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    Gary Hemphill photograph

    Gary A. Hemphill

    Senior Partner

    New Orleans
    504-584-9222
    gary.hemphill@phelps.com
    Areas Of Focus
    Admiralty

    Gary Hemphill practices in the areas of admiralty litigation. His practice involves matters in personal injury, cargo, oil and energy, finance and FD&D. Gary has a great deal of recent experience in complex, multi-party litigation, including claims arising out of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in which he represented vessel owning emergency responders sued for their activities immediately after the explosion. With a team of attorneys from the firm, he was able to obtain the dismissal of the claims by summary judgment.

    Gary has also successfully handled major losses arising from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico as well as collisions in the Mississippi River. In 2018, he was voted by his peers in the New Orleans Bar Association The Distinguished Maritime Lawyer of the Year. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Hemphill was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

    Experience

    • Steel Warehouse/Abalone Shipping - Enforceability of Foreign Arbitration Clause in ocean bill of lading.
    • Mitsui/Mira M/V - Enforceability of Foreign Forum Selection Clause.
    • Texas Eastern Transmission/McMoRan Offshore - Recoverability of economic damages due to damaged offshore pipeline.

    Insights

    • March 28, 2025

      Phelps Louisiana Team Honored in Super Lawyers’ 2025 Lists …

    • August 15, 2024

      185 Phelps Lawyers Chosen for Best Lawyers in America, 20 Named "Lawyer of the Year," 26 Added to “Ones to Watch” List…

    More +
    • June 6, 2024

      Chambers USA Guide 2024 Ranks 24 Phelps Practice Areas and 69 Lawyers…

    • December 19, 2023

      Super Lawyers Recognizes 44 Louisiana Phelps Lawyers in 2024 Honors …

    • August 17, 2023

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • June 1, 2023

      Chambers USA 2023 Ranks 20 Phelps Practice Areas and 60 Lawyers…

    • December 19, 2022

      42 Phelps Lawyers Honored by 2023 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars …

    • August 18, 2022

      Best Lawyers in America Selects 158 Phelps Lawyers, Names 10 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 40 to "Ones to Watch" List…

    • June 1, 2022

      Chambers USA 2022 Ranks 19 Phelps Practice Areas and 56 Lawyers…

    • December 29, 2021

      Super Lawyers Recognizes 46 Louisiana Phelps Lawyers in 2022 Honors…

    • May 20, 2021

      Chambers USA 2021 Ranks 18 Phelps Practice Areas and 52 Lawyers…

    • December 28, 2020

      45 Phelps Lawyers Named to Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars 2021…

    • December 19, 2019

      44 Phelps Attorneys Named to Louisiana Super Lawyers 2020…

    • October 12, 2018

      New Orleans Partner Gary Hemphill Named NOBA Maritime Lawyer of the Year…

    Recognition

    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated,Martindale-Hubbell
    • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business - Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation
    • Admiralty and Maritime Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2010-2025)
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2014-2025)
    • Maritime Lawyer of the Year, New Orleans Bar Association(2018)
    • Who's Who Legal-Transport
    • AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated,Martindale-Hubbell
    • Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business - Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation
    • Admiralty and Maritime Law, The Best Lawyers in America (2010-2025)
    • Louisiana Super Lawyers list, Super Lawyers (2014-2025)
    • Maritime Lawyer of the Year, New Orleans Bar Association(2018)
    • Who's Who Legal-Transport

    Education

    • Tulane University Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1981
    • Harvard University, B.A., 1978
    • Tulane University Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1981
    • Harvard University, B.A., 1978

    Credentials

    • Louisiana
    • Louisiana

    Memberships and Affiliations

    • Louisiana State Bar Association
    • New Orleans Bar Association
    • American Bar Association
    • Maritime Law Association of the United States
    • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
    • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
    • American Maritime Cases -Associate Editor (2001-Present)
    • Louisiana State Bar Association
    • New Orleans Bar Association
    • American Bar Association
    • Maritime Law Association of the United States
    • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
    • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
    • American Maritime Cases -Associate Editor (2001-Present)
    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Insights
    • Recognition
    • Education
    • Credentials
    • Memberships and Affiliations

    Related Services

    • Admiralty
    • Maritime
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