PATRICK MILLER LLC is a full-service, solutions-oriented business and defense litigation law firm.
Since 1997, our attorneys have provided the highest quality of legal services effectively and efficiently. The members of our firm have excellent academic credentials and continue to distinguish themselves professionally. With decades of experience, both as in-house and outside counsel, our attorneys handle a variety of transactional, civil litigation and regulatory matters, with an unwavering focus on the client's best interests.
SELECTED PRACTICE AREASOur attorneys are well-versed in a variety of business law matters. The following is a sample of our areas of practice:
GENERAL LITIGATION - We handle contract cases, redhibition claims, software defect claims, intellectual property litigation (patents, trademarks, and copyrights), and antitrust suits. We pursue compensation liens and third party recovery, and defend against intentional tort claims asserted against employers and their insurers. Our firm has extensive experience in representing manufacturers and sellers in products liability cases concerning alleged product defects, namely, manufacturing defects, design defects, defective and inadequate warnings and failure of express warranty. We are proud of our ability to take on unusual and complex matters on behalf of our clients. We do not shy away from difficult cases or convoluted transactions.
GENERAL COMMERCIAL, CORPORATE AND SECURITIES - We provide strategic counseling to our business clients and handle general business matters including commercial transactions, negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, and advising clients regarding corporate governance matters. Our firm offers legal services for business entities, such as the formation and organization of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, registered limited liability partnerships, and non-profit corporations, as well as advice and legal services for mergers & acquisitions, asset transfers, stock transfers, fiduciary responsibilities of officers, directors, partners and members. In addition to counseling business clients regarding these matters, we also represent our business clients in state and federal courts in suits for business torts, unfair trade practices, breach of contracts, and other claims based on Louisiana's commercial and corporate laws. We have represented clients in SEC investigations. Our attorneys are experienced in private equity and venture capital, corporate finance, securities offerings and compliance. We work with many "startup" businesses, and assist companies with contractual, documentary and regulatory issues confronting new companies. We help out-of-state businesses relocate to Louisiana or set up operations in Louisiana.
MARITIME, SHIPPING AND LHWCA - Our firm has expertise in maritime, shipping and LHWCA matters. We have defended vessel owners, ship builders and repairers, oil companies, service contractors, dock owners, manufacturers, and insurers against maritime personal injury and death claims, seamen's claims, LHWCA claims, DOHSA claims, and wage claims. We have represented cargo, carriers, and underwriters in cargo loss or damage cases concerning ocean, inland marine, rail, and highway carriage. Our attorneys have handled vessel collisions and wave-wash claims, and have sought third party recovery for LHWCA underwriters including Total Marine reimbursement claims. We defend vessel owners and maritime employers against claims brought by seamen. Our attorneys routinely handle sales of ships and seizures of vessels. We additionally handle maritime contract issues including charter parties and bills of lading.
OIL & GAS - Our firm has provided advices to exploration and production companies and energy sector contractors regarding acquisitions & divestitures, farmouts, procurement issues such as master service agreements, and charter party agreements.
BANKRUPTCY & CREDITOR RIGHTS, FINANCE AND BANKING - We provide legal services and advice in connection with financing transactions, loan agreements, security devices, UCC transactions, defense of preference actions, debt enforcement, collections, workouts, debtor-creditor rights, lender liability defense, asset acquisition and disposition, banking and lending, real estate transactions, bankruptcy law, equipment leasing and financing, insurance, liens and privileges, letters of credit and negotiable instruments.
INSURANCE DEFENSE AND COVERAGE - We defend both insured and self-insured businesses against tort claims, and represent insurers and insureds in coverage disputes. Our attorneys offer advice on coverage issues and appear before the Louisiana Insurance Rating Commission and the Commissioner of Insurance concerning classification disputes. We also handle litigation over premium audits and the amount of additional premium or return premium due. We also represent employers and their insurers against claims brought by employees, including state and federal workers' compensation claims.
REAL ESTATE - Our firm has handled commercial and residential real estate transactions of all types, including transfers of title, donations, leases, mortgages and other financing instruments. We have handled litigation involving real property, including redhibition suits, acquisitive prescription suits, boundary actions, suits to quiet title and partition actions. We have defended real estate brokers, agents and lenders against claims of fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and malpractice.
ENTERTAINMENT LAW - Our attorneys have provided counsel regarding contracts, transactions, and litigation for film, culinary, music industry and Mardi Gras industry clients.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - In addition to general business planning and strategic counseling, we have litigated patent infringement cases, and Lanham Act and common law trademark issues in federal court and we have handled cancellation proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We have also litigated "advertising injury" coverage issues under CGL policies in connection with trademark and copyright claims. Our firm has handled litigation over allegedly defective software, worked on regulatory matters for Internet Service Providers, drafted licenses for "e-businesses," and worked on internet copyright and domain name issues. We have handled the registration of new trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION - We have defended employers and insurers against state compensation claims, pursued compensation liens and sought third party recovery, asserted second injury fund claims, and defended against intentional tort claims asserted against compensation insurers and third party administrators as to the handling and adjustment of compensation claims. We have also pursued and defended borrowed employment contribution claims, and statutory employment indemnity claims.
CONSUMER PROTECTION LITIGATION - We have vast experience achieving settlement of millions of dollars against companies large and small. We litigate class as well as individual actions to recover damages for clients who are the victims of unfair, fraudulent and deceptive acts and practices. Our Consumer Protection Litigation Section focuses on five primary sub-practice areas: Mortgage Servicing Fraud; Identity Theft; False Advertising; Unfair Debt Collection, Unfair Credit Reporting, Solicitation, Junk Faxes and Auto-Dialers; and Data Breaches and Digital Security.