Jones Walker LLP

Our litigators provide litigation counsel, advice, and support to many of the world's largest corporations, as well as to prominent local and regional companies. To meet the needs of each client—large or small—our litigation practice draws from a large pool of attorneys to provide the talent needed at an appropriate, cost-effective level of staffing. We are experienced in a wide variety of substantive areas, including:

• Antitrust and trade regulation
• Banking
• Bankruptcy
• Construction
• Contracts
• Environmental and toxic torts
• Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
• Insurance
• Intellectual property
• Labor and employment
• Oil and gas
• Products liability
• Professional liability
• Public utility regulation
• Securities
• Transportation
• White collar crime

The firm's attorneys have considerable experience managing and resolving class actions in a variety of substantive areas, including antitrust, securities, and products liability, among others. We are pleased to have served as defense counsel in class actions on behalf of BellSouth Telecommunications, CSX Corporation, Freeport-McMoRan Inc., General Motors Corp., Stewart Enterprises, Inc., and many others.

When the need arises, our litigation attorneys call on the experience and knowledge of their peers practicing in other areas of the firm. Detailed descriptions of the litigation practice's attorneys and experience in these areas are available upon request.

Our group handles disputes in many types of forums. In addition to appearing in state and federal courts in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and throughout the country, we represent clients before a variety of state and federal agencies.

We are experienced with alternative dispute resolution (ADR). We have appeared in proceedings under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association, National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), and the International Chamber of Commerce, as well as under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules of 1976. Jones Walker has qualified mediators, National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation (NASDR) arbitrators, and others experienced in resolving disputes outside of the courts.

Counseling

We often counsel clients in litigation avoidance or assist in efforts necessary to close commercial transactions. For example, our antitrust attorneys analyze the implications of proposed mergers and acquisitions, and, when necessary, appear before the appropriate state and federal agencies concerned with such issues. They also provide guidance to businesses in antitrust compliance. Our bankruptcy attorneys provide pre-bankruptcy counseling and are frequently involved in workouts. Our environmental attorneys assist clients in complying with federal and state regulations.

Philosophy

Each client and matter is unique, and therefore, our approach permits us to honor differences while capitalizing on the experience and substantive backgrounds of our members. We have sufficient depth and flexibility to staff a particular matter in a way that is appropriate for each client, regardless of the time demands involved. Our litigation attorneys are committed to partnering with each client to set litigation goals, to develop plans and budgets to implement those goals, and to work diligently and effectively to achieve them.

Diversity Mission Statement

Jones Walker LLP strives to encourage, foster and increase diversity across the firm. To this end, the Diversity Committee has adopted the goal of fostering a work environment that welcomes different perspectives, backgrounds and life experiences and ensures that an individual’s professional growth, experience or advancement is not limited because of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability or other similar factor.

Purposes of the Diversity Committee

• To increase awareness of the importance of diversity within the firm and of the means by which diversity enriches the firm;
• To encourage all lawyers and staff members to develop mutual respect and appreciation for different perspectives and backgrounds; and
• To develop and implement strategies to assist the firm in recruiting, retaining and advancing staff and lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
• Jones Walker values all employees who contribute positively to the firm’s practice, the firm’s environment, and the greater community we serve.

In 2009, Jones Walker was named to MultiCultural Law Magazine’s list of "Top 100 Law Firms for Women," part of a series of listings of the top 100 law firms for diversity. The listings are compiled based on diversity statistics derived from annual surveys that the publication sends to law firms with more than 100 attorneys.