• Skip to content

Liskow & Lewis, APLC

future-focused

  • Team
  • Practices
  • Insights
R. Keith Jarrett
Main image for R. Keith Jarrett

R. KEITH JARRETT

Shareholder

,
New Orleans
T  504.556.4133
rkjarrett@liskow.com
Connect with me
Linkedin

Practices

  • Litigation
  • Maritime Litigation & Casualty Response
  • Construction
  • Blowouts & Well Control Issues
  • Land Loss Litigation
  • Personal Injury
  • Coast Guard & NTSB Hearings
  • Personal Injury & Wrongful Death
  • Construction Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Emergency & Incident Response
  • Energy – Litigation
  • Legacy/Oilfield Contamination Litigation
  • Toxic Tort, Mass Torts & Class Actions

Assistant

Anna Jackson

504.556.4045

“Trials are about persuasion. What makes persuasion easier? For me, it’s three things: I prepare really hard, I have a knack for translating complex material into simpler, more understandable arguments, and I get along well with others. Combining those traits helps obtain superior results.”

Overview

Keith Jarrett is recognized as an accomplished trial lawyer.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Keith is known for handling complex litigation involving maritime accidents, environmental damage, toxic torts, ship construction, and oilfield disputes. Keith’s extensive lead trial experience includes:

  • Well blowouts, and pipeline and drilling rig accidents
  • Environmental contamination and coastal erosion lawsuits
  • Wrongful death, personal injury, occupational disease, and diving-related claims
  • Shipbuilding disputes
  • Vessel collisions
  • Oil spills
  • Indemnity and insurance coverage
  • Class-action defense

Keith has also litigated claims involving catastrophic explosions and fires, engineering malpractice, property construction, and oilfield reservoir damage. 

Keith formerly served as Liskow’s President and Managing Partner from 2009 to 2015. Before joining Liskow, he clerked for the Honorable Alvin Rubin of the United States Court of Appeals. And prior to law school he sailed as an engineer and deck officer aboard oceangoing ships in foreign and domestic trade, and served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. 

Talks about

#triallawyer #maritimelitigation #complexlitigation #toxictorts #energylitigation

Highlights

Client Comment

“Keith is a highly skilled litigator with great instincts in the courtroom. Keith exhibits the highest levels of professionalism.” – Best Lawyers Client Comment, 2023

Recognition

Keith is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America. He was also recently awarded the New Orleans Bar Association’s Arceneaux Professionalism Award.

Client Comment

“I work closely with Keith Jarrett, Scott Seiler, Charles Wilmore and Devin Reid. Great Team. Very Knowledgeable, Subject Matter Expertise, Practical Sound Advice, Cost Efficient, Responsive, Dependable, Dedicated.” – J. Tracey Rogers, bp

Notable Experience

Maritime

  • Currently representing a state government in pursuit of damages suffered by critical infrastructure in a notable ship allision.
  • Obtained a multi-million dollar jury verdict for extra costs incurred by a major oil company after a survey vessel collided with its chartered drilling rig
  • Defended a major oil company from claims arising out of a well blowout and the sinking of a semi-submersible drilling rig
  • Successfully defended an independent oil company at trial from multi-million-dollar lawsuit by a pipeline owner who claimed its pipeline was damaged by a semi-submersible drilling rig
  • Represented pipeline owners in trial seeking damages for a pipeline that was struck by a drilling rig that broke free during a hurricane
  • Obtained a multi-million-dollar verdict in favor of a pipeline owner whose transmission line was damaged by a pipelay barge
  • Obtained favorable result for a shipyard with a multi-million-dollar builder’s risk claim for an oil tanker that suffered major structural damage during construction
  • Defeated class certification in a lawsuit alleging the monopolization of marine salvage services after Hurricane Katrina
  • Defeated class certification for a vessel owner facing allegations that toxic fumes escaping from a barge injured citizens in nearby city
  • Obtained a favorable result for vessel owner in multi-million-dollar claim against a shipyard for cost overruns associated with construction of a dive support vessel
  • Regularly defends a leading marine construction company from suits by maritime workers claiming injury through offshore construction and diving operations

Environmental

  • Defended a major oil company in a Clean Water Act penalty trial following an oil spill of national significance
  • Successfully defended several oil companies in a claim by state agency seeking billions of dollars for alleged marsh loss in south Louisiana
  • Defending a major oil company from claims by parish governments seeking damages for land loss allegedly caused by non-compliance with environmental permits
  • Defended a major oil company at trial from claims by a land owner seeking billions of dollars in damages for alleged oilfield contamination resulting from decades of oil and gas production
  • Defended a jury trial against a major oil company accused of contaminating 18,000 acres of marsh through 40 years of oil and gas production

Other

  • Prevailed in over 200 Daubert motions striking unreliable expert testimony on medical causation, resulting in dismissal of those lawsuits
  • Obtained a $21 million jury verdict for a large independent oil company in suit seeking indemnity for monies spent in settlement of disputed wrongful death claims
  • Obtained a jury verdict against insurer for bad faith handling of a first-party toxic mold claim
  • Secured a defense jury verdict in favor of an oil company accused of injuring a truck driver during the loading of a supply vessel
  • Defended an exploration company from claims on behalf of seven workers killed during a well blowout that occurred during snubbing operations in the deadliest such accident in U.S. history
  • Defended a production company from claims filed on behalf of four workers killed during a tank explosion during start-up operations at an on-shore oil production site

Involvement

Professional

  • Tulane Admiralty Law Institute, National Advisory Board
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • New Orleans, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States
  • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
  • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
  • Louisiana Bar Foundation

Community

  • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association

Recognition

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • New Orleans Bar Association’s Arceneaux Professionalism Award, 2022
  • Lawdragon "500 Leading Litigators in America," 2023-2025
  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year," Admiralty and Maritime Law, New Orleans, 2022
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • New Orleans Bar Association's Distinguished Maritime Lawyer Award Recipient, 2016
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty and Maritime Law, 2010–2025
  • Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star, 2018-2023
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Transportation & Maritime, 2010–2025
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Top 50 Attorney in Louisiana, 2024
  • New Orleans Magazine's List of "Top Lawyers," 2015–2019
  • Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business – Litigation: General Commercial, 2013–2017
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Award, 2011

LOTY Logo for R. Keith Jarrett

Credentials

Education

  • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (B.S., with Highest Honors, 1980)
  • Tulane University Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 1985)
    • Order of the Coif (Top 10%)
    • Tulane Law Review, Editor, 1984-1985

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1985

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District, Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Louisiana

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Alvin B. Rubin, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1985–1986

Presentations

  • ""Is This Love?": Selected Recent Developments in Maritime Law," New Orleans Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, March 23, 2024, Gulf Shores, AL

WHAT’S TRENDING WITH R. Keith

  • News
    05.06.25
    59 Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2025 Louisiana Super Lawyers, Rising Stars
    less than a minute
  • News
    09.24.24
    Liskow Representing State of Maryland in Major Maritime Case Involving Francis Scott Key Bridge
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.27.24
    Keith Jarrett Inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    less than a minute
  • 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
    12.21.23
    Fifty-One Liskow Attorneys Selected to 2024 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
  • News
    09.13.23
    Four Liskow Attorneys Named to 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.17.23
    114 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2024
    5 minute read
  • News
    12.22.22
    Fifty-Five Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2023 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
  • News
    10.04.22
    Lawdragon Names 4 Liskow Lawyers to 2023 500 Leading Litigators in America List
    less than a minute
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