Jones Walker has added five attorneys from Onebane to its Lafayette office, including partners Tommy Smart and Steve Lanza and special counsel David Fink, Mark Oliver and Doug Truxillo.
Smart, Lanza and Oliver join the Corporate Practice Group, Fink joins Litigation and Truxillo joins the Maritime Practice Group.
All five attorneys join from Onebane, a South Louisiana boutique founded in 1977.
The hires expand Jones Walker’s presence across corporate transactions, energy, oil and gas, litigation and maritime law while bringing longstanding client relationships across the Acadiana region.
Smart has more than four decades of experience in oil and gas law.
His practice includes transactional and regulatory matters, title examinations, acquisitions and sales of oil and gas properties, financing, seismic agreements and carbon capture, utilization and sequestration projects.
He represents operators, producers and interest holders working onshore and offshore in Louisiana, Texas and on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Smart also serves as general counsel to the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and co-chairs Jones Walker’s oil and gas team.
Lanza advises businesses, entrepreneurs, attorneys, physicians and other healthcare professionals on entity formation, governance, acquisitions, divestitures, contracts and other complex commercial matters.
Fink represents private businesses and public institutions in civil and commercial disputes, including matters involving government agencies and contract-related litigation.
Oliver focuses on purchases and sales of producing oil and gas properties, exploration and production agreements, title examinations and financing matters.
His background also includes direct experience working in the oil and gas industry before becoming an attorney.
Truxillo focuses on maritime and oilfield litigation, contracts and regulatory issues.
He has served as legal adviser to the Association of Diving Contractors International for more than 30 years and previously chaired the ABA Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee.
The group expands Jones Walker’s ability to serve energy and maritime clients throughout Louisiana and the Gulf Coast while increasing the depth of its Lafayette office.
KEY QUOTES:
“The addition of this accomplished group of attorneys marks an important investment in Lafayette and the Acadiana region. Their long-standing relationships and extensive experience in industries that have been cornerstones of our firm for decades, including energy and maritime, complement our existing strengths and enhance the value we deliver to clients.”
Bill Hines, Managing Partner Of Jones Walker
“The firm’s exceptional strength in the corporate, energy, and maritime sectors, combined with its broad geographic reach and comprehensive client service platform, creates tremendous opportunities for our clients and our attorneys.”
Tommy Smart, Partner At Jones Walker
