Jonny Logan and Ekkehard Stade are our day 1 keynote speakers; the topic of their address is Regulatory, Technology, and Talent – What Drives the Offshore Energy Transition In the US?

Jonny Logan

Jonny Logan is the Chief Executive of Global Maritime Group but would be more likely to introduce himself as a Naval Architect and Marine Warranty Surveyor. A Masters graduate of the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, Jonny spent the first part of his career working in goal and risk-based design and assessment of passenger ships, including several elements of Royal Caribbean’s ‘Oasis Class’ vessels. After moving to the offshore industry, Jonny specialized in mobile and permanent mooring system design and installation, as well as Marine Warranty Surveying in subsea and floating asset oil & gas field development. In the last 10 years or so, he has developed a real passion for the offshore renewables sector and has personally worked on the design, construction, and operation of more than 25 offshore wind and floating offshore wind projects in Europe, Asia and the US and been a part of many ‘world firsts’ in this fast-moving industry. However, do not worry; he is still a firm believer in the world’s need for a healthy hydrocarbon industry in the foreseeable future.

Five-times a former commonwealth champion in the sport of rowing and a proud Scot, Jonny resides on a small farm in his native Scotland with his wife and two children; and despite sharing a name with a two-time Eurovision Song Contest winner, is actually rather poor at singing.

Ekkehard Stade

Ekkehard has been with Global Maritime since 2008. He has been with the Maritime Industry as a Mariner for almost 30 years. Before joining Global Maritime, he achieved an MSc in Maritime Operations and Management from City University, London.

Initially working as a DP consultant, Marine Warranty Surveyor, Expert Witness, and Project Mariner, he moved on to build the German operation for Global Maritime, becoming a landmark for offshore wind project development and associated infrastructure.  Now the COO for the Marine business unit in GM, he has no time left to follow his passion for competitive race catamaran sailing save a few spins on the Baltic, where he lives in Luebeck.

Ekkehard serves as the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors of the Society of Marine Warranty Surveyors (SOMWS) and is engaged in cooperation with JNRC. He also sits on the Europe and Africa committee of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA).

Energy Markets: And the Future of Oil and Gas

Tom McNulty

Tom McNulty has 27 years of experience working across the entire energy value chain. He draws on a rare combination of industry, Wall Street, consulting, and government experience to provide his clients with transaction, commercial analytics, market strategy, litigation, and valuation opinion services. Tom is a nationally recognized energy industry expert, and has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business, NTD, and Bloomberg TV. As an advisor, and in his corporate career, Tom has delivered more than $56 billion in energy-related transaction, valuation, restructuring, and litigation projects. He has also advised on, or executed, $14 billion in M&A and principal investment deals, and executed or valued more than $15 billion notional in derivative instruments. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Center for ESG and Sustainability.

Tom studied military and diplomatic history at Yale, where he was a varsity football letterman as a walk-on. Following graduation, he went to work on Wall Street with Brown Brothers Harriman and Co. (“BBH”), the nation’s oldest private bank. He was a Federal funds and Eurodollar trader, and also worked in the bank’s international treasury department. During his time with BBH he was selected for training in the elite US Foreign Service and was commissioned a Foreign Service Officer in November 1990. Volunteering for critical threat postings, he served tours of duty in Southeast Asia and in Russia. He was also a Staff Officer at headquarters in Washington DC, where he worked on energy security and trade issues.

Tom left the Foreign Service to pursue his MBA at Northwestern University, where he studied Analytical Finance and Accounting.

Following business school, Tom moved to Houston and worked with three Fortune 100 energy companies: Enron International, Duke Energy, and Plains All American. At all three companies he worked on the M&A teams and in Corporate Treasury. These roles involved transaction due diligence, strategic planning, corporate finance, risk management, and market analysis responsibilities. Tom’s career has included substantial cross-border work in Asia, Europe, and in Latin America. His corporate experience enhances his ability to advise clients with complex transaction, litigation, valuation, and business strategy challenges. More specifically, Tom is an expert in corporate finance, deal execution, post-merger integration and value harvesting

Technology Developments in the Marine and Offshore Industries

Gareth Burton

Experienced technical leader facilitating technology implementation. Currently leading a team of highly committed, qualified, multidisciplinary engineers in executing research and developing standards.

These activities drive a reduction in the carbon and greenhouse gas emissions footprint, while serving as Vice President at Technology ABS Group.

Examining the Impact of Traditional Legislative and Regulatory Efforts on Technology and Innovation in the Maritime Sector

Joe Walsh

Joe’s practice involves a full range of maritime, energy, and environmental matters at Collier Walsh Nakazawa . He is perhaps best known for his considerable experience in oil and chemical spills, casualty investigations, crisis response, and litigation stemming from maritime and industrial casualties.

Joe has significant trial, arbitration, and public hearing experience relating to admiralty/maritime cases, environmental pollution matters, commercial and construction disputes, personal injury, and regulatory proceedings including those before the U.S. Coast Guard, South Coast Air Quality Management District and Cal-OSHA. Joe has served as lead counsel for Responsible Parties and their underwriters involved in marine and on-shore pollution incidents, coordinating Unified Command activities, managing and defending third-party claims, and challenging and negotiating Natural Resource Damage Assessments.

Joe has also defended against civil and criminal enforcement actions initiated by federal, state and local agencies relating to pollution, illegal dumping and alleged violations of federal and international environmental laws (“MARPOL”). He has led internal investigations and environmental audits and has implemented environmental compliance programs in defense of these actions. Joe has also represented parties alleged by the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) to have violated state emission laws including non-compliant fuel use and at-berth/cold ironing requirements.

Day 2 Keynote Speaker: Energy Insurance, a Pivotal Moment?

James Grainger

James joined the Watkins Syndicate in September 2001 working in the energy team. He remained there for over twenty years, during the rebranding to Munich Re Syndicate, eventually becoming CUO of Energy. In addition to running the underwriting and management of the energy and renewables book he also headed the Aviation, Satellite, and Marine-Retro portfolios, sat on the board of MRSL Singapore as well as the Syndicate Finance Committee and Reinsurance Steering Committee. In 2023 James joined Probitas Syndicate 1492 to set up a new energy portfolio underwriting through the AdA Consortium and with a focus on developing a broad portfolio of international upstream and midstream clients.

United Cajun Navy: 1st Shrimp Boots on the Ground

Brian Trascher

Brian S. Trascher is a New Orleans businessman who has helped to bridge the divide that often exists between business and politics. As a Senior Partner at Gulf South Strategies, a local governmental relations and business development firm, Brian has worked to give both access and a voice in local and state government to a diverse roster of clients that spans everything from local non-profit organizations to multi-billion dollar corporations on the Fortune 500 list. Gulf South Strategies is also the firm largely credited as the political force that paved the way for Uber Technologies’ recent entrance into the Louisiana market. As the Principal of Laws and Sausage, LLC,

Brian S. Trascher delivers keynote speeches about the public policy process to corporations and trade organizations. Brian also offers corporate consulting and training through the Laws and Sausage Citizen Advocacy Workshop. In 2017, Brian published “Laws and Sausage: You Never Want To See Either One Get Made!” The book is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle Brian S. Trascher is also the Principal at CCS Business Services, a small business consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs get their projects off the ground. CCS also specializes in mergers and acquisitions of existing small businesses, providing turnaround services as well as marketing and structuring for resale consulting services. Trascher’s portfolio of companies include local brands in the car wash and food service industries, as well as international franchise brands like Planet Beach Automated Spas.

Brian S. Trascher is a Board Member of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Board Member of the United Cajun Navy, Past-President of the Third District Kiwanis Club of New Orleans, and a Parishioner and Lector at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in New Orleans. Brian also serves on the board of the Louisiana Living History Foundation, the entity which coordinated the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans. Brian S. Trascher is a 1993 graduate of Brother Martin High School, a 1997 graduate of Louisiana State University, and a 2007 Fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics.

Site-Assessments of Jack-ups for Offshore Wind Farms

Alberto Morandi

Alberto Morandi is the General Manager in Houston of GustoMSC since 2017, engaged in developing Energy Transition offshore solutions. He is a Naval Architect graduated from the University of São Paulo with a PhD in Reliability of Marine Structures from the University of Glasgow. He has 35 years of experience and is a Professional Engineer practicing in the State of Texas since 2004. Presently chairing the Technical & Research Committee of the Society of Naval Architect and Marine Engineers (SNAME) where he is a Fellow and received a Special Award for Jack-up Technology in 2017. Authored over 60 publications, articles and webinars and received a Pioneering Technology Award for Mooring Technology from the Houston Offshore Technology Center in 2015.

A Turbulent Affair : Things that Go Bump in the Night

Moderator

Charles Honner

Charles serves as the Managing Director, Americas for SteegeXP, a global team of independent adjusters specializing in the energy, power, renewables and marine sectors.  He holds an Honors degree in Chemical Engineering, retains professional Chartered status with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (UK) and is a Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council.

He also holds ACII and MCILA accreditation, along with an MBA through Curtin University (Australia). Charles has over 13 years’ Process engineering experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, spanning all phases of project development and operations, for both onshore and offshore upstream developments.  He commenced his career as an Independent Adjuster in Singapore in 2014 and has managed a variety of complex Energy, Petrochem and Power claims in the APAC, MENA and Americas regions.  Charles moved to Houston, USA, in January 2020.

Panel

Michael Unger

Matt Senn

Mr. Matt Senn is a Senior Project Engineer and a licensed Professional Engineer with a strong background in renewable energy power generation (Megawatt class wind turbines). With 12.5 years of experience in wind turbine construction, commissioning, upgrades, operation and service he understands the utility-grade wind turbine from top to bottom. He specializes in failure analysis of low-voltage, high-power generators/motors and their associated control systems. He has experience analyzing failed deep-groove ball bearings installed on generators and motors. He has performed root cause analysis on large gauge insulated conductor cables, high-power vacuum tube contactors, generator slip rings with carbon brushes, power factor correction capacitors and ultrasonic anemometers. He has experience designing installation of motor current monitoring systems, condition monitoring systems, large gauge conductor cable repair and engineered tower power and light systems. He has assisted in the development of electrical safety lock-out/tag-out programs and authored many repair instructions for electrical components.

At Envista, he has led or assisted in the technical investigation of over 32 wind turbine losses.

Anti-Idemnity Laws: Idemnification Agreements in the Oilfield

Moderator

Norman “Skeet” Anseman

Norman “Skeet” Anseman was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up in San Francisco, Denver, and Lafayette, Louisiana. Skeet has been practicing law for over twenty-three years and opened the Lafayette office of Perrier & Lacoste in May of 2020. Skeet’s practice concentrates on retail and restaurant defense, maritime, commercial transportation, casualty litigation, and products liability.

Skeet has extensive practice and trial experience representing restaurants, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retail establishments in courts at the state and federal levels. He has also tried matters before several administrative agencies, including the US Department of Labor, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, and the Louisiana Workforce Commission. He has authored several appellate briefs, argued before federal and state appellate courts, and has authored a successful certiorari opposition brief before the US Supreme Court. He is licensed to practice in Louisiana and Texas.

Skeet has served as lead counsel in several mass marine casualty claims, including representation in the Deepwater Horizon incident. Skeet utilizes his practical litigation experience to advise clients on a variety of energy and offshore contract matters and issues. He works with companies to draft all-encompassing contracts that take full advantage of the company’s risk allocation, including indemnity and insurance protection. He has broad experience analyzing, drafting, and revising master service agreements and onshore and offshore drilling contracts. Additionally, he routinely negotiates and drafts various commercial and financial contracts for local businesses.

Skeet maintains an active seminar and speaking schedule. He is on the adjunct faculty at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he teaches Trial Advocacy. Skeet is an AV peer rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected to the Louisiana Super Lawyers List for nine years. In 2019, he was recognized as one of Acadiana Profile Magazine Top Lawyers in the field of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Skeet lives in Lafayette with his wife Vanessa and is the proud father of three boys.

Panel

Marcus Tucker

Marcus Tucker represents industrial and commercial organizations in litigation arising out of high-risk casualty events and commercial disputes. With a problem-solver attitude, he excels at simplifying disputes into understandable issues. Through early assessment and prioritization, Marcus develops strategies for efficient resolution through aggressive representation.

Marcus’ track record of handling complex risk transfer and contract matters makes him uniquely qualified to solve high-stakes issues, from contractual indemnity and additional insured claims stemming from casualty events to commercial disputes related to construction and other business projects. With his background in the oil and gas, marine, construction and transportation fields and deep understanding of how insurance concerns affect business operations, he knows what’s at stake for clients and keeps their goals at the center of his counsel and litigation strategy while at Phelps Dunbar LLP.

Ryan Saylor

Ryan is an experienced litigator, having been an U.S. Army Judge Advocate, Assistant District Attorney, and Partner at a national law firm. He strives to provide a personal touch to all his clients according to his professional motto, “Making your problems my problems, so we can solve them together.” Ryan has experience litigating all matter of cases including insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, construction defect, personal injury, premises and landlord liability, oil field and industrial death and injury, and trucking accident cases. Ryan has also handled appeals on behalf of oil well operators and transportation companies.

Ryan recently earned an MBA, which he has used to advise multiple start-up and growing businesses on matters of risk management. He enjoys working with companies at all states of growth and operation to help them become successful while minimizing the risk of costly, unnecessary litigation through proactive planning and deliberate strategizing. In addition to being an experienced litigator at Ylaw Firm, Ryan is an accomplished pilot who continues to work as an active flight instructor.

Patrick Holscher

Patrick Holscher is a Wyoming native who received his Bachelors of Science in Geology from the University of Wyoming in 1986. He continued his education by earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming’s Law School in 1990.

Patrick’s bar admissions include all state and federal Wyoming Courts, as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Shoshone and Arapaho Court of the Wind River Indian Reservation.

His practice includes civil litigation; having acted as counsel in cases in Wyoming’s state and Federal courts as well as in the Shoshone and Arapaho Court of the Wind River Reservation, as well as transactional and municipal law. Patrick is married with two children; and enjoys hunting, fishing, and photography. He and his wife also ranch in Natrona County, Wyoming.

Vanessa Anseman

Vanessa has handled a wide variety of matters including products liability, labor and employment, insurance coverage, maritime personal injuries, offshore platform claims, contractual indemnity disputes, vessel collisions and other commercial disputes.

Vanessa graduated top of her class from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she was a member of the Louisiana Law Review as well as the Order of the Coif.

Bigger Ships, Even Bigger Problems

Peter Townsend

Peter Townsend has worked in the marine insurance market in London for over 45 years. Truly the “Ancient Mariner”! A Graduate in Economics and a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute he has been an Underwriter at Lloyd’s syndicates, a Lloyd’s Broker and head of marine London at Swiss re.

Peter is a past Chairman of the Joint Hull Committee, and has served on various London market committees as well as the International Union of Marine Insurers (IUMI) Ocean hull committee and still serves as a committee member of the Insurance Institute of London. During his period as a Lloyd’s Broker he has worked in both the direct and reinsurance markets developing bespoke products for clients.

Marine Warranty Surveying – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Moderator

Steven Weiss

Steven P. Weiss has built an illustrious career in the insurance industry, holding several prestigious positions over the years. Since November 2017, he has been the President of Steven P. Weiss Consulting L.L.C., based in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Texas Area, offering remote consultancy services. In this role, he has showcased his expertise by providing top-tier solutions for clients, including Underwriters, Brokers, and Insureds, specifically in the Marine and Energy Industry. His areas of specialization encompass Project Cargo, Cargo, Claims, Marine Warranty Surveying, Policy and guideline writing, Review, and Expert Witness work. Furthermore, Steven has held significant roles at Munich Re Specialty Group Insurance Services, Roanoke Insurance Group Inc/Munich RE Speciality Group N.A., Aspen Insurance Group, and Liberty International Underwriters. In these capacities, he has led various teams, focusing on the Ocean and Inland Marine sectors, and has been instrumental in planning, strategy, and sustainable growth initiatives.

On the educational front, Steven is a proud alumnus of Boston University Metropolitan College, where he earned his Master of Science in Insurance Management between September 2015 and December 2017. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the Virginia Military Institute, which he attended from August 1982 to May 1986. Further cementing his credentials in the insurance domain, Steven acquired the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter certification from The American Institute For Property and Casualty Underwriters, a testament to his dedication and proficiency in the field. His Claims Management and Operations Management skills have been pivotal in his contributions to the industry.

Panel

Captain Stephen Norman

Stephen specializes in Marine Warranty and Marine Operations and has forged a broad interaction with the Insurance Industry, Oil and Gas Operators, Renewables Developers, Vessel Owners and Operators. He drives strategic development of new products and industry support packages particularly within Maritime, Cyber and Climate Change.

He is passionate about the role of the Marine Warranty Surveyor and sits on the board of the Society of Marine Warranty Surveyors (SOMWS) regularly advising on best practice for MWS engagement. A master mariner, he has driven a number of vessels as Master before taking a position with Noble Denton Consultants which became part of DNV. After numerous offshore engagements involving transportation & installation, marine warranty, due diligence and decommissioning he is now the Senior Business Development manager for Noble Denton marine services.

A strong communicator and networker, he is proficient in bringing together teams that deliver customer solutions, reducing the complexity of interface management and maximizing client satisfaction. He is responsible for delivering strategic growth of the brand and building a more comprehensive understanding of how the wider service lines can be utilised in industry and as part of a more digitalised society.

Clive Magnus

Clive joins CNA Hardy after 13 years at Catlin Group, where he held multiple positions, most notably Group Operations Director and Energy Underwriter.

During his time at Catlin, Clive was responsible for centralising a number of Key Underwriting functions as well as setting up International back-office operations in Malaysia.

Nuclear Verdict Trends and Resulting Insurability Issues

Moderator

Kelly M. Haas

Kelly M. Haas is a partner in the Houston office of Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC.  Her practice is focused in the areas of admiralty and maritime law and energy-related litigation matters in both state and federal courts. Her practice consists of defending vessel owners and operators, as well as offshore companies, from claims arising from collisions, property damage, personal injury, maritime pollution, environmental issues, cargo matters, and contract disputes; and regularly includes matters involving the Jones Act, Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Offshore Service Industries, and Transportation. She has extensive experience conducting shipboard investigations and, in the arrest, and seizure of vessels in the federal courts, both from the standpoint of arresting vessels and from the standpoint of obtaining the release of arrested vessels.  Kelly guides her clients through every stage of the legal process, from pre-litigation incident investigation, risk analysis and case evaluation to motion practice, discovery, mediation, and, if necessary, trial.

Kelly is an active member of the Galveston County Bar Association and served as the President in 2016 – 2017. She is a Proctor member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States; the Treasurer of the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute; and a former Skipper of Houston Mariners Club. She has achieved a Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Overall Peer Rating for Admiralty and Maritime Litigation and was selected by Super Lawyers as a Texas Super Lawyer (2014 – 2017, 2019) and a Texas Rising Star (2013 – 2014). In 2017 and 2018, she was recognized by Houstonia Magazine as a Houston Top Lawyer for Admiralty/Maritime Litigation.

Panel

Susan Noe Wilson

Susan Noe Wilson is a partner at SBSB Eastham in the Houston office. In her legal career, she has spent the majority of her practice in the insurance defense arena, concentrating on marine and energy matters. She has handled and tried Jones Act cases, 905(b) claims, coverage disputes, commercial matters, and land-based and offshore-drilling-related disputes in courts throughout the Gulf Coast region.Susan has significant experience in the defense of maritime personal injury claims in the U.S. Gulf Coast oilfield industry, as well as extensive experience in insurance coverage and bad-faith litigation for maritime and energy-related insurance policies. In 2016, she was named one of the “Texas Legal Leaders” by The Dallas Morning News. In the same year, and again in 2017, she was awarded “Top Attorney in Texas” by Texas Monthly in peer recognition and in her personal career achievements. She also received the “Super Lawyer in Texas” award in 2017.

Susan’s work this past year has led her to be awarded one of the “10 Best Lawyers,” according to the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys in 2018. This award particularly outlines her outstanding recognition in client satisfaction and service.Susan is licensed to practice law in Texas and California. She is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Gina Venezia

Gina Venezia is an esteemed legal expert with an illustrious career spanning several decades.  Currently serving as the General Counsel at NorthStandard, Ms. Venezia has been instrumental in shaping the company’s legal framework since February 2023. Before her tenure at NorthStandard, she held the esteemed position of General Counsel for Standard Club, a distinguished segment of NorthStandard, from April 2021 to February 2023. Her professional journey also boasts a 22-year association with Freehill Hogan & Mahar LLP, where she held the pivotal Partner role from February 2000 to March 2022.

On the academic front, Ms. Venezia’s credentials are equally commendable. She earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) with a specialization in International Business/Trade/Commerce from the renowned New York University School of Law in 2000. This was complemented by a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Accounting and Finance from Louisiana State University. Further solidifying her academic foundation, she pursued a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. With her profound expertise and vast experience, Ms. Venezia is undeniably a leading figure in the legal sector, particularly in international business and commerce.

Stephanie Espinoza

Stephanie Espinoza is an experienced litigator providing legal counsel and support on maritime litigation and general operational matters as Assistant General Counsel in the Dredging Division for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC.

Reliance Speaker

Michael Sturley