“Spike” is the senior member of the firm, having joined it in 1960 after serving as an officer in the Army’s Judge Advocate Generals Corps. He is a graduate of Tulane’s Business School and Law School.
While Spike has primarily been a litigator over the years, he also has extensive experience in transactional work. He is convinced that his litigation experience is of enormous value to his transactional work, and vice-versa.
Philosophy
Spike expresses his philosophy about the practice of law as follows:
When I go to battle for a client, I see it to be my duty to fight with every ounce of energy I have. And I’ve been blessed with a great deal of energy. My long experience and battle scars have taught me, however, that a lawyer best serves his client by knowing when to fight and when not to fight. This is true in both litigation and transactional work. My job is to solve my client’s problem as quickly and inexpensively as possible – and, hopefully, convince the lawyer on the other side that this is his or her job also.
Litigation Experience
Spike has tried hundreds of cases sitting first chair. The wide variety of lawsuits he has tried over the years has served him well. More recently, he has devoted his trial practice to litigation involving complex commercial matters, oil and gas and environmental issues, while still being involved in railroad cases and products liability litigation.
Transactional Experience
Spike is involved in the negotiation and drafting of complex contracts, agreements, leases, and other business transactions. He also advises clients on liability aspects of their businesses.
Professional Related Experiences
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Lectured at seminars and professional programs sponsored by Tulane University, Louisiana State University, Loyola University, Louisiana Bar Association, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Louisiana Association of Trial Lawyers, various local bar associations and at United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ judicial conferences.
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In 2004, served over eight months by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court as a judge on the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal.
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Member of numerous committees by appointment of the Louisiana Supreme Court to assist the court in establishing policies for the judiciary and for the bar association.
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Served on panels appointed by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States district courts in recommending to those courts persons to be appointed as United States Bankruptcy Judges and United States Magistrates.
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Served the state and local bar associations and related associations in a multitude of capacities, including as president and chairperson of a number of these associations and their committees.
Honors
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Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
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Named in two categories (personal injury defense and business litigation) in Naifeh & Smith’s, The Best Lawyers in America.
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Received the Curtis R. Boisfontane Trial Advocacy Award from the Louisiana Bar Association and the Louisiana Bar Foundation.
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Named by the Louisiana Bar Foundation as the 1998 Distinguished Lawyer of Louisiana.
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Named by the Louisiana State Bar Association as the Outstanding Young Lawyer in Louisiana in 1974.
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