Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett

Managing Members: Samuel E. Masur, Martin E. Landrieu, Scott A. O'Connor

Firm Overview

Gordon Arata is a full-service, diversified business law firm servicing savvy clients in a range of industries across the Gulf South and beyond. With a team of over 40 regional and nationally recognized attorneys strategically located in Louisiana and Texas, the firm manages complex issues or small matters that impact businesses. Gordon Arata attorneys are skilled problem solvers, understand their clients' businesses, deliver creative and strategic solutions, and provide value by supporting clients in every stage of their business.

Main Areas of Practice

Admiralty & Maritime 

Many of the world's leading maritime companies have navigated their way to Gordon Arata, including insurers, cargo interests, oceangoing and inland vessel owners and operators, oil and oilfield service companies, drilling rig and platform owners, seismic companies, supply boats, and terminal and facility operators. The firm provides counsel as they face major, complex litigation and routine challenges.

Banking & Financial Services 

The firm has represented clients in the banking industry for over 75 years, including representing community banks in mergers and acquisitions; advising on capital and liquidity issues; and counseling banks in all aspects of regulatory process. Gordon Arata's attorneys handle all aspects of financing new commercial loans, including oil & gas financings, construction loans, and loans secured by interests in real estate, oil & gas assets, equipment, inventory, and vessels among others.

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights 

The firm counsels clients on the risks and exposures faced as a result of the application of bankruptcy laws to their financial dealings and transactions and helps to identify risks and guide clients in implementing the right strategies to minimize exposure.

Business Transactions, Entity Formation & Governance 

Gordon Arata attorneys represent a multitude of clients in virtually all aspects of their business. The firm’s lawyers also serve as general outside counsel to many companies in a variety of industries. Among the firm’s services, it guides clients through all types commercial financing and secured transactions and advises on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

Chemical, Industrial & Manufacturing 

The firm works with regional, national, and international chemical, industrial and manufacturing clients in an array of industries and sectors, including chemicals, food & beverage, containers & packaging, catalysts, synthetic rubbers, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum products. The firm's attorneys support and advise them in every stage of their business, including real estate dealings, construction agreements, risk and regulatory issues.

Construction 

The firm is well regarded for its construction practice, preparing and negotiating contracts and arbitration, mediating and litigating construction disputes. Gordon Arata represents general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals and material suppliers who are engaged in the construction of industrial, commercial, residential and other building projects in the public and private sectors.

Energy 

One of the Gulf Coast’s premier oil, gas and energy firms, Gordon Arata has helped industry clients throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the North Slope of Alaska to the Bass Straits of Australia. Its energy practice encompasses all forms of dispute resolution, including litigation in state and federal courts, arbitration, mediation and administrative proceedings before local, state and federal agencies. For decades, the firm has represented clients in every type of oil and gas regulatory issue in or offshore Louisiana and Texas. Major, national and independent oil and gas companies, pipeline companies, oilfield services companies, financial institutions, investors, large landowners and petrochemical companies, among others, turn to Gordon Arata for representation in routine and highly sophisticated transactions alike. In addition to its traditional oil and gas practice, firm attorneys have worked on a variety of matters involving renewable and clean energy, including ethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel carbon capture, and solar facilities matters. The firm additionally handles oilfield service company transactions and litigation and advises clients engaged in the pipeline, storage and transmission sectors. Insurance The firm provides advice and representation to insurers and policyholders in a wide array of insurance and insurance-coverage related matters, including in all phases of litigation.

Environment & Toxic Torts 

The firm has one of the most sophisticated and successful environmental and toxic tort practices in the Southeast, advising clients on a wide variety of regulatory issues and litigation arising out of various federal and state environmental laws, including regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

International Law 

Gordon Arata serves foreign and domestic clients operating in the complex global marketplace by providing counsel and developing legal solutions for transactional, regulatory and dispute resolution issues. The firm has successfully represented and defended manufacturers, importers, and producers/exporters of industrial and consumer products before U.S. Courts and foreign tribunals, including recently securing the dismissal of claims against several Chinese corporations in multi-district litigation in Louisiana federal court involving allegedly defective construction materials.

Litigation 

The firm boasts a team of litigators whose experience includes appellate, class action, commercial litigation, corporate and securities litigation, environmental and toxic torts, products liability, and professional liability defense. It represents business clients of all sizes in diverse and complex commercial litigation, and in arbitrations, mediations, and appeals.

Real Estate & Commercial Leasing 

Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett attorneys handle a wide array of real estate transactions, commercial leasing and related matters. The firm regularly provides title services required for the financing, acquisition and other transactions it handles. Its commercial leasing practice includes representation of local and regional landlords in a wide array of leasing transactions.

Tax 

The firm advises on all aspects of multi-state and local taxation and tax structuring for clients including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts, sole proprietorships, as well as individual clients and nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations. The firm has one of the most respected and experienced state and local tax practices in Louisiana representing a broad range of clients in all facets of Louisiana state and local tax (SALT) controversies and litigation.

Offices

Louisiana: 

New Orleans: 201 St. Charles Ave., 40th Fl., New Orleans, LA 70170

Lafayette: 1015 Saint John St., Lafayette, LA 70501

Texas: 

Houston: 1001 Fannin St., Suite 3850, Houston, TX 77002