Michael K. Eaves

Managing Partner

Mr. Eaves is an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell¹. He concentrates his practice in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, appellate work, business and commercial litigation, insurance defense litigation, personal injury, and premises liability.

Education

Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, B.B.A. with a concentration in Industrial Engineering, 1989 (with honors)
- Beta Gamma Sigma National Business Honor Society
- Sigma Iota Epsilon Honorary Management Fraternity
- Blue Key National Honor Society
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
- Outstanding Member of the Graduating Class of 1989
- Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity
- American Society of Industrial Technology (Secretary, 1987–1989)
South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, J.D., 1993
- Dean’s List (Spring 1991; Fall 1992)
- Order of the Lytae
- American Jurisprudence Award, Secured Transactions

Admitted to Practice

State Bar of Texas, 1993
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas, 1994
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1995
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, 1995
U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 1996
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1995

Professional Associations

State Bar of Texas
- Unauthorized Practice of Law Subcommittee – District 3A, Committee Member, 2024–Present
Texas Bar Foundation (Fellow)
Jefferson County Bar Association
- President, 2022
- President-Elect, 2021
- Secretary, 2010–2011
- Board Member, 2007–2009, 2011–2012, 2018–2020
Jefferson County Bar Association Foundation
- Chairman, 2023–2024
- Secretary, 2009–2010, 2011–2012
- Treasurer, 2010–2011
- Spindletop Spin Event Chairman, 2014–2018
Michelle M. Mehaffy Inn of Court
St. Thomas More Society
- Red Mass Committee Member, 2007–Present
College of the State Bar of Texas, 1993–1998, 2003
The Defense Research Institute, 1996–2003, 2016–Present
The Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor Member)
United States Propeller Club, Port of the Sabine
- Board Member, 1994–2007
- Vice-President, 1995–1997, 2020–Present
- President, 1997–1999
- Special Counsel, 2007–Present
Judge, Annual Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition, 2014–Present

Civic Involvement

Graduate of Leadership Beaumont, 1998
Port Arthur International Seafarers’ Center
- Board Member, 1997–Present
- First Vice-President, 2001–Present
- General Counsel, 2005–Present
- New Building Committee Chairman, 2002–2010
- Board Development Committee Chairman, 2012–Present
- Finance Committee Member, 2012–Present
Diocese of Beaumont
- Retirement Committee Chairman, 2014–2020
Lamar University Alumni Advisory Board, 2015–2018
St. Anne Catholic Church
- Parish Council, 2018–2021
- Parish Council Secretary, 2018–2019
- Parish Council Vice President, 2019–2021
Symphony of Southeast Texas
- Board Member, 2018–2021
- Vice President, Administration, 2020–2021

Professional Honors

Listed, Texas Super Lawyers, 2006–Present
Listed, Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, Sept. 2009
Rated, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, 2015–Present
Recipient of Best Lawyers™ 2019 Admiralty and Maritime “Lawyer of the Year” award in Beaumont
Recipient of Best Lawyers™ 2021 Admiralty and Maritime “Lawyer of the Year” award in Beaumont
Recipient of Jefferson County Bar Association’s 2024 Ken W. Lewis Professionalism Award
Recipient of Best Lawyers™ 2025 Admiralty and Maritime “Lawyer of the Year” award in Beaumont

Published Works and Papers Presented

“The Current State of Mediation in Texas,” The Baltic, March 1998
“SARS, The Law of Quarantine and the Possible Effects Upon Marine P&I Policies,” presented at Fall 2003 Meeting of the Maritime Law Association of the United States
“P&I Coverage for Quarantine Expenses Relating to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome,” 2 Benedict’s Mar. Bull. 1 (First Quarter 2004)
“The Red Mass – Why it Matters,” Jefferson County Bar Journal, Vol. 16, Issue 2, Winter/Spring 2022, pp. 30-1

1. www.martindale.com/ratings