James A. Kearns

A competent maritime lawyer, but communication could improve

I engaged James A. Kearns of Jones Walker LLP to handle a complex marine insurance dispute involving a cargo claim. His deep knowledge of admiralty law was immediately apparent. With over five decades of practice, including his recognition in Best Lawyers for Maritime Law, he clearly understands the nuances of the Jones Act and federal maritime regulations. His analysis of our contractual liabilities was thorough and his strategy during the initial negotiation phase was sound. However, the experience was not without its frustrations. While Mr. Kearns is undoubtedly an expert, his communication was sometimes less than timely. There were periods of several days where our inquiries went unanswered, which created some anxiety on our end. Furthermore, the billing structure, while standard for a firm of this caliber, felt somewhat rigid for the pace of work. In the end, we reached a satisfactory settlement, largely due to his respected reputation and substantive legal arguments. He is a capable attorney who gets results, but managing client expectations and maintaining consistent dialogue are areas where the service felt merely adequate, not exceptional. For straightforward maritime matters requiring seasoned counsel, he is a solid choice, but be prepared to be proactive in following up.