Jones Walker LLP

Our Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Client Team has significant prior experience in the multiple insurance and business issues, including litigation, that typically arise as a result of a catastrophic event. Jones Walker can help clients take the critical steps necessary in order to preserve their claims, protect their property, and maintain their property values. The firm has handed similar matters in Louisiana in connection with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005, as well as Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

Our attorneys have assisted clients with contract claims arising after a destructive natural disaster, including those involving breach, failure to perform, and force majeure. A force majeure event may occur when an unforeseen event, such as a hurricane, renders the performance of a contract impossible. The firm can provide assistance with the statutory and contractual issues involving an impossibility defense to contract performance.

With regard to Hurricane Katrina, we have assisted clients in numerous cases involving property damage and business interruption losses. In those cases, we have assisted with the recovery of more than $300 million in property damage and business interruption and extra expense damages. We have handled such claims for oil and gas producers, pipelines, manufacturers, food service companies, colleges and universities, nursing homes, professional service firms, to name a few.

In the aftermath of any large-scale disaster, Jones Walker is available to assist clients with the numerous issues that may arise, including analyzing and litigating contract and insurance claims involving property damage, whether by wind or flood; business interruption; and extra expense. The firm is also available to help clients with insurance coverage issues, such as mold and pollution exclusions, and duplicate coverage issues. We can advise clients on the the selection and supervision of experts in adjustment, construction, business income losses, and more.

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.