Since becoming licensed to practice law in
May 1982, Mr. Orlando has practiced maritime, energy, commercial, insurance defense and coverage, construction, transportation, and professional liability among other areas of law, representing many different business and insurance-related interests in a broad spectrum of claims and litigation, in venues throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast. His clients have included ship owners, oil and gas companies, charterers, oilfield contractors, stevedores, terminal operators, manufacturers, cargo owners, insurers, a wide variety of marine and energy service and supply companies, financial institutions, and many others involved in commerce on the Gulf Coast.
Mr. Orlando has represented many Lloyd's underwriters and foreign
insurers, Fortune 500 companies, and business interests of all sizes, as
well as individuals involved with the business community. He is board
certified in civil trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial
Advocacy and has tried cases throughout Texas in federal and state
courts as well as in administrative tribunals. His litigation experience
includes being lead counsel in a case involving over $100 million in
alleged damages from inception through oral argument in the U.S. Supreme
Court. Mr. Orlando has been the chairman of the Board of Directors and head of
the Executive Committee of the nonprofit Houston International Seafarers
Center, known throughout the world as one of the finest centers for
visiting seaman. He is an active member of the Propeller Club of the
United States and the Houston Mariners Club, in which he served as
chairman in 1991. He was also the chairman of The Houston Port Safety
Advisory Council in 1992. In addition, Mr. Orlando has been the chair of the American Bar
Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, Insurance Coverage
Litigation Committee and the Corporate Counsel Committee. He also served
as the chair of the International/London Market Committee of the State
Bar of Texas, Insurance Law Section. He is also a member of the
Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and of DRI. Mr. Orlando has
been member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States since
1982. He is a Proctor member of that organization and presently serves
on the Marine Insurance Committee as well as the Offshore Industries
Committee. He has written and lectured extensively on marine, energy and
insurance topics. Mr. Orlando is a 1979 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin,
Texas, with a degree in Honors Business Program and Finance and he holds
a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center in
1981. |
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PUBLICATIONS:
ADA Applies to Foreign-Flag Cruise Ships—In Theory — by Michael A. Orlando (August 2005)
Taking Some Teeth Out of the Louisiana Oilfield Indemnity Statute — by Michael A. Orlando (May 2005)
Supreme Court Rules a Dredge Is a Jones Act Vessel — by Michael A. Orlando (March 2005)
Enforcement of Federal Law on Foreign-Flagged Ships in U.S. Waters — by Michael A. Orlando (November 2004)
Circuit Split Widens over Exculpatory Clauses in Maritime Contracts — by Michael A. Orlando (February 2004)
Jones Act Status Issue Once Again Wastes Resources of All — by Michael A. Orlando (September 2003)
A Lien Is a Lien Is a Lien, but a Maritime Lien Is Not — by Michael A. Orlando (June 2003)
Maritime Pollution: Mixing OPA and CERCLA Makes for Foul Waters — by Michael A. Orlando (January 2003)
OSHA Takes a Dip in the Sea: Chao v Mallard Bay Drilling, Inc. — by Michael A. Orlando (August 2002)
The Difficulty and Confusion Surrounding Removing Maritime Cases to Federal Court — by Michael A. Orlando (June 2002)
To Remove or Not To Remove, That Is the Question — by Michael A. Orlando (February 2002)
In Rem Admiralty Jurisdiction and the Supplemental Rules — by Michael A. Orlando (November 2001)
A Vessel Doesn't Have to be a Criminal to be Arrested: In Rem Admiralty Jurisdiction and the Supplemental Rules, IRMI.com (November 2001)
Admiralty Jurisdiction: A Challenge for Even the Seasoned Practitioner — by Michael A. Orlando (May 2001)
M. Orlando & M. Gabel, The Duty to Defend: What a Difference a State Makes! 29 The Brief 14 (Summer 2000)
Co-Author, Recent Developments in Insurance Coverage Litigation, 34 Tort & Insur L. J. 481 (Winter 1999)
Co-Author, Recent Developments in Insurance Coverage Litigation, 33 Tort & Insur. L. J. 529 (Winter 1998)
D. Hinds and M. Orlando, Maritime Liens and the Law: Creation and Enforcement, Texas A & M Sea Grant College Program (1988)
M. Orlando & H. Borow, Recent Developments in Declaratory Judgment Actions, CGL Reporter, Binder 10 (1998)
Co-Author, Recent Developments in Insurance Coverage Issues, 32 Tort & Insur. L. J. 449 (Winter 1997)
M. Orlando, Selected Topics on Marine Insurance: Rules for Interpreting an Insurance Policy and the Insurer's Duty to Defend, 15th New Orleans Maritime Seminar, Tulane Law School, January 1996
M. Orlando & K. Giacco, Admiralty and Maritime Law: The Pitch, Roll and Yaw of the (U)SS Supreme Court, 28 Tort & Insur. L.J. 137 (1993)
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