Home to approximately 2,800 miles of navigable waterways, Louisiana is unsurprisingly deeply connected to maritime shipping and has a long maritime and nautical history. Alongside this history is a long-developed system of admiralty and maritime law, which governs many of the standards for maritime shipping, the management of docks, and more. A Louisiana maritime defense lawyer brings niche knowledge to maritime and admiralty cases.
At Degan, Blanchard & Nash, we have years of experience with even the most complex of maritime defense cases. We can build a strategic defense to protect you from litigation.
Degan, Blanchard & Nash employs dedicated attorneys with proficiency in admiralty and maritime law. The practice of Admiralty and Maritime law is a highly focused area of law that is not widely practiced throughout the United States. As one of the oldest branches of law, harkening back to ancient times, maritime law today covers a broad area of issues. These issues include, but are not limited to:
Despite the long history of Admiralty and Maritime law, it is an area of the law that is continuously developing and evolving.
Admiralty and maritime law are already complex, but the fact that Louisiana’s legal system differs from that of the rest of the United States makes these cases more difficult. Out of 50 states, Louisiana is the only one with a legal system based on the French civil law system rather than British “common law.” This means that a qualified lawyer with experience in maritime law in a state like Florida or California may struggle with Louisiana laws.
It is important to have a legal representative comfortable with both maritime law and Louisiana’s court systems, as it may be unclear whether maritime law or Louisiana law applies to a case, especially with dock workers or employees working near water. Additionally, maritime cases could be appealed, which means having a lawyer with experience in Louisiana’s appellate courts is beneficial as well.
The attorneys of Degan, Blanchard & Nash are well versed in the complex intersecting web of state and federal statutes, regulations, international treaties, and extensive body of case law comprising admiralty and maritime law. Maritime cases not only require an in depth knowledge of the complicated substantive maritime law, but often also involve complex procedural and jurisdictional issues.
Maritime cases can also involve complex insurance and coverage issues, which require not only proficiency in maritime and admiralty law, but also an in-depth knowledge in insurance matters. Practicing throughout Louisiana and many other areas of the country, the attorneys of Degan, Blanchard & Nash have both vast experience and a unique perspective in the issues that can arise in admiralty and maritime law.
The mighty Mississippi river has long been a conduit for waterborne commerce, transportation and distribution of goods to and from the heartland of the United States. The river supports a wide variety of industrial fleets, commercial operations, ports, and wharves that are essential to national and international, trade, industry and commerce. The Port of New Orleans is one of the largest ports in the country supporting not only interstate commerce and shipping.
New Orleans also boasts international shipping as the port is host to an endless parade of oceangoing vessels carrying goods to and from foreign ports. Along the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi River intersects with the Gulf of Mexico where a myriad of oil field operations take place and a variety of businesses provide essential support to drilling, exploration and production activities.
Many Louisiana cities boast ports, including Baton Rouge, home to the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. Even cities like Lafayette, which do not have extensive ports, are connected to offshore oil drilling. The combination of the river and gulf activities give rise to extensive array of maritime law issues that make the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals seated in New Orleans and an array of surrounding Gulf Coast state and Federal courts the most active maritime courts in the country.
The Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal act that deals with maritime employees and handles rehabilitation, compensation, and medical fees resulting from maritime job injuries.
Our lawyers have a thorough understanding of the LHCWA, as well as the connected Defense Base Act. Our firm has over 50 lawyers with decades of combined experience, which they bring to every case. From complex international maritime law to Louisiana appellate law and federal law, our lawyers can use their knowledge to build a strong defense for your company.
Degan, Blanchard & Nash began as a maritime defense law firm. We have grown our practice over the years to represent not only our clients in the Louisiana maritime area but also those further into international marine fields and beyond.
Our lawyers successfully solve admiralty and maritime issues and represent insurance companies, maritime corporations, and consumers alike in the same dedicated and creative manner while providing the personalized and flexible service of a small firm. Whatever the dispute entails, the attorneys at Degan, Blanchard & Nash seek to achieve the best possible solution for our clients.
If you are facing any type of admiralty or maritime litigation, seek out a talented legal professional to defend your company. With our firm’s beginnings in maritime defense law, our team is well-suited to advise and defend companies dealing with maritime suits. Even if you are not currently facing legal action, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer to prevent legal issues in the future. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help.