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Jefferson R.
Tillery

Position
Partner
Office
New Orleans

Jeff Tillery is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team. He is recognized as an accomplished trial lawyer and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.


Drawing on his more than 35 years of experience, Jeff works closely with clients to identify the issues at the heart of any dispute and to adopt practical strategies to resolve the issues quickly and effectively. When negotiated settlements are not an option, clients rely on Jeff’s significant trial experience to present their cases before judges and juries in federal and state courts.

Known for handling complex maritime litigation, Jeff has extensive trial experience that includes representing clients in maritime personal injury and vessel collision and allision matters, commercial litigation, longshore matters, marine insurance coverage disputes, contract and charter party disputes, and property and economic damage cases involving construction and repair of fixed offshore platforms, marine terminals, docks, ships, towboats, barges, and offshore service vessels. Jeff regularly represents clients in complex marine multiparty casualty cases, including many under the Oil Pollution Act. He also represents industrial plants and refineries in matters involving explosions and other major incidents.

Jeff is a frequent speaker at seminars and on podcasts around the country. His presentations cover a wide range of maritime topics, including collisions, offshore casualties, the ramifications of recent court decisions on the industry, and the application of a host of federal and state laws and regulations, including the Jones Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.

Noteworthy

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2024
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Power 20: Port & Maritime list, 2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty and Maritime Law (listed annually since 2010); Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (listed annually since 2021); Transportation Law (2024, 2025 and 2026)
  • The Legal 500 United States, Transport: Shipping – Litigation (listed annually since 2018); Transport: Shipping – Litigation and Regulation (listed annually since 2020); "Leading Lawyers," Transport – Shipping: Litigation and Regulation (2025)
  • New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyer (listed annually since 2019)
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Transportation/Maritime (listed annually since 2011)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell

Publications

  • "New Louisiana State Legislation Rolls Back Advantages Long Afforded to Personal Injury Claimants," Jones Walker LLP Maritime Client Alert, May 30, 2025
  • "Hurricanes and Act of God Defenses," Jones Walker LLP Maritime Newsletter, September 2021
  • "Supreme Court Reverses Batterton - No Punitive Damages for Unseaworthiness," Jones Walker LLP Maritime Client Alert, June 2019
  • "Supreme Court To Determine Availability of Punitive Damages in Unseaworthiness Actions," The Waterways Journal, February 8, 2019
  • "Overview of General Maritime Law Including the Jones Act", August 1, 2008
  • "Bell v. Jet Wheel Blast: More Confusion to an Already Confused Area," 46 La.L.Rev. 1107, 1986
  • "Design Defects: Are Consumer Expectations Unrealistic?" 45 LA.L.Rev. 1313, 1985

Presentations

  • "The Rise of 'Huge' Verdicts. How do I Appeal the 'Huge Verdict' for Failure to Pay Maintenance and Cure and Can I Win on Appeal?" GNOBFA 41st River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 10, 2025
  • "The Maritime Era," NOBA 2025 Bench Bar Conference, Gulf Shores, Alabama, March 29, 2025
  • "Different Focus But One Goal: A Conversation between Trial and Appellate Lawyers," LSBA Advanced Appellate Practice Seminar, December 4, 2024
  • "Attorney Panel on Seaman's Issues," Loyola Law Maritime Journal Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 15, 2024
  • "Maritime Wrongful Death Investigations," LSBA 31st Annual Admiralty Symposium, October 30, 2024
  • "What Can I Do To Defeat The Deckhand Who 'Turns Into A Captain' For Making A Wage Loss Claim? An Insight Into The Ethical And Professionalism Issues In Presenting And Arguing The Motion In Limine," Greater New Orleans Barge and Fleeting Association 40th River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 24–26, 2024
  • "Evaluating a US Personal Injury Claim Through The Mock Jury Process," Lloyd's Market Association, September 30, 2022
  • "The Maritime Litigation from Inception; Navigating the Often Uncharted Waters," LSBA 29th Annual Admiralty Symposium, September 16, 2022
  • "Handling Maritime Cases from Both Sides of the Aisle," High Stakes on the High Seas, A Maritime Law Conference, Louisiana Association for Justice, New Orleans, Louisiana, August 19, 2022
  • Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association (GNOBFA) Seminar, April 27–29, 2022
  • "Zoom Trials? Are they Effective, Efficient, and Worthwhile?" Louisiana State Bar Association, April 13, 2022
  • "What to do in a maritime emergency," Marine Log's Listen Up! Podcast, March 7, 2022
  • Loyola University's 2022 Maritime Law Journal Symposium, February 18, 2022
  • "Legal Liabilities for Vessel Owners Arising out of COVID-19 Exposure and Coast Guard Protocols and Updates on Operations on the LMR," Great New Orleans Barge and Fleeting Association and hosted by Jones Walker LLP, April 13, 2020
  • "Prosecuting, Defending, and Settling Maritime Injury Claims," LSBA 26th Annual Admiralty Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, September 13, 2019
  • "Federal Magistrate Judges: What is their function?" GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 17, 2017
  • "Recent Developments in Maritime Law," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 17, 2016
  • "Professionalism and Ethics in the Handling of the Personal Injury Litigation Matter—from Incident to Settlement or Judgment—Start to Finish," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 2013
  • "Handling of Maritime PI Matters & Related Ethical Issues," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 17, 2013
  • "PTSD," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 17, 2011
  • "Second-Annual Lafourche Maritime Seminar," Port Commission Building, Galliano, Louisiana, September 3, 2009
  • "Handling a JA Claim," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 17, 2009
  • "How to Handle Jones Act Cases," Lorman Marine Seminar, Kenner, Louisiana, November 12, 2008
  • "The Collision – A Scenario with Damages and Sinking," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 1, 2008
  • "Masters of the Courtroom," New Orleans Bar Association CLE Seminar, December 2007
  • "Recent Decisions in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Circuits Affecting the Administration of the Longshoremen and Harbor Workers Compensation Act," Signal Maritime Forum, May 2007
  • "Recent Updates Under Longshore Certificate," Signal Mutual Seminar, Nashville, Tennessee, May 1, 2007
  • "Recent Updates on Maritime Law," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, April 1, 2006
  • "Handling of a Major Offshore Casualty," Maritime Law Association Seminar in Phoenix, Arizona, November 2001; Houston Oil & Gas Seminar, 2005 and 2006
  • "Recent Developments in Maritime Law," Tulane Maritime Seminar, 2004

Memberships

  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
  • Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater New Orleans, President (2000–2002)
  • Federal Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • Maritime Law Association of the United States
New Orleans
201 St. Charles Ave
New Orleans, LA 70170-5100
D: 504.582.8616
F: 504.582.8015
Emailjtillery@joneswalker.com

Education

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center
    JD, 1986
    Order of the Coif; Louisiana Law Review
  • Louisiana State University
    BS, 1983
    Dean's List

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana

Court Admissions

  • US Supreme Court
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
  • US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Related Practices

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Disaster Preparedness & Recovery
  • Maritime
  • Products Liability
  • Offshore Energy
  • Appellate Litigation

Related Industries

  • Maritime Industry
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