans.com, March 29, 2020
  • Contractual Indemnification Overview in Louisiana and Texas - Dwight Andrus Insurance Seminar, Lafayette, LA, 2018
  • Contractual Indemnification Overview in Louisiana and Texas - JLT Specialty Insurance Services, Inc. Seminar, Houston, TX, 2017
  • Contractual Indemnification in Louisiana and Texas; UM/UIM under Louisiana and Texas Law; Policy Rights in Louisiana – AIG Seminar, Olathe, KS, 2016
  • Excess Insurance – Trident Marine Managers Seminar, Houston, TX, 2015
  • Analyzing Indemnity and Insurance Obligations in Master Service Agreements – Louisiana Companies, Lafayette, LA, 2014
  • Analyzing Indemnity and Insurance Obligations in Master Service Agreements – Trident Marine Managers Seminar, Houston, TX, 2013
  • Protection and Indemnity Claims Handling/Maintenance and Cure-Transocean, Houston, TX, 2012
  • What Goes Around Comes Around: The Sometimes Conflicting Interests of Primary and Excess Carriers – Chaucer Seminar, London, 2012
Recognition
  • AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Super Lawyer, Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2008-2024
  • Best Lawyer, Administrative/Regulatory Law, The Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2025
  • Top Lawyer, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Acadiana Profile, 2014-2024
  • Distinguished Alumni Award, St. Thomas More Catholic High School, Inaugural Class of 2022
  • Hall of Fame, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, 1990
  • Top 50 Lawyer, Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2018-2020
  • Fellow, American Bar Association, 2020 to date
  • Lafayette Acadiana Chapter Professionalism Award, Federal Bar Association, inaugural award in 2019
Community Service
  • Chair, Alumni Board of Trustees, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, 2024-2026
  • Faculty Member, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center Apprenticeship Week, 2014, 2015, and 2018
  • Advisory Council, Cathedral Carmel School, 2006-2011
  • Board of Directors, St. Thomas More Catholic High School Foundation, 2015-2018
  • Board of Directors, Ascension Episcopal High School Athletic Booster Club Board, 2014-2018
  • Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association, 2017 to present
  • Past Commodore, Krewe of Gabriel
Super Lawyers
Robert M. Kallam
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Robert M. Kallam
Rated by Super Lawyers


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American Bar Foundation
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