Kelly Haas
Kelly Haas focuses her practice in the areas of admiralty and maritime law and energy-related litigation matters. In both state and federal courts she defends vessel owners and operators, as well as offshore companies, from claims arising from collisions, personal injury, property damage, maritime pollution, cargo matters, environmental issues, and contract disputes. She also regularly handles matters involving the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, offshore service industries and transportation.
Ms. Haas has years’ of experience in federal courts, conducting shipboard investigations in the arrest and seizure of vessels. This is from the standpoint of arresting vessels as well as obtaining the release of arrested vessels. Ms. Haas guides her clients through each stage of the legal process, from pre-litigation incident investigation, risk analysis and case evaluation to motion practice, discovery, and mediation. When it becomes necessary to resolve matters in the courtroom, she is a zealous advocate for her clients.
An active member of the Galveston County Bar Association, Ms. Haas served as President from 2016 to 2017. She is a proctor member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, the Treasurer of Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute and a former Skipper of the Houston Mariners Club. She has been recognized several times for her legal skill. She holds a rating of AV Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell for Admiralty and Maritime Litigation and was selected to Thomson Reuters’ annual list of Texas Super Lawyers (2014-2017, 2019) and Texas Rising Stars (2013-2014). She was recognized by Houstonia magazine in 2017 and 2018 as a Houston Top Lawyer for Admiralty/Maritime Litigation.
Ms. Haas was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2007. She is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and United States District courts for the Southern, Northern, Eastern, and Western districts of Texas.
- Chair of Merit Selection Panel to Reappoint Federal Magistrate Judge John R. Froeschner
- Texas Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters - 2014-2017, 2019-2020
- Texas Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters - 2013-2014
- Outstanding Young Lawyer of Galveston County
- AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
- Houstonia magazine’s Top Lawyer for Houston in Admiralty and Maritime
Houston, Texas 77002
