Picture of Bradley J. Schlotterer

Bradley J. Schlotterer

Partner

"My priority is to understand our client’s business and get to know their in-house legal team so that when we are providing litigation or transactional advice, we can do so knowing what is truly important to that particular client."

As a proven first-chair trial counsel, Brad Schlotterer is one of the premier energy and maritime attorneys in the Southeast. He is known for effectively handling a wide range of matters before the Federal and State Courts of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, New York, Mississippi, Utah, and Alaska. Whether a case hits the headlines or requires the highest level of diplomacy to reach an amicable result, clients rely on Brad to resolve their most serious litigation issues valued from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars in dispute. 

After graduation from law school, Brad was appointed by a District Judge to be a federal law clerk for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where he served from 1995-1996 before entering private practice. This time working on the other side of the bench provided Brad with a unique perspective on effective ways to handle hearings and trials before the Court, as well as the lesson that brief writing is critical to the success of your case. 

Notably, Brad has been involved in some of the state’s largest and most precedent-setting disputes. He has created new law at the trial court and appellate levels in the areas of energy, maritime, bankruptcy, and public bid law. 

Brad combines three decades of litigation experience with a sophisticated understanding of each client’s distinct operations to develop credible, well-informed, and effective litigation strategies. He is dedicated to understanding the often-differing points of view involved in high-stakes litigation and is appreciated for his diplomacy, often working effectively with opposing counsel to reduce the senseless disputes that only unnecessarily delay the litigation while increasing costs and expenses for everyone. 

By taking the time to develop relationships with those he serves and understand what they consider a success, Brad’s clients can get back to focusing on their business while he attends to their legal needs. 

Representative Experience
  • Representation of oil companies in decommissioning obligations in the Gulf of Mexico involving disputes with BSEE/BOEM and bankruptcies of contracting parties. 
  • Representation of a client involved in the exploration of R.M.S. TITANIC ruins and implosion of a manned submersible, which involves marine investigations being conducted by multiple countries.
  • Representation of various oil companies in litigation and governmental proceedings resulting from pipelines being ruptured by vessels, including all issues surrounding a significant environmental clean-up and OPA 90. 
  • Developing strategies for federal court litigation (OCSLA and Limitation of Liability) involving large energy/maritime casualties for drilling contractors and oil companies. 
  • Appellant counsel at the U.S. Fifth Circuit for bankruptcy disputes involving creditor’s rights. 
  • Representation of NFL athletes in securities and other financial claims regarding investment advice and activities. 
  • Representation of an oil company in a dispute with a co-venturer over a multi-million-dollar contract involving a drilling project on the North Slope of Alaska. 
  • Representation of various oil companies and drilling companies in litigation involving disputes over contracts with service companies and oil companies, including Master Service Agreements.
  • Drafting of Master Service Agreements and drilling contracts for various drilling companies and oil companies. 
  • Representation of various energy companies in well blow-outs and all claims arising from significant catastrophes, which involve contract disputes, personal injury and death claims, environmental issues, and large property damage claims. 
  • Representation of various oil companies in claims involving OPA 90 regulations and governmental investigations, as well as applications to the Oil Spill Trust Fund. 
  • Representation of numerous marine and energy companies in U.S. Coast Guard and OSHA investigations and hearings. 
  • Representation of various barge companies, drilling companies, and oil companies in lawsuits filed by offshore workers based on the Jones Act, General Maritime Law, Louisiana and Texas state law, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. 
  • Representation of a national transportation company in a public bid dispute with the City of New Orleans and the Armstrong International Airport. 
  • Appointed Special Assistant Attorney General by the Louisiana Attorney General to represent the State of Louisiana and the Board of Supervisors in lawsuits filed against Louisiana State Colleges. 
  • Counsel to the Board for the Louisiana State Police involving litigation against its employees.
Education

  • LSU Law Center, J.D., 1995
  • LSU, B.S., Finance, 1991

Admissions
  • Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • U.S District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships
  • Member, New Orleans Bar Association (Energy Litigation Section)
  • Member, Louisiana State Bar Association (Natural Resources and Energy Section)
  • Member, American Bar Association (Energy Section)
  • Member, Federal Bar Association (Energy Section; Board of Directors, 2010-2020)
  • Charter Member, John M. Duhe, Jr. American Inn of Court
Articles, Publications and Presentations
  • "Navigating End-of-Life Liabilities and Obligations for Oil and Gas Wells," Institute for Energy Law Upstream Oil & Gas Legal Conference, October 17, 2024
  • "Procedures for Pooling and Unitization," Louisiana Mineral Law Services, Vol. 15, No. 4, 1995
Recognition
  • AV Preeminent-rated, Martindale-Hubbell 
  • “Super Lawyers,” Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2014-2023 
  • “Elite Lawyer of the South,” ALM and Martindale Hubbell, 2019  
  • “Leadership in the Law,” New Orleans CityBusiness, 2010 
  • “Top Attorneys,” New Orleans Magazine, 2010-2023 
Community Service
  • Volunteer, Ochsner Eat Fit Nonprofit Program 
  • Past Member, Board of Trustees (2002-2006), LSU Law Center 
  • Volunteer, Rebuilding Together New Orleans 
  • Judge, Teen Court for Juvenile Offenders 
  • Sustaining Member, New Orleans Museum of Art 
  • Judge, National Trial Advocacy Competition 
  • Judge, Tulane Moot Court Competition 
  • Volunteer, Loaves & Fishes Project to feed workers in Hurricane ravaged areas of New Orleans 
  • Volunteer, Multiple Sclerosis Bike Ride Staff
CityBusiness Leadership in Law
CityBusiness - Leadership in Law
Super Lawyers
Bradley Schlotterer Super Lawyers