About this office:
Established in 1853 in New Orleans, Phelps Dunbar LLP is one of the oldest law firms in the South. At the same time, the progressive partnership has taken initiatives to transform the firm into a regional law firm with a practice that is international in scope. As a result of this transformation, Phelps Dunbar now has offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Grove Hill, Gulf Shores and Mobile, Alabama; Gulfport, Jackson, Pascagoula and Tupelo , Mississippi; Houston, Texas; Tampa, Florida; and London, England.
Through a network of regional offices, clients have access to more than 250 attorneys representing an extensive and diverse range of talent and experience. No matter how intricate a client's legal needs, Phelps Dunbar's professional depth and experience allow the firm to provide accessible, cost-effective, prompt service to all clients.
We are proud of the legal abilities and the personal qualities of our attorneys. Among past and present members, we count a United States Ambassador, a Chief of Protocol of the United States, two Judges of the United States District Court, a United States Attorney, three Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court, a Louisiana Appellate Court Judge, a Presiding Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, two Associate Justices of the Mississippi Supreme Court, a City Attorney, a President of the American Bar Association, two Presidents of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, four Presidents of the Louisiana State Bar Association, two Presidents of The Mississippi Bar, three university board Presidents, and a law school Chancellor.
Statement of Practice Summary:
Admiralty; Appellate Litigation; Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights; Biotechnology; Business and Finance; Commercial Litigation; Construction; Corporate and Securities; Employee Benefits; Energy and Minerals; Environmental; Gaming; Health Care; Insurance and Reinsurance; Intellectual Property; Labor and Employment; Legislative and Governmental Relations; Municipal Finance; Oil and Gas; Products Liability; Public Utilities and Electric Power; Railroad; Real Estate; Regulatory and Governmental Matters; Tax; Tort Litigation; Toxic Tort Litigation; Trusts and Estates; and White Collar Criminal Defense.
Year Established: 1853
Representative Clients:
Eckerd Corporation; Employers Reinsurance Corporation; Fireman's Fund Insurance Company; Gulf Marine Repair Corporation/Hendry Corporation; Harold's Stores, Inc.; Inland Home Building Group, Inc.; Philadelphia Insurance Company; Pre-paid Legal Services, Inc.; Sims Crane & Equipment Company; South Trust Bank, N.A.; Swiss Re Insurance Company; Underwriters at Lloyd's, London; UPS; Waste Management, Inc. of Florida.
Former Names: Joseph M. Dirrhammer 1853-1869 John H. Kennard 1858-1869 Dirrhammer & Kennard 1869-1873 Kennard, Howe & Prentiss 1873-1886 Howe & Prentiss 1887-1893 Howe, Spencer & Cocke 1894-1907 Howe, Fenner, Spencer & Cocke 1908-1918 Spencer, Fenner, Gidiere & Phelps 1919-1921 Spencer, Gidiere, Phelps & Dunbar 1922-1937 Spencer, Phelps, Dunbar & Marks 1938-1942 Phelps, Dunbar, Marks & Claverie 1943-1954 Phelps, Dunbar, Marks, Claverie & Sims 1955-1990 Phelps Dunbar 1990—
(For Complete Biographical Data on all Personnel, see Professional Biographies at other locations)