Mat M. Gray, III received undergraduate and law degrees from Tulane University, and a Master’s of Law degree from New York University. He is admitted to federal and state courts in Louisiana, the United States Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the United States Supreme Court. He has a strong record of success in civil jury and admiralty court cases and many cases argued before the federal Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeal and Louisiana appellate courts. These include the landmark cases of Johnson v. Penrod Drilling Company and Culver v. Slater Boat Company, which established the principles for forecasting damages for the loss of earnings in maritime personal injury cases, and defendant’s right to trial by jury in cases arising under the Jones Act.

Mr. Gray’s practice emphasizes insurance defense and coverage of claims arising under marine and non-marine liability policies. He represents London market syndicates, companies and insurers in the defense of claims and in subrogation matters. He specializes in defending first and third party damages, personal injury claims, and in the analysis of insurance policies and coverages. This includes the defense of claims and analysis of coverage disputes arising under CGL, MEL, hull, P&I, Ship Repairer’s Legal Liability, Marina, Charterer’s Liability, marine package, OEE, EED, Redrill, Well Control, Directors and Officers, business risk, excess, umbrella and reinsurance policies.

Mr. Gray serves clients in declaratory judgment actions, at mediations, and in the defense and analysis of suits arising from indemnity contracts and additional insured obligations. Mr. Gray has a thorough knowledge of insurance issues arising from pollution and environment contamination, including the resolution of coverage and allocation issues.

His broad expertise in the interplay of factual, legal and insurance issues, combined with 30 years of experience, affords his clients the benefit of early analysis of case related issues, and expedient attainment of client objectives when possible. He travels on behalf of insurance clients to evaluate and to resolve liability and coverage disputes, assist local counsel, and to facilitate the settlement process. Mr. Gray has handled cases involving coal mining operations in West Virginia and Kentucky, and defense of insureds and Underwriters in primary, excess and coverage cases in Louisiana, including California, Florida, Mississippi, and Texas, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Mr. Gray is a member of the American Bar Association, and its Admiral Law and Insurance Coverage Committees. In addition to membership in the Federal, Louisiana, and New Orleans Bar Associations, he is a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the Southeastern Admiralty Institute, and the Maritime Law Association of the United States, as a member of the Committee on Maritime Insurance, General Alvage and Salvage, and the Sub-Committee of P&I Insurance. He is a contributor to the Maritime Law Association Annotation of the P&I Policy. Mr. Gray was selected by City Business Magazine to receive its Leadership in Law Award in 2005 as one of the top lawyers in Metropolitan New Orleans. Mr. Gray was selected as one of the top Louisiana attorneys by Super Lawyers magazine for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.

Representative cases include: Culver v. Slater Boat Company, 772 F. 2d 114 (5th Cir. 1983) (Jones Act; admissibility of inflationary evidence in wage forecasts as damages); Seminole Asphalt Refining, Inc., v. M/V DELBERT, JR., 1987 AMC 2239 (E.D. La) (limit of liability under hull policy; dispute between insurers regarding damages and interest); Consolidated Aluminum v. C.F. Bean Dredging, 833 F. 2d 65 (5th Cir. 1987) (the limits of recovery for physical damage and economic loss under maritime law); Graham v. The Milky Way, 824 F. 2d 1220 (11th Cir. 1988) (warranty in a marine insurance policy); Stevens Shipping Co. v. National Cargo Bureau, 838 F. 2d 1220 (11th Cir. 1988) ( ocean cargo loss/capsize, liability of owner/stevedore/marine surveyor) ; Phillips Petroleum v. All Am Marine Slip, 1998 U.S. Dist. Lexis 14585 and 11175 (E.D. La. 1998) (denial of coverage; enforcement of an arbitration clause in insurance policy; removal to state court); and Sherlock v. Ocean Salvage Corp., 785 So. 2d 932 (La. App 4th Cir. 2001) (maritime employer’s liability policy as excess insurance; interrelationship to P&I policy). Lopez v. Magnolia Ind. Fabrication, 2006 U.S. Dist. Lexis 57932 (E.D. La. 2006) (seaman status); Brown v. Trinity Catering, Inc, 2007 U. S Dist. LEXIS 90868 (E.D. La. 2007) (maritime personal injury); and Katrina Canal Breaches, Berthelot v. B+K Construction, Inc., 2009 A.M.C. 2080 (5th circuit) (admiralty tort jurisdiction)