Empire Maritime Lawyers

New Orleans personal injury attorney Brent Cueria, skillfully represents clients who have suffered due to the negligence of others. He advocates for victims of trucking accidents, car accidents, Maritime accidents and any type of accident involving loss and trauma throughout New Orleans and Nationwide.

JOHN R. WALKER is a Partner in SBSB's Houston office. For the past almost twenty-five years, it has been my privilege to represent insurance and employer interests focusing on the defense of claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Act, the Defense Base (DBA), the Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF) Instrumentalities Act, the Jones Act, and General Maritime and Admiralty Law. Additionally, John also has extensive experience in First Party Insurance Defense matters, representing employers, insurance carriers, and third parties in State, Federal and Appellate courts. Prior to joining the firm, John handled First Party Insurance Defense,...

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...

Hugh Lambert founded The Lambert Firm (now Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso) in 1977 and has since grown the firm to one of the most prestigious and well respected firms in New Orleans, representing individuals and businesses alike in a wide range of legal matters. In addition to his legal representation, Hugh Lambert is a frequent lecturer across the United States on class actions and mass torts. He has also authored and published legal articles. He has held a broad range of leadership positions in many organizations devoted to law, civic and charitable pursuits. He is a member in good...

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...

Attorney Mark Glago graduated from the University of Richmond in Virginia with Phi Beta Kappa honors, having triple-majored in Political Science, Speech and Sociology. He was the University’s Rhodes Scholar nominee and received the “Most Outstanding Graduate” award. At the Tulane University School of Law, he was Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review and again graduated with honors. Over the past 17 years, Mr. Glago has handled over 2,500 cases and been the “first-chair” lawyer for over 160 trials in Louisiana courts. He has built a respected, full-service law firm devoted to recovering compensation for clients in a range...

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...

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,...

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.

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...

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...

"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...

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...

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.

Christopher L. Williams focuses his practice on complex employment litigation, including cases involving violations of wage-and-hour laws, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, unpaid wages, breach of contract, whistleblower claims, and non-compete issues. After working for some of the nation’s largest labor-and-employment law firms, he opened his own practice in 2014 to concentrate on protecting the rights of workers and employees. Mr. Williams draws on his previous experience representing employers to provide legal advice to individuals regarding potential claims and legal remedies under state and federal employment laws. Mr. Williams has litigated a wide variety of employment issues in...

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...

Ethan Zubic focuses his practice on commercial litigation in a wide range of practice areas, from cooperative purchasing enterprises to property damage to legacy litigation, as well as environmental law, admiralty and maritime law, insurance coverage and defense, real estate litigation and commercial transactions. He has handled cases involving property insurance, ocean marine insurance coverage disputes, subrogation claims, marine pollution insurance defense, commercial transactions and general litigation in Louisiana state and federal courts. Ethan is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - Real Estate, as well as the Louisiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars...

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....

Maro Petkovich, Jr. is a founding member of Bowes, Petkovich & Palmer, LLC and serves as the firm’s managing member. He operated Petkovich Law Firm for 6 years before merging his practice into the firm. Prior to going into business for himself, he already had years of experience representing some of the nation’s largest companies. His time representing various Fortune 500 companies as a creditors’ rights attorney and a former insurance defense attorney gives him the insight to effectively navigate cases and stay ahead of the curve. His practice continues to center on representing regional and...

Robert Killeen was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1962. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1984, and a Juris Doctor in 1987. Mr. Killeen was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1987, and the Texas Bar in 1990. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, United States Court of Federal Claims, United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of Texas, and United States District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts...

Pat Patrick (ppatrick@patrickmillerlaw.com) graduated from the University of South Alabama and from Tulane Law School in 1984, where he served as Articles Editor for the Tulane Law Review. Prior to the formation of Patrick Miller LLC he was a partner in a large New Orleans law firm. Pat's practice focuses on insurance, tort, indemnity, workers' compensation (state and LHWCA), and maritime issues. He has handled environmental and toxic tort cases in regard to both property damage and personal injury aspects. He handles cases at all levels of the state and federal court systems. He is a registered lobbyist in Louisiana....