JOHN R. WALKER received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Baylor University in 1985. He attended South Texas College of Law in Houston where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1989. After passing the Texas bar exam in 1989, Mr. Walker began his practice with a well established Houston, Texas law firm where he handled maritime, insurance and worker's compensation defense matters. Since that time, his practice has expanded to include products liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, insurance coverage and "bad faith" litigation, and employment law.

Specifically, Mr. Walker has been retained by insurance interests and employers to defend claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Non-Appropriated Funds Instrumentalities Act (NFIA), the Jones Act, the Federal Employers Liability Act ("FELA") and the Texas Workers Compensation Act. Additionally, Mr. Walker is regularly retained by temporary services employers and staffing agencies for consultation and guidance related to employee practices, contracts, and injuries to employees.

Mr. Walker is licensed to practice law in all Courts of the State of Texas, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas, the United States Court of International Trade, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Additionally, he regularly practices before Texas and federal administrative agencies. Mr. Walker frequently conducts continuing education programs and seminars for insurance professionals and employers.

Mr. Walker's e-mail address is jwalker@smithcarr.com