Wilton E. Bland, III, Founder - Senior Counsel
Wilton E. Bland, III is a founding member of the firm. Now serving as Senior Counsel to the firm, his career is distinguished by the highest honors an attorney can achieve, including being elected as a Proctor in The Maritime Law Association of the United States, named to The Best Lawyers in America, Louisiana Super Lawyers, and New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers, and earning a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent ranking from his peers. With a practice that was dedicated to maritime and admiralty law, Will’s leadership, integrity, and expertise helped build the foundation upon which the firm stands today.
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America – Admiralty & Maritime Law (2021-2027)
- Louisiana Super Lawyers – Transportation/Maritime (2018-2026)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
- New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers – Admiralty & Maritime Law (2015-2021, 2023)
Panels and Presentations
- Presenter, “Recent Developments in Maritime Law; Cases of Interest,” Offshore Marine Services Association (2016)
- Presenter, “Combating Fraud Under The Act,” Loyola Law School Annual Longshore Conference (1999)
- Presenter, “Dealing With Workers’ Compensation Fraud,” Industrial Safety And Rehabilitation Institute Seminar (1998)
- Presenter, “Ethics Of The Fraudulent Compensation Claim,” Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar (1998)
- Presenter, “The Compulsory River Pilot,” Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar (1993)
- Presenter, “Punitive Damages,” Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar (1987)
- Presenter, “The Barge Sinking, A Panel Discussion,” Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Assoc. River & Marine Ind. Seminar (1984)
Publications
- Legal News Columnist, “News From the Docks,” Ports Association of Louisiana
- Fifth Circuit Symposium-Admiralty, 34 Loy. L. Rev. 599 (1989)
Representative Reported Cases
- Aintrainer v. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., 97-1554 (La. App. 1 Cir. 4/8/98), 712 So.2d 590
- Port Arthur Towing Co. v. John W. Towing, Inc., 42 F.3d 312 (5th Cir. 1995)
- Dehart v. Ferruzzi U.S.A., Inc., 95-0653 (La. App. 4 Cir. 10/12/95), 663 So.2d 466
- Reed v. Iowa Marine and Repair Corp., 16 F.3d 82 (5th Cir. 1994)
- Pichon v. Ocean Drilling and Exploration Co., 617 So.2d 38 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1993)
- Fortenberry v. ODECO,, 607 So.2d 950 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1992)
- Lee v. Mississippi River Grain Elevator, Inc., 591 So.2d 1371 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1992)
- O’Bryan v. Folk Construction Co., 594 So.2d 900 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1991)
- Anderson v. St. Bernard Parish, 543 So.2d 537 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1989)
- Williams v. Hollywood Marine, Inc., 717 F.Supp. 437 (E.D. La. 1989)
- White v. Cooper/T.Smith Corp., 690 F.Supp. 534 (E.D. La. 1988)
- Kattleman v. Otis Engineering Corp., 696 F. Supp. 1111, 701 F.Supp. 560 (E.D. La. 1988)
- Touchstone v. Land & Marine Applicators, Inc., 628 F.Supp. 1202 (E.D. La. 1986)
- Philips v. Equitable Life Assurance Co., 413 So.2d 969 (4th Cir. 1982)