Dodson Maritime Lawyers

Jeffrey P. Berniard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance at McNeese State University, in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2001 and received his Juris Doctorate degree at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 2004. Jeffrey opted to study in the state of Louisiana, his home, in order to stay close and stay connected to the state he loves and the state he grew up in.

Immediately following his graduation, Jeffrey Berniard was admitted to practice law in the state of Louisiana, including being able to practice in the Eastern, Western, and Middle Districts of Louisianaís U.S. District...

Victoria Alford joined Arnold & Itkin LLP in 2011. Today, she spends much of her time guiding the firm’s newest clients through the initial steps of their case while handling her own caseload. Victoria is the first point of contact for almost all clients and is a key part of the firm's—and the client’s—success. Most of the firm’s record-setting cases involve clients whom Ms. Alford spoke to when they first called for help, like a young man who suffered life-threatening injuries in a refinery accident. He eventually reached an $87 million settlement.

Victoria has dedicated her career to helping people in...

In 1989, Jimmy began the firm of Simien & Simien, LLC with emphasis on Admiralty and Maritime, Class Actions, Constitutional Law, Criminal Defense, Mass Tort, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and other major litigation. Other areas in which the firm has extensive experience include Insurance Bad Faith, Insurance Claims, Constitutional Law, Bankruptcy, Commercial Law and limited Criminal Defense matters. During his tenure with the firm, Jimmy was chosen by his peers to be section chief of the ATLA Litigation Committee involving CCA (Chromated Cooper Arsenate) Wood. The focus of that Committee was on litigation pertaining to CCA pressure treated wood,...

Karen Waters Shields is a partner in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller. Karen is an experienced litigator with particular experience in a wide variety of admiralty and oil & gas casualty issues, including Jones Act, personal injury, oil and gas exploration, well blowouts, cargo damage, vessel collisions, vessel damage, platform damage and barge damage. Her experience with oil and gas casualties is both offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and on land. Karen also has experience in construction law, consumer credit reporting, products liability, and general personal injury litigation. Following law school, she served for one year as...

A licensed attorney in Texas and Louisiana, Kyle Findley helps to lead clients of Arnold & Itkin LLP to obtaining exceptional results. Kyle attended the University of Texas in Austin as a sixth-generation Texan. He graduated with honors and received a Bachelor of Arts in government with business foundations. After graduation, he spent time working for a national real estate firm, specializing in investment sales and representing high-net-worth individuals and institutions. While his time in real estate allowed him to gain develop invaluable negotiation skills, which resulted in the closing of one of the largest transactions at his firm,...

J. Quentin Simon is proud to carry on his father's tradition. J. Minos Simon handled thousands of cases throughout his career including high-profile civil and criminal cases. As the chosen successor for the firm, J. Quentin Simon promises to take an individualized approach to each case and continues his father's legacy of fighting for your rights in the courtroom.

Over 36 years of litigation experience in Louisiana State and Federal Courts representing handling civil cases including Personal Injury, Automobile, Trucking and Transportation, Admiralty and Maritime, Negligence, Premises liability, Professional Malpractice, Commercial and Business Litigation, Products Liability, Insurance Coverage, Subrogation and Workers Compensation. AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, I am a product of our local public schools. I graduated from LSU in 1983 with a degree in Finance. I graduated from Loyola New Orleans Law School in 1987, but before graduating, I tried my first jury case. It was a manslaughter charge. The Orleans District Attorney was impressed enough to offer me a job upon graduation. I was an Assistant District Attorney for Mr. Harry Connick from 1987 through 1990 and have been on my own since then.

As to public service after the District Attorney's Office, in 2009 I was elected to...

Amanda Howard Lowe is a partner in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2009 and practices in the admiralty and maritime, energy and corporate litigation groups. Amanda has considerable experience in a wide variety of admiralty issues, including Jones Act and personal injury defense, maritime litigation, oil and gas exploration, drilling accidents, well blowouts, cargo damage, ship collisions, ship allusions, vessel groundings, lift board and jack-up rig accidents, vessel mortgage filings, product liability, redhibition, as well as premises liability, construction defect litigation and general personal injury litigation. Amanda's experience also includes assisting clients in...

Chauvin Kean is an associate in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2015 and practices in a variety of areas, including the business and corporate groups. Specifically, his practice areas includes: oil and gas transactions and litigation; admiralty and maritime litigation; international trade; acquisitions and divestitures; customs compliance; construction litigation; insurance coverage; and general and commercial litigation. He has experience with in a variety of issues, including Jones Act compliance, oil and gas exploration, pipeline construction, drilling incidents, well blowouts, cargo damage claims, ship and barge allisions, maritime liens, vessel and marine asset acquisitions,...

Attorney Caj Boatright grew up in Sweetwater, a small town in west Texas. He attended Southwestern University of Georgetown, and graduated cum laude with Honors as a double major in Political Science and History. He earned his J.D. from the University of Texas Law School, where he also met and became friends with Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin. Following law school, Attorney Boatright worked for the largest firm in Fort Worth, where he handled cases related to all types of litigation and appellate matters. In 2006, he joined Kurt and Jason at their small firm, Arnold & Itkin...

Attorney Noah Wexler is a highly experienced trial lawyer who has handled tens of thousands of cases in the past decade. Due to his commitment to his clients, keen skills in preparing for trials, attention to detail, and his ability to identify strategies that force insurers and negligent companies to pay maximum compensation, Noah has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars. While he is highly skilled in various areas of personal injury law, he focuses the majority of his work handling catastrophic truck accident cases, pharmaceutical cases, complex product liability cases, wrongful death cases, and catastrophic offshore injury cases throughout...

With over forty-nine (49) years of legal experience, including having been a United States Magistrate Judge, as well as a Federal and State Criminal Prosecutor, in addition to many years in private practice, I am able to provide competent and thoughtful, but assertive, legal services in federal, state, and local courts. I am licensed to practice law in Louisiana, as well as Texas, and can practice law in most other jurisdictions on a pro hac vice basis. Never, never quit!!

Before starting a law practice in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, Matt left home to acquire the education and experience he needed to represent the people of Lafayette and Acadiana in legal matters. Earning first a college degree from Sewanee and then a law degree, with honors, from Tulane, Matt was a DeBlois-Sewanee Scholar and honors trial advocate. And he obtained the Tulane Civil Litigation Clinic's then highest ever trial award for an indigent client. Matt's law practice now draws on a wide range of experience and education to serve injured people in any Louisiana state or federal court. Matt has extensive...

Corey E. Dunbar is a partner with the firm focusing on litigation in both federal and state courts. Whether handling large business disputes or small personal matters, Corey advises clients of the most efficient procedure to obtain the desired outcome in any dispute. Corey has tried cases in the federal courts of the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Southern District of Texas, as well as local state courts. Corey has argued before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal and handled numerous appeals in both federal and state appeals courts. In addition to his...

I learned early on that as a lawyer, I could change people’s lives for the better. A few years ago, I had a client who worked for one company as a tankerman for 20 years. He was ordered into a crawlhole during a storm to check the radar, and as he was getting out, the boat hit a swell. He was thrown backwards and ended up with a spine injury. He went from being the main provider for his family to borrowing money to get a Coke and sleeping on people’s sofas. The day of the trial, the company offered us $100,000. The jury...

Richard P. Voorhies III founded The Voorhies Law Firm in 2012. Before starting his own firm, Richard earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Lafayette, received a Juris Doctor from Loyola School of Law, and served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Dee D. Drell in the Western District of Louisiana. He is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar association and licensed to practice in every court in the state. If needed, Richard can also practice before District Courts in Louisiana and the United States Court of Appeals. With experience in...

In 2014, Attorney Kala Sellers joined Arnold & Itkin LLP, bringing a passion for justice, which she pursues with tireless dedication on behalf of each of her clients. As a natural performer who grew up on the stage, Kala applies her skill, composure, and ability to thrive under pressure to the courtroom. Kala majored in Political Science at Duke University, where she received a Certificate in Policy Journalism and Media Studies. While maintaining her studies, she also completed an internship at CNN during a semester in New York City. After graduation, she continued her education at Baylor Law School to...

David Sharpe focuses on marine insurance coverage; marine finance and vessel documentation; bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; and international and cross-border law. He represents clients that own, operate, charter, or employ vessels, and helps them understand and manage their risks in the United States, Gulf of Mexico, and worldwide offshore maritime oilfield and alternative-energy markets. Mr. Sharpe services clients in the area of concentration on maritime contracts (time and bareboat charter parties, master service contracts, insurance and indemnity agreements, marine-insurance coverage, and ship sale and finance) and related commercial litigation (maritime liens, vessel arrest and attachment,...

"Having been involved in a catastrophic car wreck only a few years ago, I know exactly what's it like to be laid up in a hospital for days, not be able to work or do normal daily activities for months at a time, and stuck wondering how you'll pay for a new car or your medical bills. I know the aggravation and frustration that my clients have because they can't drive, have to go to treatment, or simply hate waking up in the morning because they're sore. It's because of this first-hand knowledge that I am able to relate to...

Jerome Moroux was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana and is a Partner at Broussard and David, LLC. He earned a B.A. from St. John’s College, in Santa Fe, NM, where he studied philosophy, literature, and the history of math and science.

Jerome attended law school at Louisiana State University, graduating cum laude. During law school, he was a Member of the Louisiana Law Review. After law school, Jerome clerked for the Honorable W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Jerome handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from maritime/offshore accidents, trucking/18-wheeler accidents,...

Tom's practice focuses on personal injury and criminal defense litigation in all Federal and State Courts. He has successfully taken on big corporations and local, state and federal governments in personal injury and criminal defense cases. Tom has helped injured clients and their families who have suffered catastrophic personal injuries and tragic wrongful deaths. He has handled a variety of personal injury cases across the state of Louisiana, including maritime and offshore accidents. He also represents individuals accused of violent and non-violent criminal conduct, as well as grand jury investigations and regulatory matters. Tom has...

A graduate of Tulane University School of Law, an avid gardener, and a history buff, Louis lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. He enjoys speaking French and is an advocate for French language and culture in Louisiana. Bringing more than 50 years of legal experience to the table, Louis R. Koerner, Jr. can assist you with complex litigation and appeals related to maritime and personal injury cases. Certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.

Chuck Talley is a partner in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller. He practices in the admiralty and maritime, and oil and gas practice groups. Chuck has particular experience in admiralty and maritime law, personal injury defense, including defense of Jones Act seaman claims, property damage claims, Corbello litigation, appeals, and oil & gas law. He has more than 31 years of trial and appellate experience before state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Chuck is listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2008-2019. He is also listed in Best Lawyers in America, 2020.

Chuck was selected by New Orleans CityBusiness as...

Randall is somewhat of a rarity among attorneys - one that brings a great deal of "real world" experience to the practice of law. Randall earned a living as a chemical engineer and a construction company owner before choosing the law as his third (and final) profession over 15 years ago. Randy graduated near the top of his chemical engineering class from Louisiana State University and worked as a process engineer with a major chemical company for several years. Randy's engineering background has proven valuable in the law practice time and time again, as having a firm grasp of mathematics...

I grew up in a small town in Texas and lived there until I moved to New Orleans for high school. Ever since then, New Orleans has been my home. I went to college at LSU and graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School, finishing in the top 10 percent of my class. After I graduated, I married my high school sweetheart and moved back to New Orleans to work at Liskow & Lewis, one of the most respected law firms in Louisiana. I litigated all kinds of disputes at Liskow: everything from personal injury, oil and gas, and environmental...

"Philip Bohrer is the founder of Bohrer Brady LLC and holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubble*. He received his J.D. from Louisiana State University in 1984. Mr. Bohrer practices in the fields of maritime personal injury, plaintiff personal injury and insurance litigation, class actions, wage and hour and consumer claims. Mr. Bohrer is licensed to practice in the states of Louisiana and Texas. Mr. Bohrer has been advocating for the rights of individuals and workers for over 37 years. Mr. Bohrer represents injured clients and workers who were not paid overtime in courts throughout the country.