Pioneer Maritime Lawyers

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...

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,...

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,...

Cory Itkin is one of the most aggressive and prepared trial lawyers in the country with experience ranging in maritime accidents, trucking accidents, plant explosions, and other high-stakes personal injury cases. Cory has won verdicts and settlements for his clients in more than two dozen states. He has also obtained favorable results in high profile litigation such as his clients who lost loved ones or were injured in the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion.

Some of Cory’s best work has been on the cases that presented the biggest challenges. Cory has won jury verdicts in excess of $1 million in at least...

"Attorney Kenneth H. Hooks III focuses his practice on providing excellent representation to the few clients chosen by the section’s rigorous case selection. Kenny has practiced international maritime law for over 13 years as well as prosecuting horrific injury claims as a result of crashes, explosion burns, work place injuries and deaths, hospital errors and very large commercial claims all on a pure contingency basis. Mr. Hooks helps bring justice to individuals, businesses and professionals who have been wronged by others through both state and federal courts in Louisiana and throughout the United States as well as internationally. Mr....

Zoë Vermeulen is a partner in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2012 and practices in the admiralty and maritime practice group, as well as the labor and employment group.

Zoë earned her B.A. in Public Relations from Louisiana State University in 2008. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2012 from Tulane University Law School, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and Moot Court Board.

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...

If you have been injured, you're about to discover how hard insurance companies work to protect themselves. Despite what their television ads may say, you won't feel like you're in the hands of a good neighbor. I am maritime law and personal injury attorney Christopher L. Trahan. For more than 27 years, I have been successfully standing up to the nation's largest insurance companies on behalf of people injured in maritime accidents, motor vehicle wrecks, nursing homes and in other accidents involving negligence or wrongdoing. I handle all personal injury cases on contingency: No recovery, no attorney fees. It's...

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...

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...

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.

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,...

Tod Everage is a partner in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2011 and practices in the Offshore Energy and Maritime Litigation Practice Group. Tod’s practice primarily involves representing oil and gas operators (offshore, midstream, and onshore) and their service providers and contractors in litigation in both state and federal courts. Tod has gained extensive experience representing vessel owners, shipyards, and diesel engine service providers in warranty claims. Tod’s practice also includes assisting clients in contract review, drafting, negotiations, transactional disputes, and general corporate advices. Tod has tried several cases to verdict as well...

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...

Christophe L. Faucheux launched “The Law Office of Chris Faucheux” in 2018 after working with his father, Robert “Bobby” Faucheux, for several years. Chris is committed to helping those who were wrongfully injured recover and receive just compensation. Chris represents clients who were seriously injured in accidents. Over the course of his career, Chris has helped his clients recover millions of dollars in a variety of personal injury matters. Chris is admitted to practice law in all Louisiana State Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District...

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...

Wesley J. Gralapp became a member of Neblett, Beard & Arsenault in 1992 after obtaining his law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Currently, Wes is licensed to practice in all State and Federal Courts in Louisiana. His practice is primarily in the personal injury area where he helps people who have been injured in automobile accidents, offshore accidents, admiralty and maritime claims and wrongful death as well as nursing home neglect and medical malpractice. Wes always enjoys assisting the...

As a partner at Montgomery Barnett, L.L.P., New Orleans lawyer Philip S. Brooks Jr focuses his attention on admiralty litigation. He has 21 years of legal experience. Mr. Brooks has been recognized by his peers with the AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. Additionally, he has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers® from 2010 to 2014. Attorney Brooks is a graduate of the Tulane University Law School. He participates in numerous professional organizations including the Tulane Maritime Law Center Liaison Group, United States Maritime Law Association and Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. For more information, contact his firm today.

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.

Randy Russell is a an experienced, skilled and aggressive trial attorney who has successfully litigated matters for his clients throughout Southeast Louisiana for the past eighteen (18) years involved in significant personal injury, wrongful death, workers' compensation and first party insurance cases. Randy's prior experience defending major casualty insurance companies gives him unique insight as to the insurance claims handling process. Through this experience, Randy understands the inner workings of how insurers evaluate claims and he knows how to successfully support and present claims to insurers to ensure that his clients timely recover all damages that they are entitled to....

I am a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, and graduated magna cum laude from UL Lafayette with a major in political science and minor in history. I attended law school at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where I graduated cum laude in 2015. At Loyola, I was actively involved in the moot court program, representing the law school in various competitions nationwide and coached teams following graduation. Upon being admitted to the Louisiana Bar, I began my practice defending large insurance companies and local businesses in a variety of actions, spanning from automotive collision defense to veil piercing actions and...

J. Lee Hoffoss, Jr. practices exclusively in the areas of personal injury, Jones Act, maritime law, and employment law in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and Texas.

Jacob Delahoussaye hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, where he was born and raised. He completed his secondary education at Lafayette High School before embarking on his academic journey at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. There, he excelled and graduated with distinction, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with the highest honors, summa cum laude. His exceptional academic performance led him to receive the esteemed Outstanding Scholar Award. Driven by his passion for the legal field, Mr. Delahoussaye pursued advanced studies at LSU's Paul M. Hebert Law Center. In 2022, he successfully earned his Juris Doctor degree and Diploma of...

Beginning his career in insurance defense, coverage analysis and litigation, Alan soon became general counsel to a New Orleans-based insurance consulting firm, where he assisted clients with specifications for coverage, captive formation, claims handling and loss mitigation. He was instrumental in the passing of the Louisiana Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act and for many years represented the London market in CGL, marine and contractual liability claims, largely in the context of the “oil patch”. In 2005, Alan relocated his primary residence to New York, and continues to practice there as well as in Louisiana, focusing on construction, contract, and insurance...

Rock graduated from LSU Law School in 1992 and from LSU with a bachelor's degree in 1987. While at LSU Law School he was selected to the Moot Court Board. He is a partner in the firm of Veron, Bice, Palermo & Wilson in Lake Charles. The firm handles serious personal injury and wrongful death cases particularly in the areas of maritime, petrochemical, products liability, medical malpractice and automobile negligence. He is a member of the Judge Albert Tate American Inn of Court, American Board of Trial Advocates, LSU Law Center Chancellor's Council, and the Louisiana Association for Justice. ...