Stephen P. Schott

Competent maritime advice, but communication could improve

I hired Mr. Schott at Liskow & Lewis to handle a dispute over a vessel repair contract that went sideways at a local shipyard. His foundational knowledge of admiralty law was evident, and he correctly identified the key contractual breaches and applicable maritime statutes. He secured a reasonable settlement, which was the primary goal. However, the experience felt somewhat transactional. As a younger attorney, his responsiveness was inconsistent; there were periods of several days where I received no updates, which created unnecessary anxiety during negotiations. While his legal analysis from his New Orleans base was sound, managing client expectations seems to be an area for growth. The outcome was satisfactory for my business, but the process lacked the proactive communication I expected from a firm of Liskow & Lewis's stature. He is clearly capable in general practice with a focus on maritime matters, but the client service aspect didn't quite match the legal competence.