Jones Walker LLP > Houston, United States > Firm Profile

Jones Walker LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 1

Lawyers at Jones Walker LLP ‘provide highly personalized expertise that can be counted on’. Striking a balance between acquirer and target-side mandates, the M&A team acts on the full spectrum of mergers, disposals, negotiated stock purchases, asset acquisitions, and tender offers across all major industry sectors. Key names in the department’s New Orleans base include Marshall Page, who is recommended for transactions involving heavy industries; Britton Seal, whose recent activity encompasses the manufacturing, consumer goods, and retail sectors; and Kelly Simoneaux, who specializes in the corporate, tax, and securities aspects of executive compensation. Page, Seal and Simoneaux co-head the corporate, M&A, and private equity practice together with Birmingham-based Beau Grenier, who contributes strong experience in highly structured transactions. The New Orleans team also includes Curtis Hearn, who acts for a strong roster of private equity and venture capital clients, and Brett Beter. In Baton Rouge, Dionne Rousseau is noted for her expertise in corporate transactions and governance matters, while Katherine Herbert is a talented up-and-coming attorney.

Transport > Shipping: finance Tier 1

Jones Walker LLP is distinguished by the depth of its maritime transaction practice, representing leading private and public companies in a diverse array of financing acquisitions, divestitures and restructurings. With strong expertise in the blue water, offshore and inland marine sectors, the team is turned to by longstanding domestic and international clients for counsel in complex ocean and inland vessel acquisitions, registration and flagging matters. The practice is spearheaded by New Orleans-based William C. Baldwin , who is renowned for his extensive expertise representing borrowers, lenders and agents in high value marine finance deals, alongside notable work for stakeholders in the offshore wind industry. Kelly Duncan harnesses four decades of experience within the maritime sector, specialising in international commercial transactions, maritime lien enforcement, marine acquisitions and regulatory issues. Christopher Ulfers represents clients in the negotiation and drafting of maritime contracts, James Kearns has experience with financings under the Title XI loan guarantee program, whilst Houston-based Cindy Matherne Muller co-chairs the firm’s offshore wind work.

Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 2

Jones Walker LLP‘s ‘extremely strategic and responsive’ construction team advises on a multiplicity of construction projects including industrial, commercial, residential, renewable energy, aerospace, and mixed-use assets. The practice is led by Atlanta’s Chad Theriot, who advises on contract negotiation and construction litigation; and New Orleans’ Michael Drew, who is knowledgeable regarding government regulatory matters such as permitting large-scale brownfield and greenfield projects. Altanta’s Neal Sweeney has expertise in major infrastructure and public-private projects, such as airports, highways, and tunnels. The firm’s Houston practice is headed by Cindy Matherne Muller, and supported by Tiffany Raush, who represents companies ranging from large EPC contractors to start-ups on capital projects. New Orleans’ Richard J. Tyler and Jackson’s Adam Stone are skilled in complex construction litigation and arbitration.

Transport > Shipping: litigation and regulation Tier 2

The team at Jones Walker LLP is highly regarded for its ‘thorough, efficient and results-oriented’ approach to maritime litigation and dispute resolution, with a broad practice encompassing vessel construction, personal injury, property damage, indemnity, environmental, and product liability matters. From offices in New Orleans, Houston, Mobile and Miami, the firm’s cross-trained attorneys practice in state, federal, and administrative proceedings throughout the United States, regularly arguing before the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans – a key court for domestic maritime disputes. In New Orleans, the team is jointly led by Grady Hurley; Jefferson Tillery, an experienced litigator in maritime personal injury and vessel collision and allision matters; regulatory and marine disputes expert R. Scott Jenkins ; and Richard Bertram, who leads the maritime regulatory team. Etienne Balart, George Fowler, Alfred Rufty III and associate Sara Kuebel are other key contacts in New Orleans, whilst Miami-based Luis Llamas leads on admiralty disputes, complex commercial litigation and cruise line claims.

Energy > Energy regulation: oil and gas Tier 4

Jones Walker LLP, a Gulf Coast-based firm with offices across the U.S., is well-regarded for handling large-scale energy infrastructure projects with national and global impact. The firm is adept in carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects and represents offshore operators in significant regulatory matters. It is also actively involved with industry organizations in the oil and gas sector. The practice is co-led by Marjorie McKeithen, who advises on regulatory and land use issues for major infrastructure projects, including pipelines and LNG facilities, and Grady Hurley. Lauren Mastio focuses on property contamination, land loss, and drilling contracts, while David Hunter specializes in offshore oil and gas development, representing exploration companies and project developers. All mentioned individuals are based in New Orleans.

Energy > Energy transactions: oil and gas Tier 4

Jones Walker LLP advises on major oil and gas infrastructure projects in the US and beyond, with experience spanning offshore energy, LNG facilities, and regulatory challenges. The firm also plays a key role in carbon capture and clean fuel developments in the region. Marjorie McKeithen and Grady Hurley co-lead the team, with the former noted for her skill handling commercial agreements and engagement with a variety of hydrocarbons, and the latter for his litigation and regulatory expertise. Lauren Mastio helps clients navigate commercial and construction issues, while David Hunter and Seth Levine primarily focus on project finance and development. Michael Drew acts on regulatory issues concerning both brownfield and greenfield projects. Justin Marocco and Sarah Dicharry also come recommended. Aside from Marocco in Baton Rogue, all practitioners operate out of New Orleans.

Environment > Environment: transactional Tier 4

Demonstrating the ability to advise across a wide array of transactional mandates, Jones Walker LLP advises on commercial and industrial project development, mergers, and acquisitions, with representations of lenders in the financing of industrial projects becoming a key feature of the practice. Robert Holden and Meghan Smith co-lead the practice from New Orleans, with the former possessing a broad practice across regulatory compliance and enforcement actions, whereas the latter regularly aids oil and gas companies, chemical manufacturers, and engineering firms in state and federal litigation and private arbitrations. Operating out of Lafayette, Boyd Bryan and Alex Prochaska are highly active advisors on transactions, with Prochaska a key contact for lenders, buyers, and sellers of industrial facilities and commercial properties on environmental due diligence and pre- and post-closing remediation activities.

Labor and employment > Workplace and employment counseling Tier 4

Jones Walker LLP‘s team handles employment matters concerning compliance, immigration and allegations of trade secret theft, among other issues. Sidney Lewis leads the group, advising management and HR personnel on issues regarding discipline, terminations, wage and hour laws and internal investigations. Mark Adams has experience representing clients before regulatory agencies, particularly on federal contractor compliance, while Jennifer Kogos works with employers in the healthcare, retail and energy industries. All aforementioned are based in New Orleans, as is noteworthy attorney Jason Culotta. Mac B. Greaves in Birmingham and JoJo Adams in Jackson are also recommended.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Corporate governance Tier 4

Jones Walker LLP ‘demonstrates a deep understanding of the complexities involved in corporate governance’, serving both growing and listed public companies with SEC public disclosure obligations, shareholder management, and proxy contests. In Baton Rouge, Alexandra Clark Layfield is active in a variety of sectors, possessing experience in securities law and capital market transactions. Corporate security specialist Clinton Hansford Smith is based in New Orleans and works on matters arising out of stock issuance and acquisition. Smith and Layfield spearhead the practice. Kelly Simoneaux‘s work focuses on executive compensation.

Real estate Tier 5

Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 7

Jones Walker LLP handles state and local tax, trust and estates, credits, and transactional matters. The practice is jointly led by William M. Backstrom, Jr., Jonathan Katz, Jesse R. Adams, III  and David Edwards in New Orleans, and Kelly Rushin Lewis in Birmingham. The team is particularly active in the financial services sector, advising clients on bond issuances, low-income housing tax credits, and SALT matters relevant to the Gulf South.