A Memphis native, John Kent "Jack" Shelton attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he focused on a business track and worked as a student attorney in the Business Legal Clinic. Jack was a research editor and symposium editor for the University of Tennessee Journal of Law and Policy, and he received awards for obtaining the highest grades in his Legal Writing and Securities Regulation courses. Jack received his J.D. cum laude.

After law school, Jack did a brief stint in the legal department of a vessel chartering company in Germany, where he handled transactional work and claims related to charter parties, vessel damage, and cargo damage. Deciding to further pursue his career in maritime law, Jack moved to New Orleans to attend the LL.M. (Master of Laws) program in Admiralty at Tulane University Law School - regarded by many as the best program of its kind in the world. Despite working at Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr and Smith throughout his LL.M. studies, Jack graduated with distinction.

Jack's practice encompasses all aspects of maritime transactions and disputes including charter parties, carriage of goods by sea, vessel and cargo damage, personal injury litigation defense, limitation of liability, marine insurance, and collision. In addition to maritime law, Jack's practice involves property insurance litigation defense and corporate transactions.

Professional Associations

American Bar Association

Propeller Club