• Skip to content

Liskow & Lewis, APLC

future-focused

  • Team
  • Practices
  • Insights
Michael A. Golemi
Main image for Michael A. Golemi

MICHAEL A. GOLEMI

Shareholder

,
Houston

Co-Leader of the Maritime Practice Group

T  713.651.2914
M  713.851.2145
magolemi@liskow.com
Connect with me
Linkedin

Practices

  • Blowouts & Well Control Issues
  • Construction
  • Litigation
  • Maritime Litigation & Casualty Response
  • Maritime Liens & Vessel Arrests
  • Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
  • Refinery Incidents & Litigation
  • Personal Injury
  • Emergency & Incident Response
  • Products Liability
  • Toxic Tort, Mass Torts & Class Actions
  • Emergency Response & Disaster Recovery
  • Vessel Salvage & Wreck Removal

Blogs

  • The Energy Law Blog - Michael A. Golemi

Esmeralda Moreno

713.651.2959

“I pride myself as the guy who can figure out what happened. When I’m on a platform during an investigation, I’m constantly getting a feel for and thinking ahead to what a jury will need to understand. In effect, I’m a translator.”

Overview

Michael Golemi is a trial and appeals lawyer who focuses on helping Texas and Louisiana marine and energy clients facing matters involving maritime, casualty, toxic tort, insurance coverage, and products liability disputes. Michael began his practice more than 25 years ago when he joined Liskow’s Maritime Litigation practice group in New Orleans. In 2004, Michael moved to Texas to establish the firm’s Houston office and lead the firm’s Texas Maritime practice. Michael currently serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and was the past Head of the Houston Office. He also serves as the Co-Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Maritime Practice Group.

Michael has handled several multi-million dollar maritime property damage claims as both claimant and defendant, and he has defended numerous death and serious personal injury cases offshore and onshore involving the Jones Act, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), and state workers’ compensation statutes. Michael was extensively involved in handling issues arising under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 as a result of the Deepwater Horizon Incident.

In addition to his marine and energy casualty practice, Michael’s litigation experience includes all types and sizes of disputes involving contracts, such as failure to pay claims, defense and indemnity obligations, and insurance coverage, and he has favorably resolved professional employment and non-competition disputes for labor and employment clients. In addition to his litigation practice, Michael has helped clients with review and drafting of oilfield contracts, focusing on complex indemnity and insurance issues. He also at times advises clients on day-to-day employment law issues arising in the operation of their businesses.

Michael is involved in many industry organizations and events that impact and support the Houston market and the maritime industry. Michael serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and serves as the Membership Vice-President. He is also a member of the the Houston Mariners Club, a former member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, and an Associate Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Michael also regularly presents to the industry on maritime developments and hot topics.

Talks about

#maritime #complexlitigation #personalinjury #jonesact #energy

Highlights

Experience

Lead trial counsel for marine client that was involved in multi-party, multi-vessel fleeting incident that resulted in a Jones Act seaman’s personal injuries. Client’s Complaint for Exoneration From and Limitation of Liability was granted, exonerating the client and dismissing all claims against the client with prejudice.

Recognition

“Michael Golemi handles a broad variety of shipping litigation including marine casualties, product liability and insurance coverage disputes. He is particularly noted for his representation of energy companies in maritime matters.” – Chambers USA Review, 2022

Leadership

Michael serves on the Board of Directors for the Texas Association of Defense Counsel.

Notable Experience

Michael counsels corporations and handles significant litigation, primarily in the maritime and energy sectors. He has years of experience in the state and federal trial and appellate courts of Louisiana and Texas for clients. Recent notable cases include:

Personal Injury:

  • Michael was lead trial counsel for a marine client that was involved in a multi-party, multi-vessel fleeting incident that resulted in a Jones Act seaman’s personal injuries, including allegations of traumatic brain injury. The court granted summary judgment on all claims of unseaworthiness against the client, and after a weeklong bench trial in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division, the client’s Complaint for Exoneration From and Limitation of Liability was granted, exonerating the client and dismissing all claims against the client with prejudice.
  • A service company had an accident in Texas when a unit at its customer’s refinery caught fire. An employee was seriously injured. Michael helped investigate the cause and source of the fire and analyzed issues involving workers’ compensation and third-party claims as well as indemnity issues relating to the premises.

Casualty and Incident Response:

  • Michael and his team were onsite with a refinery client’s leadership and HSE teams within 24 hours of an explosion resulting in a fatality and managed the investigation from inception, including OSHA, Chemical Safety Board, and State Police investigations, as well as evidence preservation and site inspections by the experts for multiple parties to the eventual litigation, through the wrongful death litigation that followed. The OSHA citation issued to the client was ultimately reduced from a “serious” violation to “other than serious” violation.  Michael was eventually able to negotiate a settlement within the client’s insurance policy limits and eliminate the significant risk of an uninsured punitive damages award in a very hostile venue.
  • In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon incident, Michael was embedded within the claims team for the primary designated responsible party and interacted with the USCG National Pollution Funds Center with respect to response costs and individual and business claims arising from the spill as well as government officials from across the Gulf Coast Region to resolve multi-million dollar government entity claims.
  • Michael investigated a refinery fatality and a dockside fatality in which a scaffold to which scaffold builders were tied off collapsed into the ship channel, both in Corpus Christi, in which OSHA representatives immediately began onsite investigations. Michael and his team resolved the wrongful death lawsuits relatively early in the litigation, minimizing the client’s exposure as well as the costs incurred litigating.

Products Liability:

  • Michael and his team successfully recovered a significant eight-figure settlement for an oil and gas client prosecuting a products liability claim against a foreign pipe manufacturer after the downhole pipe in a deepwater well failed resulting in the total loss of the well.
  • An international oil and gas client had a difficult offshore problem. The mooring system for one of the company’s offshore facilities partially collapsed, falling to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. Michael was part of the team that answered the client’s call to evaluate the damage and help figure out what to do. He investigated, managing a team of experts who reviewed the manufacture, installation, and operation of the structure, looking for technical causes for the collapse and preserving any evidence for testing.
    • He also worked with the client’s in-house counsel and management, providing notice to other parties involved of planned testing and recertification of equipment. The client successfully resolved the matter with its insurers as well as the contractors involved.

Other Notable Cases:

  • Michael and his team successfully prosecuted two barge breakaway cases resulting from Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda for a maritime client recovering the damages associated with the loss and/or repair of the barges when they broke free from the fleets. The cases also involved successfully defending against claims by other parties seeking recovery of damages allegedly caused by the barges after they broke away from the fleets.
  • After obtaining a favorable jury verdict against a major insurance company for underground blowout coverage, Michael successfully argued for the application of statutory penalty interest under the Texas Insurance Code recovering more than $1.2 million in late-payment interest. The award was appealed by the insurer and upheld by the U.S. Fifth Circuit.

 

 

Involvement

Professional

  • Liskow, Member of the firm’s Board of Directors
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel - Board of Directors
    • Membership Vice-President, 2023-Present
    • Legislative Vice-President, 2021-2023
    • Programs Vice-President, 2019-2021
    • Houston/Galveston Regional Vice President, 2018-2019
    • District #19 Director, 2015-2018
    • Membership Committee, 2018-2019; Publications Committee, 2016-2018; Programs Committee, 2015-2016; 2019 TADC Deposition "Boot Camp" Co-Chair; 2016 Trial Academy Faculty Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel, Former Member – Environmental and Energy Law Committee Vice Chair, Webinars, 2019-2021; Vice Chair, Publications, 2019-2020
  • Texas Bar Foundation – Life Fellow
  • Texas Bar College – Member
  • Houston, Texas State, Louisiana State, U.S. Fifth Circuit, American, and Federal Bar Associations - Member
  • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel - Member
  • The Maritime Law Association of the United States - Associate Member
  • Houston Mariners Club - Member
  • New Orleans Bar Association – Young Lawyers Section, Board of Directors; Chair-elect, 2003-2004; Treasurer, 2002-2003

Community

  • Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), Southern Texas Chapter
    • Houston Community Board, 2020-Present
    • Gulf Coast Chapter Board of Directors, 2013-2019; Promise Ball Gala Underwriting Chair, 2018-2021; Corporate Development Committee, 2018-2021; 2018 Promise Ball Gala Fund A Cure Committee; 2016 Promise Ball Gala Fund A Cure Committee; 2015 Board of Directors Fast Start Award; 2015 Promise Ball Gala Fund A Cure Committee; 2014 Promise Ball Gala Underwriting Committee
    • Gulf Coast Chapter Executive Board of Directors, 2014-2019; At-Large Member, 2017-2019; Nominating and Board Development Chair, 2015-2017; Leadership Giving Committee Chair, 2014-2015
    • Gulf Coast Chapter Advisory Board of Directors, 2019-2020
  • Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – World's Championship Bar-B-Que Committee, 2008-Present

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Admiralty and Maritime Law, 2021-2025
  • Chambers USA – Ranked Nationally in Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York), 2020-2024
  • Texas Super Lawyers "Rising Star," Transportation/Maritime, 2008-2009 and 2011-2012
  • Professionals on the Fast Track, HTEXAS Magazine, January 2009

Credentials

Education

  • Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D., 1999)
    • Louisiana Law Review, Senior Editor, 1998-1999
  • University of Virginia (B.A., Psychology, 1994)

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1999
  • Texas, 2004

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Texas, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District, Texas, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Texas, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District, Texas, 2004
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1999
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Louisiana, 1999
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District, Louisiana, 1999
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Louisiana, 1999

Presentations

  • "Casualty Investigations/Preservation of Evidence," Liskow Maritime Seminar, October 15, 2024, Houston, Texas
  • "Casualty Investigations/Preservation of Evidence," Liskow Maritime Seminar, October 26, 2022, Houston, Texas
  • “Choice of Law & Why it Matters,” 2021 Texas Association of Defense Counsel Spring Meeting, April 29, 2021, Chicago, IL
  • “Ethics and Integrity in the Age of Technological Disruption,” 2019 Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference, September 17, 2019, Houston, TX
  • “Deposing Medical Witnesses” and “Deposition Hall of Shame/Fame: Learning from Others’ Mistakes,” 2019 TADC Deposition “Boot Camp,” October 4, 2019, Houston, TX – Seminar Co-Chair
  • “Recent Developments,” Michael A. Golemi and Stephen W. Wiegand, Liskow & Lewis 2018 Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 2018, Houston, TX
  • “Well Damage Issues,” Michael A. Golemi and Matt Jones, Liskow & Lewis 2018 Energy Seminar, January 2018, Houston, TX
  • “Recent Trends in Contractual Risk Allocation (Post-Macondo),” Institute for Energy Law 67th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference,  February 18, 2016, Houston, Texas
  • “Row Your Boat: Admiralty in 2015,” Texas Association of Defense Counsel Transportation Law Seminar: Planes, Trains, Automobiles  (And Ships!), May 14, 2015, Fort Worth, Texas
  • "Contractual Indemnity and Insurance: The Basics," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 30, 2014,  Houston, Texas
  • "Casualty Strikes – Analysis of an Offshore Incident," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 30, 2014, Houston, Texas
  • "Indemnity in Deep Water: Indemnity Agreements Offshore and the Deepwater Horizon," Lorman Education Services Maritime Personal  Injury Seminar, New Orleans, LA, April 2013
  • “Trends in the Oilfield Regulatory Environment: Legislative, Regulatory and Legal,” Liskow & Lewis Oilfield, Indemnity & Insurance  Seminar, November 8, 2012
  • "Contractual Risk Allocation in a Post-Macondo Environment," Willis North American Energy Conference, Lost Pines, TX, May 2012
  • "Contracts – How Has Macondo Impacted the Way We Do Business With Each Other?" Willis North American Energy Conference, San    Antonio, TX, April 2011
  • "OPA 90—Liability and Scope of Recovery," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield, Maritime & Indemnity Seminar, Houston, TX, October 2010
  • "Environmental Litigation Update – Toxic Torts and Legacy Lawsuits," Liskow & Lewis Environmental Seminar, Houston, TX, May 2009
  • "Panel Discussion – Anatomy of an Oilfield Casualty Part I," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, Houston,  TX, March 2009
  • "Allocation of Risks by Contract," Marsh Upstream Energy Insurance and Risk Management Course, Houston, TX, March 2008
  • "Disaster Scenario: Onshore Hurricane Crisis Resolution," IQPC's Advanced Contract Risk Management in Upstream Oil and Gas,  Houston, TX, June 2007
  • "Panel Discussion – Force Majeure, Business Interruption, and Related Hurricane Issues – What to be Aware of Before and After a  Hurricane Hits," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, Houston, TX, November 2006
  • "Contractual Risk Issues and Indemnification," Marsh Upstream Energy Insurance and Risk Management Course, Houston, TX, October  2006
  • "Disaster Scenario: Onshore Hurricane Crisis Resolution," IQPC's Advanced Contract Risk Management in Upstream Oil and Gas,  Houston, TX, June 2006
  • "Allocation of Risks by Contract," Strategic Research Institute's 3rd Annual Insurance and Risk Management for the Oil and Gas  Industry Summit, Houston, TX, March 2006
  • "Oil Spills – How to Recover Your Response Costs From the Oil Spill Trust Fund," Liskow and Lewis Environmental Seminar, Houston,  TX, January 2006
  • "Effective Use of Graphics and Document Management During Trial," Liskow & Lewis Toxic Torts Seminar, New Orleans, LA, April 2004
  • "Your Third Party Contractor (Tankerman, Mid-Stream Fuel Providers, etc.) Causes a Reportable Spill – How Does This Affect You and  How Should You Handle the Problem," Liskow & Lewis Environmental Seminar, New Orleans, LA, May 2003

Publications

  • "Majority Rules: Ninth Circuit Joins in Treating Contribution and Indemnity Claims as Separate in Limitation Proceedings," Liskow's The Maritime Law Blog, October 31, 2024
  • "Juries cannot simply pick a number and put it in the blank.” – Texas Supreme Court Remands Case Involving $15 Million Jury Award for Noneconomic Damages Where Award was Unsupported and Arguments to the Jury Unsubstantiated," Liskow's The Energy Law Blog, June 21, 2023
  • "Settling the Split: The Supreme Court Clarifies Unavailability of Punitive Damages for Seamen in Dutra Group v. Batterton," Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Fall/Winter 2019
  • “Hoping for the Best, Preparing for the Worst:  ‘Don’t Worry, We Have Indemnity,’” State Bar Litigation Section Report The Advocate, Volume 78, Spring 2017
  • “Recent Trends in Contractual Risk Allocation (Post-Macondo),” Institute for Energy Law 67th Annual Oil & Gas Law Conference, February 18, 2016, Houston, Texas
  • "A Rose by Any Other Name: Texas Court of Appeals Says Nuisance “Symptoms of Discomfort” Require the Same Proof of Causation as “Disease,” Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, October 20, 2015
  • "Contractual Indemnity and Insurance: The Basics," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 30, 2014, Houston, Texas
  • "Indemnity in Deep Water: Indemnity Agreements Offshore and the Deepwater Horizon," Lorman Education Services Maritime Personal Injury Seminar, New Orleans, LA, April 2013
  • “Trends in the Oilfield Regulatory Environment: Legislative, Regulatory and Legal,” Liskow & Lewis Oilfield, Indemnity & Insurance Seminar, November 8, 2012
  • Selected Non-Litigation and Pre-Litigation Issues Arising After the Storms: A Three-Part Series: Part One – Force Majeure
  • Selected Non-Litigation and Pre-Litigation Issues Arising After the Storms: A Three-Part Series: Part Two – Selected Insurance Issues
  • Selected Non-Litigation and Pre-Litigation Issues Arising After the Storms: A Three-Part Series: Part Three – The Oil Pollution Act of 1990

After Hours

“I am an avid football fan, particularly LSU football, and I have enjoyed coaching my kids’ youth football, baseball, and soccer teams and coaching our high school’s 7v7 football team. Another passion of mine is helping JDRF work toward improving treatments and eventually finding a cure for my daughter’s Type I Diabetes.”

WHAT’S TRENDING WITH Michael

  • News
    05.15.25
    Kathryn Gonski and Michael Golemi Elected to Firm’s Board of Directors
    2 minute read
  • Blogs
    10.31.24
    Majority Rules: Ninth Circuit Joins in Treating Contribution and Indemnity Claims as Separate in Limitation Proceedings
    5 minute read
  • News
    08.15.24
    118 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2025
    5 minute read
  • News
    06.25.24
    Liskow Recognized for Its Maritime Practice in 2024 Legal 500 United States Guide
    2 minute read
  • News
    06.06.24
    Twenty-Seven Liskow Lawyers, Ten Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.17.23
    114 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2024
    5 minute read
  • Blogs
    06.21.23
    “Juries cannot simply pick a number and put it in the blank.” – Texas Supreme Court Remands Case Involving $15 Million Jury Award for Noneconomic Damages Where Award was Unsupported and Arguments to the Jury Unsubstantiated
    5 minute read
  • News
    06.01.23
    Twenty-Six Liskow Lawyers, Ten Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.18.22
    85 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings) 2023
    4 minute read
  • News
    06.10.22
    JDRF Names Liskow 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year 
    2 minute read
View All
Liskow & Lewis, APLC
Arrow Icon

future-focused

  • Baton Rouge
  • Houston
  • Lafayette
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • © 2025 Liskow & Lewis, APLC
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Employee Login
Site by
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
  • Team
  • Practices
  • Insights
  • Offices
  • Pro Bono
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • DEI
  • The Energy Law Blog
  • Gulf Coast Business Law Blog
  • The Maritime Law Blog