Jason R. Harris represents and advises clients in a variety of general litigation, transportation, admiralty law, maritime law and corporate matters. As a maritime attorney, Jason frequently represents clients and insurers in maritime and transportation cases, including the defense and prosecution of serious bodily injuries, fatalities, casualties and construction disputes. He also represents select clients facing state or federal criminal charges. In addition, Jason has extensive experience providing counsel to clients on corporate and risk management issues. He takes pride in offering clients efficient and effective results and business-minded solutions.
Before joining Cranfill Sumner LLP, Jason practiced law as a partner in a law firm in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina and co-founded Welch and Harris in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina.
Jason took a hiatus from the private practice of law to serve as General Counsel, Director of Legal and Corporate Secretary for an international marine salvage, wreck removal, decommissioning, and underwater services company headquartered in Houston, Texas, with its operational headquarters in Holland. While in-house, Jason assisted in the implementation of a merger, advised the board of directors and management on legal affairs, oversaw an international legal and risk management team, performed extensive business contract reviews, and designed a robust regulatory compliance program.
Business dealings have taken Jason across the United States and around the world to international commercial destinations such as Indonesia, Singapore, Brazil, Denmark, England, the Netherlands and Costa Rica. However, he particularly enjoys servicing clients in cities, towns and the unincorporated areas of North Carolina, such as Sneads Ferry in Onslow County where he lived and practiced law for many years.
Jason is proud to have had the opportunity to serve in the Alabama and North Carolina Army National Guard as a military policeman and a Judge Advocate General Legal Assistant. Before being Honorably Discharged in 2000, his duties sent him to Panama, Germany and host of domestic locations.
Most Recent Posts
CSH Law Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently named among the Best Lawyers® 2024 “Lawyers of the Year.”… Read More
32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2024
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2024.… Read More
Jason Harris Hosts Maritime Webinar
Jason Harris hosted the June 13 Cranfill Sumner LLP webinar entitled “Maritime and Admiralty Claims in North Carolina – The Jones Act and Beyond.”… Read More
Happy National Maritime Day!
Each May 22nd we recognize the maritime industry by celebrating National Maritime Day. Congress selected May 22nd because it was… Read More
Jason Harris Presents Webinars on Marine Salvage Law
Earlier this month, Jason R. Harris presented courses on marine salvage during three sessions over three days to over 150… Read More
13 Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Named to 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP announced that 13 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2023 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.
… Read More
Our Top 10 Resources of 2022
Throughout the year, Cranfill Sumner LLP’s attorneys work diligently to bring the most up-to-date information on North Carolina legal updates… Read More
Jason R. Harris Presents at Marine Surveyors Conference
Jason R. Harris served as a presenter to a group of marine surveyors on Dec. 2. The event was held in Virginia Beach and attracted individuals from an estimated 20 states.… Read More
Jason Harris Named Vice Chair of MLA Committee
Jason R. Harris has been named the Vice Chair of the Marine Torts and Casualties Committee for the Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA).… Read More
25 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2023
Twenty-five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023.… Read More
Is it in or out…of the Statute of Limitations?
Timely Service of Uninsured Motorist Actions On July 7, 2022, the N.C. Supreme Court received a request, in the matter… Read More
Jason Harris Presents Cranfill Sumner Maritime Webinar
Jason R. Harris served as a presenter for the June 16 webinar “Maritime & Admiralty Claims: Legal Issues & North Carolina Distinctions.” The webinar is part of the Cranfill Sumner LLP webinar series.… Read More
Alaina Burgess Joins Cranfill Sumner LLP
Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced that Alaina Burgess has joined the firm as a paralegal based in the firm’s Wilmington office. She will support attorney Jason R. Harris in the firm’s Admiralty and Maritime Law Practice Group.… Read More
Evaluating Medical Bills in Admiralty Cases in North Carolina: Does Rule 414 Apply?
Maritime and admiralty law can be vastly different from the law in North Carolina. One area of continued interest to… Read More
Jason R. Harris Named to Nominating Committee for the Maritime Law Association
Jason R. Harris has been invited to join the 2022 Nominating Committee for the Maritime Law Association of the United States. … Read More
Jason Harris Presents at the Maritime Law Seminar
Jason R. Harris will serve as a panelist for the virtual Maritime Law Seminar on Feb. 18 at 1:30pm. Jason will discuss “Limitation of Liability issues,” concerning a hypothetical marine casualty.… Read More
11 Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Named to 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP announced that 11 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2022 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
Secure Your Boat or the Damages She Causes Could Be Your Fault!
The tenets of good seamanship and common sense dictate that your boat should never be unintentionally adrift. Unfortunately, Murphy’s Law… Read More
Jason Harris Appointed to Serve on Local Admiralty Rules Committee
Jason R. Harris, an attorney with Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law), was recently appointed to serve on the Eastern District of North Carolina Local Admiralty Rules Committee. The committee met Oct. 5 in Wilmington.… Read More
CSH Law Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition
Six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently named among the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyers of the Year.”… Read More
26 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2022
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022.… Read More
Jason R. Harris Admitted to Virginia State Bar
On June 2, 2021, Jason R. Harris was sworn in and has been admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jason is also licensed to practice law in the states of North Carolina and Texas.… Read More
Jason Harris Presents at Admiralty Law Webinar
On April 21, Jason R. Harris co-presented a roundtable webinar entitled “The Devil is Always in the Details – The Limitation Act and Its Nuances.” The co-presenter and moderator were South Florida maritime lawyers and the session was hosted by the Admiralty Law Section of the Federal Bar Association.… Read More
CSH Law Attorneys Discuss Marine Salvage Claims in Webinar
Jason R. Harris and Ashley Coghill recently presented a webinar entitled “Defending Marine Salvage Claims in a Marine Casualty Environment.” The webinar, which was hosted by Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) for continuing education offered to a marine insurer, addressed salvage law, claims adjusting and maritime dispute resolution to an audience from a marine insurer. … Read More
Cap On Recovery of Medical Bills in Wrongful Death Claims in North Carolina
Defense lawyers and insurance adjusters are frequently faced with evaluating medical damages presented by plaintiffs counsels and claimants. We often… Read More
CSH Law Attorneys Present on Salvage Law and Maritime Dispute Resolution
On March 4, Jason R. Harris and Ashley Coghill, attorneys at Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law), presented about on salvage law and maritime dispute resolution to an audience from a marine insurer.… Read More
14 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Named to 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Today Cranfill Sumner proudly announced that 14 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2021 North Carolina Rising Stars lists.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Attend AIMU Virtual Seminar
Jason Harris and Pardis Camarda recently attended the American Institute of Marine Underwriters and Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club Yacht Insurance Seminar which was held virtually on Nov. 10.… Read More
27 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2021
Twenty-seven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Jason Harris Presents at IAMI Training Seminar
Jason Harris served as a presenter at the 30th Annual Training Seminar for the International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI).… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Adds Staff to Wilmington Office
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced additions to its staff in Wilmington. Sarah Johann has been promoted to the position of Legal Assistant/Paralegal. Hannah Morris has joined Cranfill Sumner as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal. Evelyn Tordoff has joined the firm as a Paralegal.… Read More
31 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America© 2020
Thirty-one attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020(Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).… Read More
Jason R. Harris Presents at CLE for the Maritime Law Association of the United States
Jason R. Harris, Chair of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP, was a featured speaker at the Maritime Law Association (MLA) CLE in New York City on May 3. He offered comments on the Maritime Law Association Code of Professional Conduct including civility and stability for lawyers despite the occasional heavy seas associated with an admiralty and maritime law practice.… Read More
Jason Harris Speaks at Admiralty and Maritime Conference
Jason Harris presented at the American Conference Institute’s 7th Forum on Admiralty & Maritime Claims and Litigation. The event is being held Feb. 25-27 at the Westin Oaks Houston in Houston, TX.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Receive AV Rating From Martindale-Hubbell
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Jason R. Harris and Greer Vanderberry have received an AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.… Read More
Jason R. Harris Discusses “The Aftermath of Disaster”
On Oct. 30, Jason R. Harris spoke as part of a panel discussion on “The Aftermath of Disaster.” The three-person panel addressed legal and insurance issues following marine casualties and natural disasters and the importance of using an experienced admiralty and maritime attorney.… Read More
Maritime and Admiralty Presumptions Concerning Damages Caused by Vessels
How are legal issues handled when maritime vessels cause damage to other property? There are a few presumptions that are… Read More
Hurricane Florence Recovery: How to Handle Removal of Sunken Vessels
As North Carolinians continue to recover from and assess damage from Hurricane Florence, many individuals are wondering how to deal… Read More
Jason R. Harris Featured as Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Month
Jason R. Harris, Chair of the Admiralty and Maritime Law Practice Group at Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner), is featured as the Admiralty and Maritime Lawyer of the Month in the latest edition of the Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine.… Read More
Cranfill Sumner Announces Admiralty and Maritime Practice Group
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that it has added an Admiralty and Maritime Practice Group. Jason R. Harris will serve as Chair of the new practice group and will be based in the firm’s Wilmington office.… Read More
Jason R. Harris Joins Cranfill Sumner
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Jason R. Harris has joined the firm as a partner based in its Wilmington office. Jason will serve as Chair of the firm’s new Admiralty and Maritime Practice Group.… Read More