Pat Vance is a partner in and leader of the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses primarily on business litigation, creditors’ rights litigation, and bankruptcy. Mr. Vance is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Life Member of the American Law Institute, and the General Counsel and a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is a former Vice President of the National Bankruptcy Conference.
As a trial attorney, Mr. Vance has handled more than 300 commercial disputes in a wide variety of practice areas, including antitrust, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), copyright infringement, Lanham Act, securities litigation, class action defense, foreclosures, fraud, lender liability, banking litigation, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), dealer-distributor disputes, successions, legal malpractice, expropriation, contract interpretation, partnership, utility regulation, tax, and general commercial disputes. He has more than 70 reported decisions.
Mr. Vance regularly represents secured and unsecured creditors in all types of business bankruptcy cases. He has been retained by scores of banks, telecommunications companies, international manufacturers, utilities, healthcare providers, maritime, oil and gas-related industries, the music industry, casinos, and insurance companies. He represented one of the key creditors in the Cajun Electric bankruptcy case, which was one of the most significant utility cases filed in the United States in the 1990s. He has also represented and served as a trustee and counsel to creditors’ committees in numerous cases.
As trustee and as attorney for debtors and trustees, Mr. Vance has represented real estate developers, hotels, casinos, partnerships, construction companies, health spas, maritime clients, oil and gas-related industries, a tree farm, a gravel pit, and the largest alligator farm in North America. He was the lead counsel for a New Orleans-based utility company in a post-Katrina Chapter 11 case that resulted in millions of dollars of saving for the citizens of New Orleans in rebuilding the City’s gas and electric infrastructure.
Noteworthy
President’s Award, 2016 – New Orleans Bar Association
Outstanding Board Service Award, 2015- Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Distinguished Achievement Award, 2012- Louisiana State University Law School
Outstanding Service Award, 2011- Louisiana State University Honors College
Listed in Benchmark Litigation 2011 as Highly Recommended, listed in Benchmark Litigation 2012-2018 as a Local Litigation Star.
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC) in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, and Litigation – Bankruptcy (listed annually since 1993)
Named the Best Lawyers’ 2015 New Orleans Litigation – Bankruptcy “Lawyer of the Year”
Named the Best Lawyers’ 2013 New Orleans Banking & Finance “Lawyer of the Year”
Recognized in “Chambers USA Americas Leading Lawyers for Business” in the areas of Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Litigation: General Commercial (listed annually since 2006)
Listed in the 2018 edition of Louisiana Super Lawyers in the area of Bankruptcy: Business (listed annually since 2007)
Listed as one of the Top 10 attorneys statewide by Louisiana Super Lawyers (listed annually since 2007)
Recognized as a 2013 Top Lawyer by New Orleans Magazine
Named to New Orleans CityBusiness’ 2008 Leadership in Law
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
Listed in Euromoney’s Guide to World’s Leading Insolvency Lawyers (listed annually since 1997)
The only Louisiana attorney listed in the International Who’s Who of Insolvency and Restructuring Lawyers
News
Vance Recognized by the Southeast Louisiana Legal Services
Presentations
“Professional or Not? You be the Judge”, April 21, 2013, New Orleans Bar Association’s Bench Bar Conference
“Stern v. Marshall: How’s That Working for You?”, October 25, 2012, National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
“Deposing the Financial Expert”, November 5, 2010,
Deposition Boot Camp: Beyond Basic Training
“Deposing an Expert Witness”, November 3, 2010, Litigation Lessons for Lawyers
“Assorted Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Issues”, March 12, 2009, National Underground Utilities Supply Credit Group
“Chapter 11 Business Reorganizations”, June 2005
Publications
“The Supreme Court’s Decision in Stern v. Marshall: Its Effect on Bankruptcy Administration and Possible Responses”
“Maximus of the Courtroom Crowned with Glory”
New Orleans Bar Association Newsletter, March 2002
“Fifth Circuit Symposium: Bankruptcy”
46 Loyola Law Review 931, 2000
“Fifth Circuit Symposium: Bankruptcy”
42 Loyola Law Review 459, 1996
“Fifth Circuit Symposium: Bankruptcy”
41 Loyola Law Review 443, 1995
Memberships
American Bar Association (Past Chair, Bankruptcy Litigation Committee; Member, Business Bankruptcy Committee)
American College of Bankruptcy (General Counsel. 2017-; Vice President 2013-2017; Member, Board of Regents, 20032007; Board of Directors, 2007 to date)
American College of Bankruptcy Foundation (President, 20122014; Board of Directors, 2008-2014)
American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow)
American Law Institute (LIfe Member)
Kid SmArt (Past Board Member)
Louisiana ArtWorks (Past Board Member)
Louisiana Bankers Association (Past Chair, Bank Counsel Committee, 1993; Past Chair, Educational Subcommittee, 19911993; Past Chair, Legislative Subcommittee, 19891991)
Louisiana State Bar Association (Past Chair, Sections on Consumer Protection Law and Bankruptcy Law, 19861987; Past Chair, CLE Planning Committee, 19951996)
Louisiana State University Honors College Advisory Council
National Bankruptcy Conference ( Past Vice-President and Executive Committee)
New Orleans Bar Association (Past President and Board Member)
Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University (Member, Alumni Board of Trustees)
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services (Past President, Board of Directors)
Trinity Episcopal School (Past Board Member)
Company Firm
Jones Walker LLP
Firm Mailing
201 Saint Charles Ave Ste 5100
New Orleans
Louisiana
70170-5101
United States of America
Fellow Since
October 22, 2011
Practice Areas
- Bankruptcy
- Commercial Litigation
- Professional Malpractice-Defense
Chapter
- Louisiana
Committee(s)
Contact Info