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Charles H. Abbott

Charles H. Abbott

Partner

New Orleans

504-565-7555

504-799-4384

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Education

  • Millsaps College, B.A., Spanish, cum laude
    • Millsaps College in San Jose, Costa Rica, Study Abroad Program
    • University of New Orleans in Innsbruck, Austria, Study Abroad Program
  • Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, Bachelor in Civil Law Studies (B.C.L.)
  • Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, J.D.
    • Universite Aix-Marseille III Law School in Aix-en-Provence, France, Study Abroad Program

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 2002
  • Mississippi, 2003
  • Texas, 2009
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, & Western Districts of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Charles sat in on his first deposition when he was 10 years old with his father, a well-respected litigator, and has been hooked ever since. Since that time, he has held himself to a strong standard of excellence and a tireless work ethic. Charles understands that not every client defines a "win" the same way, so he works diligently to find personalized "wins" for each case that comes through his door. Driven by the refusal to be unprepared and outworked, Charles offers his clients a sense of security that their business is important and deserves a strongly committed advocate who can create personalized legal strategies. Handling cases in all sorts of practice areas, Charles deals with anything that can go to trial and offers a fierce yet fair competitive spirit to every case. Well rounded in the law and in his hobbies of fishing, hunting, golfing, and family, Charles is a huge asset to clients who want thorough representation and peace of mind.

Charles joined the firm in 2017 as a partner and previously has been, and continues to be, retained as lead counsel or co-counsel on cases in very diverse practice areas. He routinely serves as lead counsel/co-counsel on significant, high-dollar commercial, contractual, business interruption, tort, admiralty/maritime, products liability, construction, and toxic tort cases pending in both federal and state courts throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Professional Recognition

Important Litigation Involvement

  • General counsel to national trucking company involved in the transportation of refrigerated goods, regularly providing advice pertaining to logistics, regulations, and litigation services across the entire United States
  • Lead counsel on behalf of wetland mitigation bank owner/sponsor in a breach of contract matter pending in Louisiana federal court.
  • Lead counsel defending landowner in Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act claim pertaining to a sand and gravel mining lease in a Louisiana state court action
  • Liaison counsel on behalf of a Fortune 100 client in a putative class action involving allegations of improper endoscope sterilization pending in Orleans Parish, Louisiana
  • Co-lead counsel representing forest products client against 30+ personal injury claims related to alleged formaldehyde exposures in Louisiana state court
  • Lead counsel on behalf of a world leader of building materials in breach of contract disputes pending in state court in Louisiana
  • Co-lead counsel representing several Fortune 100 clients in alleged benzene exposure cases pending in both Federal and State courts of Louisiana
  • Lead counsel representing a Fortune 100 client in alleged benzene and butadiene exposure cases pending throughout state courts in Texas
  • Lead counsel in numerous products liability matters throughout the state of Louisiana
  • Lead counsel representing a Fortune 500 client in alleged asbestos exposure case involving over 1,500 plaintiffs in state court in Louisiana
  • National coordinating counsel on behalf of a Fortune 100 client and its subsidiaries in connection with their silica exposure litigation.
  • Lead counsel representing European based marine engine manufacturer and US based distributor in connection with fire-related and warranty claims in Eastern District of Louisiana.
  • Lead counsel in connection with maritime Rule B attachment involving millions of dollars’ worth of perishable cargo.

News & Knowledge

Professional Recognition

  • Selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
  • Selected to New Orleans CityBusiness “Leadership in Law” Class (2014, 2019, 2021, 2023), Hall of Fame Honoree
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2022-2023): Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
  • Selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers (2011-2012, 2014-2023)
  • Selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers, Top 50 in Louisiana (2018, 2020-2021)
  • Selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers, Top 50 in New Orleans (2018-2020)
  • Selected as a Top Lawyer for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions by New Orleans Magazine (2017-2019, 2021-2023)
  • Selected as “One to Watch” by New Orleans CityBusiness (2018)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Gold Client Champion Rating
  • The Judge John C. Boutall American Inn of Court


Best Lawyers Award Badge

 

 

 

 

 

Organization/Committee Memberships

  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • Texas Bar Association
  • Member of Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association
  • Member of Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel – Frequent Lecturer
  • DRI: The Voice of the Defense Bar
    • DRI Trial Tactics Steering Committee (2007-2012)
    • DRI Technology Committee, Chair (2008-2010)
    • DRI Technology Committee, Vice Chair (2007-2008)
    • DRI Damages Program Steering Committee (2007)
  • Member of Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute

Speaking Engagements

  • “Salient Issues Regarding Electronic Discovery.” Presented to Louisiana Judicial College, December 7, 2007.
  • “Salient Issues Regarding Electronic Discovery.” Presented to Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, December 7, 2007.
  • “Products, Dangerous Devices, and Advancements in Causation Analysis in Toxic Tort Cases.” Presented to Louisiana Judicial College, December 5, 2008.
  • “Products, Dangerous Devices, and Advancements in Causation Analysis in Toxic Tort Cases.” Presented to Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, December 5, 2008.
  • “How to Use Technology for a Defense Win in a Tough Venue.” Presented to DRI Regional Meeting in Perdido
  • Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, Guest Lecturer, Toxic Torts Class, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
  • “Emerging Jurisdictions: Louisiana,” Asbestos Litigation Conference, Perrin Conferences, San Francisco, California, September 2017

Publications

  • “Handling Expert Witnesses in Discovery,” Chapter 12 of A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Defense Practice.  The DRI Defense Library Series, 2006.
  • “Handling Expert Witnesses in Discovery,” Chapter 13 of A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Defense Practice. The DRI Defense Library Series, 2015.
  • “Using Technology in the Courtroom,” August 24, 2009, Volume 1, Issue 3, DRI Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee Newsletter.

Pro Bono & Community Service

  • Assistant Bar Examiner for the Committee on Bar Admissions of the Supreme Court of Louisiana
  • Board of Directors, Brain Injury Association of Louisiana
  • Board Member (Past), Men’s Club, St. Paul’s Episcopal School
  • Vice President (Past), Men’s Club, St. Paul’s Episcopal School

Law School Honors & Awards

  • Winner of Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition
  • Member of Moot Court Board
  • Selected to the Wex S. Malone American Inn of Court, one of only eight third year law students
  • CALI awards – awarded to student with top grade in course – Appellate Advocacy and International-American Trade

Previous Experience

  • Before joining FormanWatkins, Charles was a partner with Cotten Schmidt & Abbott in its New Orleans office.  His practice areas were consistent with the same diverse practice that Mr. Abbott is currently involved.

Practice Areas