L. Etienne

Balart

Etienne provides transactional, dispute resolution, and litigation counsel to a variety of clients in the energy, maritime, and construction industries, helping them navigate financial, compliance, and risk management challenges. His almost three decades of experience includes drafting and negotiating construction agreements, master service contracts, vessel charter parties, and other contracts, as well as advising clients on regulatory compliance, certification, and maritime documentation issues.

Etienne has litigated extensively in multiple jurisdictions, both federal and state, and before domestic and international arbitration panels, bringing a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach to disputes. His litigation experience spans commercial disputes, construction claims, contract terminations, surety claims, insurance coverage issues, vessel seizures, maritime personal injuries, multi- and single-claimant limitation of liability actions, third-party state and Outer Continental Shelf platform claims, vessel collisions and allisions, indemnity disputes and applications of anti-indemnity statutes, and cargo claims. Etienne also has significant appellate experience, having clerked for the Honorable W. Eugene Davis of the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and later representing clients in appeals before that court and the courts of appeal in Louisiana.

Beyond his maritime and energy practice, Etienne advises owners, general contractors, and subcontractors on construction litigation and commercial disputes, including Louisiana Public Bid Law matters. He has handled arbitrations and court cases involving contract terminations, cost overruns, design defects, contract delays, and payment disputes.