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Michael J. Wray
Of Counsel
Michael Wray is a commercial litigator who is experienced in advising clients on aviation, commodities, shipping, energy, environmental, insurance and maritime disputes.
With more than two decades of experience, Michael is proficient in managing all aspects of litigation, from inception through appeal. He has argued on behalf of his clients before state and federal courts across Texas, Louisiana and New York.
Michael’s clients also look to him for guidance on transactional and regulatory compliance matters and, when necessary, in developing strategic responses to investigations brought by federal and state regulatory entities, including the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Prior to joining the firm, Michael was a partner at an international law firm where he assisted clients in litigation, regulatory and transactional matters across diverse practice areas.
Dispute Resolution
- Represented an international natural gas company in a claim for lost production arising out of a collision between a vessel and a fixed platform, which resulted in a multi-million- dollar settlement in favor of the client.
- Served as the first chair in a US$2.9 million property damage case, which resulted in a complete defense verdict in favor of the client.
- Obtained a successful ruling on the validity of a forum selection agreement involving a test case, which resulted in multiple favorable settlements in similar matters.
- Argued before the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a matter involving whether a tort assignment received by a settling defendant was legal.
- Successfully tried a vessel collision case in federal court in New Orleans.
Regulatory
- Represented industry groups and corporate clients in connection with the preparation of notices and comments to federal regulatory agencies.
- Advised and represented clients involving CBP matters, including submitting applications to the Carrier Branch concerning the application of the coastwise laws (Jones Act) to offshore wind energy projects.
- Represented vessel owners who contested customs duties relating to vessel repairs.
- Represented clients in connection with applications to the USCG related to Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act vessel and manning exemptions.
- Assisted a non-US-based company concerning Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regulations applicable to ocean transportation intermediaries and subsequent FMC registration issues.
- Provided advice regarding US flag requirements/foreign vessel transfers under Maritime Administration regulations.
- Advised clients on various trade sanctions and export control regulations, including, but not limited to, regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and Export Administration Regulations.
Education
- Tulane University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1998
- University of North Carolina, B.A., 1994
Admissions
- Texas, 2006
- Louisiana, 2002
- New York, 1999
Courts
- U.S. Ct. of App., Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. of Texas
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of Texas
- U.S. Dist. Ct., W. Dist. of Texas
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of Texas
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of Louisiana
- U.S. Dist. Ct., M. Dist. of Louisiana
- U.S. Dist. Ct., W. Dist. of Louisiana
- U.S. Dist. Ct., E. Dist. of New York
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of New York
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member, Maritime Law Association
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Member, Southeast Admiralty Law Institute
- Recommended as a leader in energy law by the Houston Business Journal in its 2014 edition of Who’s Who in Energy.
- Co-author, “United States: CBP Issues Ruling On Offshore Wind Electrical Cable Installation,” Mondaq, April 2023.
- Co-presenter, “When More Than Data is at Risk,” International Association of Drilling Contracts Risk Management Conference, October 2016.