Richard J. Arsenault to Co-Chair Gulf Coast Oil Spill Symposium on May 25 in New Orleans

Professor Tom C. Galligan, President of Colby-Sawyer College, and Attorney Richard J. Arsenault, Founding Partner of Neblett, Beard & Arsenault, will co-chair the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Gulf Coast Oil Symposium on May 25th at the Sheraton in New Orleans, LA.

The conference was coordinated to address the complex issues associated with the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Galligan and Arsenault have assembled a talented faculty, which include some of the most prominent attorneys in the country. The keynote speaker will be world renowned author, professor and political strategist, James Carville.

The symposium aims to shed light on the complex legal issues involved in this disaster, including governmental claims, potential claimants and recoverable damages, the Limitation of Liability Act, the types and qualifications of experts, Coast Guard and MMS investigations, and the status of multi-district litigation, as well as the impact on the environment and economy of the region.

Professor Tom Galligan, Jr. is currently the President of Colby-Sawyer College. He served as the Dean of the University of Tennessee College of Law from 1998-2006 and was a professor at LSU Law School from 1986-1998. He has published and spoken extensively on maritime law and his scholarship has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Louisiana Supreme Court, other courts, and commentators. His co-authored scholarship with Professor Frank L. Maraist has been honored by the Tulane Law Review and the Louisiana Bar Journal.

Richard J. Arsenault has been involved in maritime litigation for 30 years. He is a former Chair of the AAJ Admiralty Law Section and has chaired the Louisiana Bar Association’s Annual Admiralty Symposium since its inception 17 years ago. He has published and spoken extensively on maritime topics and his scholarship has appeared in various publications including the Maritime Lawyer, the Maritime Law Reporter, Trial Magazine and the La. Bar Journal. Arsenault is the current Chair of the Louisiana Bar Association’s Section on Insurance, Negligence, Worker’s Compensation and Admiralty Law. Twice a year, Arsenault, Professor Galligan and several Federal Court Judges participate in panel presentations designed to review recent maritime developments. Arsenault also serves on the LSU Law School Trial Advocacy Faculty.