Galveston, TX

Arthur Schechter has been practicing law since 1964, helping thousands of clients in maritime and personal injury claims. He has represented local, national, and international seaman's unions and individual seaman worldwide. His dedication has led to clients naming children, boats, and businesses after him. He previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and as Board Chairman of METRO, where he helped pioneer the Houston light rail. He has received numerous awards, including the highest civilian award from the U.S. Coast Guard, and has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer and a Top Lawyer for the People by H Texas magazine.

Michael P. Doyle

Mike’s trial practice includes the representation of plaintiffs in maritime personal injury, international and trans-national personal injury, including work and holiday injury claims, and insurance bad faith. Mike is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Fellow in the National College of Advocacy of the American Association for Justice. Mike has obtained many multi-million dollar verdicts, judgments, and settlements.

Michael Patrick Doyle

Mike is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Fellow in the National College of Advocacy of the American Association for Justice. Mike has obtained many multi-million dollar verdicts, judgments, and settlements. Mike’s personal injury practice includes the representation of Jones Act and foreign seaman in disputes arising in U.S. waters and around the world. He also represents a number of U.K. residents injured in the U.S. on holiday, as well as working people from various countries who have been injured as a result of the actions of multinational companies. Mike’s insurance bad faith practice includes the representation of workers’ compensation claimants who have had their claims delayed and denied by their insurers and adjusters. In addition, Mike has represented insureds and policy holders against domestic liability and excess insurers, and in transnational coverage disputes against U.K. and E.U. underwriters and company market insurers.

Matt Shaffer joined Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P. in 1992. As a managing partner, he has represented thousands of clients across the United States, including successfully settling the largest single victim Jones Act case on record for a client with a brain injury. He has played a significant role in litigation related to major maritime disasters like the Deepwater Horizon explosion. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial law in Texas and licensed in Colorado. He has been named a Texas Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine every year since 2006, recognized by H Texas magazine as one of Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People, and listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Admiralty and Maritime Law.

Alton C. Todd

Alton C. Todd is a Texan native who has lived in the Galveston/Houston area since 1971. He earned his undergraduate degree from North Texas State University in 1968 and his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University in 1971. He is double board certified in Texas in personal injury trial law and civil trial law, and is nationally certified as a civil trial advocate. With a career spanning over five decades, Alton has won several standout verdicts and earned an impressive assortment of awards, including consistent ranking as a Texas Super Lawyer and being selected as a Top Ten Texas Super Lawyer. He has won and settled cases in excess of $10 million, earning over $500 million in returns. Alton is licensed to practice in Texas and Georgia. He is a past member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is highly respected by his peers for his hard work and ethical behavior.

Joe Terry

Joe Terry is a lifelong resident of Houston, Texas. He earned a BS in International Business from Trinity University and a JD from South Texas College of Law. He was a partner at Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams L.L.P. before co-founding Terry & Thweatt, P.C. with Lee Thweatt. His practice focuses on maritime and offshore accidents, oil field incidents, products liability, 18-wheeler incidents, burn and brain injury matters, serious personal injury, and wrongful death. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Galveston County Bar Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (past Chairman), The Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor in Admiralty), and Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He has been named a Texas Super Lawyer annually and received an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Samuel Kane

Samuel Kane is known for his precision in the courtroom and his relentless dedication to clients. After earning his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Miami School of Law-graduating magna cum laude and receiving the prestigious Order of the Coif distinction-he clerked for District Judge Robert C. Brack in the federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. That experience, seeing cases from a judge’s perspective, shaped the strategic approach he brings to every case. That, plus his years contracting with the Las Cruces public defender’s office handling trials every month, honed his ability to think quickly and advocate effectively in high-pressure situations. In 2004, Samuel founded the Law Offices of Samuel Kane. Since then he has tried more than 1,000 bench and jury cases, and found his passion helping those with serious personal injury matters. Sam is also a licensed commercial pilot, instrument rated and dual-engine rated-a pursuit that mirrors the discipline, focus, and attention to detail he brings to his legal practice. It also makes him very familiar with aviation accidents and the details they involve. When he’s not in the courtroom or in the air, Samuel enjoys staying active and giving back to the Las Cruces community. His work is guided by one clear priority: securing justice for his clients, no matter how complex the fight.