Gray Reed & McGraw is pleased to announce the addition of Julia Palmer and Carrie Weitinger as Members and Shannon Thorne and Monika Moore as Associates to its Houston office.  The addition of these four attorneys has added great depth to the firm's Admiralty, Onshore and Offshore Energy and Insurance Law Practices.

Julia M. (Adams) Palmer, formerly Julia M. Adams, is an active member of the admiralty and energy bar. Her practice focuses on the representation of marine and energy interests, insurers, and insurance brokers. For more than 28 years, Julia has handled marine and energy litigation, including collision cases, hurricane losses, onshore and offshore oil and gas claims, hydraulic fracturing cases, marine and energy products liability litigation, the defense of personal injury and death actions, contract and lien claims, dock and stevedore liabilities and subrogation litigation. Her expertise includes the handling of down hole losses, environmental claims, property damage, business interruption, vessel and dock operations and offshore and marine construction. Julia is often called upon to analyze insurance, indemnity and defense provisions in marine and drilling contracts and issues arising under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Julia counsels domestic and international insurance clients on a wide variety of complex coverage issues. She also works with underwriters to develop policy language. She regularly defends carriers in coverage and bad faith litigation and represents insurance brokers in errors and omissions actions. She received her B.A. from the University of Dayton and her J.D. from the South Texas College of Law. She served as a briefing clerk to US District Court Judge Hugh Gibson.

Carrie Weitinger focuses her litigation practice in the areas of maritime, insurance and general tort claims. With more than 20 years of litigation experience, she is recognized for her abilities both inside and outside the courtroom. Carrie has prosecuted to conclusion cases for both defendants and plaintiffs. This 360-degree view of the legal issues within her areas of expertise provides her with a greater understanding of the business and personal interests of her clients and opposing parties. With this additional insight she can more effectively argue cases at trial or settle cases through negotiation. As a member of Houston’s maritime bar, Carrie has handled numerous disputes within this arena. These cases have involved issues such as property damage, personal injury and death, insurance coverage and professional negligence. In addition to her litigation practice, Carrie also conducts contract and insurance policy reviews for clients within a variety of industries. She received her B.A. from Texas A&M University and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.

Shannon Thorne’s practice consists of marine and energy litigation matters including property damage, insurance coverage, and personal injury. Shannon also has experience representing clients in the areas of pharmaceutical, environmental, and insurance coverage litigation. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Geology from Southern Methodist University and her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Monika Moore focuses on several practice areas including admiralty & maritime, litigation and insurance coverage counseling. Monika has successfully briefed and argued matters before state and federal district courts, Texas appellate courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of London and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center. She is also fluent in Spanish and French.

About Gray Reed & McGraw

Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 120 lawyers practicing in Dallas, Houston and Tyler. Gray Reed & McGraw offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, intellectual property, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.