DeRidder Maritime Lawyers

Attorney Tara Gilder founded her law practice, Gilder Law, with a handful of files from clients who believed in her. They believed in her talent, skill, loyalty and honesty. Also, because she respected them as people, they knew that she would fight tooth and nail for them. This trust was a promise she intended to keep and, three years later, has done so. If you are injured in an accident, call Gilder Law to see how Tara Gilder has returned the person to the practice of personal injury law. Further, if you are facing a life-changing divorce or other...

I am very much part of 2 groups : those who grew up for 5 years performing heavy manual labor as a youth; and those who performed well at Top U.S. Universities :Emory(Atlanta, undergraduate) , and Tulane(Law School).My zest is kindled by my desire and energy to flatten the opposing lawyers.Of course professionalism is needed always—my professional agenda is to go for the jugular vein poetically(not literally) .Zeal is something I took an oath to personify .When sworn in by the Louisiana Supreme Court, zeal was mandated as the mindset of an attorney. It’s a dog eat dog environment. Who...

Practicing in Acadiana since 1991.

Admitted all courts in Louisiana, State and Federal.

Previously IDO Board Criminal Defence for 13 years

Current member and Past Board of Director for Lafayette Parish Bar Assc.

Past Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acaidiana

Past President of Lafayette Trial Lawyers Assc

65 Ton USCG Capt. Licence (not current)

Current FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license. Single and multi-engine

Active Member Veterans's Airlift

Past Board Member of Louisiana Cutting Horse Assc.

Ed Kramer graduated from both LSU and LSU Law School where he was on the Louisiana Law Review, a prestigious student organization only accepting a few students by grade. After that, Ed began to practice personal injury accident law – representing only injured parties, not insurance companies, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Ed participated in trials, was involved in million-dollar cases, and even class action cases, mostly personal injury accident cases. Ed would like to help you too.

Chip applies his more than three decades of civil trial litigation experience to the most complex and difficult cases of medical malpractice and products liability nowadays. Based in the metro New Orleans area, Chip is licensed in Louisiana and Texas, he has a multi-state practice and has been admitted pro hac vice in many other states including Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Chip brings together meticulous preparation with passionate courtroom advocacy on behalf of both his individual and corporate clients.

Chip’s preeminent professional achievements have been recognized by his peers and various legal and professional organizations including...

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,...

"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....

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...

When Kurt Arnold represents someone, he’s all in. He’s won billions for his clients. In fact, he has recovered more than $1 billion in a single year multiple times and shattered records with his historic verdicts and settlements. He has helped clients recover losses after major maritime disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon and the El Faro. For Kurt, no fight is too difficult or complicated. He refuses to take “no” for an answer. When something bad happens, Kurt fights for his clients, no matter what. He never backs down, no matter how big the challenge. Kurt co-founded Arnold & Itkin...

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...

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,...

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.

Adam Lewis was born in Clear Lake, Texas. Due to his father’s employment in the oil and gas industry, Adam moved to various places such as Louisiana, Nigeria, Scotland, and England. After graduating high school in England, Adam returned to his roots to attend Texas Tech University. While there, Adam pursued History and Political Science before receiving his diploma in 2008. After graduation, he went to Houston, Texas, where he worked in numerous legal industries such as pharmaceutical litigation and litigation support and technology.

Adam’s career choices led him to Park City, UT, where he worked in the legal department of...

Scott Andrews is a 2011 Baton Rouge Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top 40 Under 40 member, Secretary of the Northwestern State University Foundation, an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching Insurance Law, Products Liability and Advanced Louisiana Torts at the Southern University Law Center. Scott has also been selected for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers-Personal Injury Plaintiff (2012-2013), and enjoys a prestigious AV peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Scott Andrews is a Member of the Louisiana Law Review and published one article prior to graduating in 1996 as a member of...

Attorney Ben E. Clayton, of Clayton Law Firm, located in Slidell, Louisiana, has practiced law in Louisiana since 1986 after graduating with a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola University School of Law (New Orleans) that year. He is a 1980 graduate of University of New Orleans and Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America (1974). Mr. Clayton was an attorney with Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale, a large insurance defense law firm in Metairie, Louisiana from 1986 - 1990 and was a staff attorney for Aetna Casualty & Surety Company from 1990 to 1996. Aetna was acquired by Travelers...

Peyton Murphy is a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After completing his undergraduate study at Louisiana State University in 1988, Peyton P. Murphy was immediately admitted to law school. He received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School in 1991. Peyton P. Murphy was admitted to the Connecticut State Bar and the Louisiana State Bar in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Mr. Murphy is also licensed in the Western, Middle and Eastern District of the Federal U.S. District Courts in Louisiana as well as the United States Supreme Court. Peyton P. Murphy is an active member of the Baton Rouge Bar Association...

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...

Daniel Stanton practices in the admiralty, maritime , and energy law practice groups. Prior to law school, Daniel worked as a commercial property and casualty insurance producer in Northwest Florida where he helped businesses manage liability and property risks through a variety of insurance vehicles. He is listed as a Rising Star in Louisiana Super Lawyers 2018 - 2020 and 2023. Daniel earned his B.B.A. from Mississippi State University in 2007. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2013, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Maritime Law Journal, President of the Maritime Law...

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...

Glenn Orgeron is of counsel to the New Orleans office of Kean Miller and a Registered Professional Engineer. He practices in the construction and litigation groups. Glenn has over 25 years of experience in complex construction law matters, mold litigation, and product liability litigation in state and federal courts.

Glenn is a Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) in the United States Marine Corps. He has served in a variety of legal positions for the United States Marine Corps, including assignments as Deputy General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, and General Counsel in wide range of jurisdictions including Hawaii, Japan, the Indian Ocean, Washington, D.C.,...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

Jason is one of the nation's top trial lawyers for one reason: when he represents a client, he's all in. No matter how tough the fight. No matter how big the challenge. When it matters most, he's there for people who have been wronged. He takes every case personally, treating each client like family while he fights to rebuild their lives.

When people need to win, they call Jason. He's won several verdicts and settlements worth more than $100 million, dozens of results worth more than $10 million, and more than 200 results worth $1 million or more. In total,...