William H.L. Kaufman
Mr. Kaufman handles a wide variety of commercial disputes, including energy, environmental, business, and bank related matters. He focuses his practice on litigating controversies arising out of mineral leases, indemnity provisions, commercial loans, contracts of sale and lease, and oilfield injuries. He has significant experience drafting and/or negotiating commercial leases, implementing commercial loan workouts, and drafting business operating agreements among other types of matters. He often advises oil and gas operators, landowners, financial institutions, trustees, guarantors, executors, and even other lawyers in a wide range of matters. He has represented clients in litigation, administrative proceedings, and other controversies arising out of the Louisiana Mineral Code, United States Bankruptcy Code, Louisiana Code of Ethics, Campaign Finance Disclosure Act, and Code of Professional Responsibility for lawyers.
Mr. Kaufman joined Ottinger Hebert, L.L.C. in 2011. Before moving back to Acadiana, he practiced for several years in Baton Rouge where he concentrated his practice in commercial, business, and tort litigation.
He received his Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Civil Law from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 2005. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Kaufman graduated with a degree in International Trade and Finance from the E. J. Ourso College of Business at LSU.
Mr. Kaufman is licensed to practice in all trial and appellate courts in the State of Louisiana as well as the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, the Southern District of Texas, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
He is a member of the Lafayette and Louisiana State Bar Associations, and the Louisiana Banker’s Association – Bank Counsel Section. He presented on trust and estate litigation at the LSU Law Center’s 41st Annual Estate Planning Seminar. Mr. Kaufman has been rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale Hubbell and recognized as one of Louisiana’s Rising Stars by Super Lawyers (Business Litigation) and a Top Lawyer in Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Law, and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law by local publication(s). He has served on the Board of Directors of the Lafayette Bar Association, the St. Thomas More Alumni Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana. He is also involved in Lafayette Mardi Gras.
Reported Decisions
Jones v. Jones, 16-536 (La.App. 5 Cir. 4/26/17), 220 So.3d 855
Gladney v. Anglo-Dutch Energy, L.L.C., 2016-468 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/21/16), 210 So.3d 903
State ex rel. Plaquemines Parish School Bd. v. Louisiana Dept. of Natural Resources, 2011-1734 (La.App. 4 Cir. 9/5/12); 99 So.3d 1028
Alvin Fairburn & Associates, LLC v. Grimmer, 2011-1896 (La. App. 1 Cir. 5/2/12); 2012 WL 1550588
Louisiana Ass’n of Self-Insured Employers v. Louisiana Workforce Comm’n, 2011-1892 (La.App. 1 Cir. 3/28/12), 92 So.3d 397
Louisiana Ass’n of Self-Insured Employers v. Louisiana Workforce Com’n,2011-1892 (La.App. 1 Cir. 3/28/12); 92 So.3d 397
Performance Contractors, Inc. v. Schwab, 2010 WL 1227738 (M.D. La. March 29, 2010)
Spooner v. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Dept., 2010-0672 (La.App. 1 Cir. 2/11/11); 2011 WL 497479
Johnson v. Lee, 10-439 (La.App. 5 Cir. 11/23/10); 54 So.3d 704
Cunningham v. Bd. of Supervisors of Louisiana State Univ. & Agric. & Mech. Coll., CIV.A.06-602-C (M.D. La. Sept. 17, 2008), 2008 WL 4346422
Chaney v. Litchfield, CV 07-10-DLD (M.D. La. July 1, 2008), 2008 WL 11417763