The Port of Galveston is one of Texas’ busiest ports

Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea, BenMaier & Eastham PLLC (SBSB Eastham) announced today it is opening a new office in Galveston. The addition will allow the firm to enhance its already powerful admiralty and maritime practice in another of the state’s busiest ports.

“As much as we have grown and increased our overall depth with regard to practice areas, admiralty and maritime law remains one of the cornerstones of our practice,” said John Schouest, SBSB Eastham managing partner. “We have a number of clients and cases on Galveston Island, so opening an office there was a natural next step in our growth.”

The new Galveston office, located in the historic 1877 Hunter Building at 306 Kempner Street, Suite 301, becomes SBSB Eastham’s fourth in Texas and its eighth nationally.

SBSB Eastham partner Erik D. Garza has been named managing partner of the Galveston office. An accomplished litigator and former in-house counsel, Mr. Garza’s practice focuses on admiralty and maritime, energy, insurance, and general counsel matters. He is a Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, past President of the Southern District of Texas Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and former Skipper of the Houston Mariners Club.

Mr. Garza has also previously served on the Boards of the Houston International Seafarers Center, Houston Marine & Energy Insurance Conference, and Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. Before joining SBSB Eastham, he served as Vice President and General Counsel for the risk consulting firm ABS Group of Companies, Inc. He also served as Associate General Counsel for ABS Group’s parent company, the international classification society American Bureau of Shipping.

Mr. Garza earned his law degree from The Seton Hall University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.

“We are thrilled to have Erik lead our new Galveston office,” said Mr. Schouest. “I have known him for more than 20 years and not only is he an accomplished trial lawyer, but he is also extremely well-respected in the maritime community. That combination makes him the perfect person to lead and grow our office on the island.”

“I am excited to have the opportunity to lead our new office in Galveston, which has been a thriving maritime commercial center since 1825,” said Mr. Garza. “Opening an office on the island, which is one of the busiest cargo ports in Texas and the fourth largest cruise port in the United States, speaks to the firm’s commitment to our maritime clients and its continued focus on growth. I look forward to working with my partners and colleagues at SBSB Eastham to grow the office in this historic Texas port.”

The Galveston office opens on the heels of what was a monumental year for SBSB’s growth. In June 2024, the firm launched a Dallas office, which is led by a six-partner team. Two months later, it opened an office in Corpus Christi’s historic building, The Chamberlain.

SBSB Eastham is a group of experienced attorneys who have come together to form a law firm focused on client needs. The firm’s goal is to be the go-to resource at every stage of the legal process, bringing deeper experience, deeper commitment and deeper insights to help solve the most complex issues. In consultation or in the courtroom, the firm will aggressively pursue a client’s best interests. For more information about the firm and its team of attorneys, visit www.sbsb-eastham.com.

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