W. Brett Mason Partner—Baton Rouge Phone: 225.381.3175 Fax: 225.381.8029 brett.mason@bswllp.com

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W. Brett Mason is a Martindale AV-rated partner in the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. He joined the firm in 1997 and represents clients in maritime casualties, toxic tort defense, and class action litigation. Brett has particular experience in limitation of liability actions and class actions involving chemical exposure and catastrophic accidents. Brett counsels vessel owners/operators on risk management.

Education

Tulane University School of Law, Master of Laws in Admiralty, 1994.

Tulane University School of Law, J.D., 1993 (served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Martin L.C. Feldman, as a research assistant to Professor A. N. Yiannopoulos, and Magister of Phi Delta Phi)

Washington and Lee University, B.A., European History, 1990.

Admissions

United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2003.

United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 2000.

Louisiana bar and United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, 1993. 

Professional Associations

Baton Rouge Bar Association

Louisiana State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel

The Maritime Law Association of the United States - Proctor Member

Ports Association of Louisiana

South Central Industrial Association

Propeller Club of the United States, Executive Committee 2011, International Third Vice President and Co-Chair of Internation Convention 2011

Propeller Club, Port of New Orleans, President 2009 - 2011

Wex Malone Chapter of American Inns of Court -President 2009 - 2010; Treasurer 2006 - 2008

Presentations

Tug and Barge Liability, The Maritime Law Association of the United States, 2005 Fall Conference.

Community Involvement

Special Olympics Louisiana, Board of Directors 2001-2006.

The Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, Vice Chairman Mainstream Committee, 2006 -2007.

Volunteer, Capital Area United Way, Community Partnership Division.

Volunteer, Junior Achievement Teaching Program, Catholic High School.

Member, First United Methodist Church.

Representative Matters

Successfully defended one of the worlds largest trucking fleets against claims arising out of a tractor trailer striking a commercial building.

Representation of commercial dive contractor against its insurance carrier for insurance coverage and duty to defend against claims arising out of multiple occurrences which resulted in death and significant bodily injury and disability.

Successfully defended tugboat owner/operator against claims for property damage and wreck removal expenses associated with a sunken breaker barge being used in connection with offshore drilling operations.

Successfully prosecuted claims against a wholly owned subsidiary of a global agribusiness resulting from barge collisions with a deep water dock located on the Lower Mississippi River.

Successfully defended domestic company in an international dispute over a long term supply agreement.

Successfully prosecuted contractual claims on behalf of a purchaser of bulk unloading equipment in an arbitration proceeding before the ICC International Court of Arbitration.

Representation of barge charterer in limitation of liability action and class actions resulting from alleged release/emission of hydrogen sulfide from a tank barge.

Representation of chemical company in a suit resulting from an alleged release of EDC from a barge and/or loading dock into the Mississippi River.

Representation of importer of bulk cargo in negotiations of a lease and trans-loading agreement.

Representation of cement importer in property damage claim advanced by the United States Army Corps of Engineers resulting from a barge breakaway.

Representation of casinos in the defense of premise liability, Jones Act and general maritime law claims.

Representation of platform owners in the defense of claims under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.

Representation of major offshore construction contractor in defense of personal injury and 905(b) claims.

Representation of shipyard in disputes over vessel construction contracts.

Representation of banks to enforce preferred ship mortgages.

Representation of barge owners related to the Jones Act and citizenship ownership restrictions.