Originally from South Africa, Mr. de Klerk has practiced in the United States for more than 35 years. His main practice areas are international arbitration, the litigation of maritime and land based transportation cases, as well as the handling of insurance coverage disputes.

The international arbitration work load involves mostly disputes arising in the fertilizer trade. Mr. de Klerk has handled arbitrations for clients in a host of locations around the globe, including London, Paris, Cairo, Stockholm, and Ho Chi Minh City amongst others. The maritime cases that he handles involve collisions, charter party disputes, cargo damage, and other issues arising on the Mississippi River and the offshore oil drilling areas. His clients are Protection and Indemnity Clubs and Marine Insurance Underwriters. His transportation docket relates mostly to the litigation surrounding trucking accidents and are handled on behalf of non-marine insurers. The insurance coverage work involves mostly the representation of insurers, but he occasionally represents insureds in urging their claims.

A graduate with distinction from Tulane Law School, Mr. de Klerk is also an adjunct Professor of Law and has taught in the Admiralty Program at his Alma Mater for more than 35 years. He is a long standing member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, as well as the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. He is a member of various State Bar Associations and has been admitted to practice in all the states in which he has litigated cases. He has also been admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Second, Third and Fifth Courts of Appeals.