Prior to joining Freehill Hogan & Mahar, Tanner served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy on a guided missile destroyer and various patrol craft.  After qualifying as a deck and engineering watch officer within his first year as a commissioned officer, Tanner continued to expand his knowledge into all aspects of seamanship.  In 2009, Tanner was awarded second place as the U.S. Atlantic Fleet’s Junior Officer Ship Handler of the Year.  In addition to his engineering and deck duties, Tanner led eleven sailors responsible for the operation and maintenance of the destroyer’s missile system.  Later, Tanner was responsible for a patrol boat’s operations during two six-month deployments in the Persian Gulf where he led a maritime boarding party.

Following his service in the U.S. Navy, Tanner attended law school at the University of Houston Law Center in Houston, Texas.  In 2012, Tanner was a National Champion of the John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Competition hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.  In 2013, Tanner was also recognized as the Best Speaker in the same competition.  Tanner’s law school experiences included a summer internship with Judge Lynn N. Hughes of the United States Southern District of Texas.  He was also an active member of the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal and served as the journal’s Head Senior Articles Editor.

As an attorney, Tanner began his practice in Texas where he litigated a broad spectrum of cases, including:  maritime personal injury claims, vessel arrests, maritime casualties, contractual disputes, and insurance defense and subrogation claims.  Tanner joined Freehill Hogan & Mahar in 2017, and continues to expand his maritime legal experience.  He is active in all phases of the firm’s practice.

• The Maritime Lien Reform Act – A Political Waterspout in Maritime Jurisprudence, 13 Hous. Bus. & Tax L.J. 1 (2012).