Peter J. Butler, Jr.

Peter J. Butler, Jr. is a partner in the New Orleans office where he principally practices in the area of Government Litigation. He has extensive experience in all aspects of Litigation, including trial and appellate work, ethics, investigating/proceedings and opposing or compelling arbitration. Mr. Butler has particularly extensive experience in litigating the dissolution and receiverships of business ventures, including partnerships, limited liability companies and closely-held corporations, as well as litigating disputes among such businesses' owners and between such businesses themselves and one or more of their owners; this includes litigating breaches of fiduciary duty and shareholders/owners' rights. 

Mr. Butler also has vast experience in representing governmental officials and officers in connection with navigating the intricacies of the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics, including representing such officers and officials before the Louisiana Board of Governmental Ethics.

Mr. Butler has also represented clients in various business-related transactions, including contracts and leases, formations of entities, the purchase and sale of assets of those entities, and the transfer of ownership interests to and from existing or new owners.

In addition, since 1989 Mr. Butler has accumulated a broad array of trial experience and has practiced in the various federal district, state district, and state appellate courts throughout the State of Louisiana and various federal district courts throughout the South. Mr. Butler's complex commercial litigation experience specifically includes:

• antitrust litigation (both health care and non-health care);

• banking (federal and state) litigation; 

• commercial and corporate litigation; 

• construction litigation; 

• environmental litigation; 

• governmental charters and governmental budgetary litigation; 

• health care regulatory matters, including advice and litigation;

• intellectual property litigation;

• mergers and acquisitions and hostile takeovers;

• oil and gas litigation; 

• qui tam and false claims act litigation;

• shareholders (and other owners) derivative litigation;

• securities and securities fraud litigation;

• state and federal income and estate tax litigation; 

• unfair trade practices and anti-competitive claims litigation; and

• various torts and breaches of contract matters.

All of the foregoing litigation involved intensive discovery, sophisticated motion practice, writ application practice, and trials. 

Mr. Butler is a Certified Public Accountant.

Upon graduation from Tulane University Law School in 1987, Mr. Butler clerked for the Honorable Fredrick J.R. Heebe, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, from 1987-1989. Mr. Butler has been AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell since his first year of eligibility to receive any rating in 1996. Mr. Butler is a native of New Orleans. 

Practice Areas

• Class Action, Mass Tort & Multi-District Litigation
• Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Intellectual Property
  • Securities Litigation
  • White Collar and Federal Criminal Defense
• Governmental Relations and Ethics
• Incentives, Credits & Economic Development
• Civil Rights Litigation and Governmental Entity Defense

Education

Tulane University, J.D., 1987

Tulane University, B.S.M. (Accounting), 1984

Certified Public Accountant, 1989.

Law Clerk to Hon. Frederick J.R. Heebe, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 1987-1989

Admissions

Louisiana State Courts, Eastern, Middle & Western Districts of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals,1987

Experience

Private Practice (1989 - present)

Law Clerk, Hon. Frederick J. R. Heebe, Chief Judge, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (1987-89)

Professional Associations

New Orleans Bar Association

American Bar Association

Louisiana State Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountant

National Association of Bond Lawyers

Honors and Awards

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America^® (since 2018)

City Business 20 Most Influential People in Maritime Industry

New Orleans City Business Leadership in Law Class of 2013, 2020, 2024, and Hall of Fame Member

Listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers in the area of Business Litigation (since 2011)

AV^® Preeminent^TM Peer Review Rated, by Martindale-Hubbell (since 1996)

Named "Top Lawyers of New Orleans" by New Orleans Magazine in Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization (2012-2018, 2019-2023)

BTI Consulting Group’s list of 2022 Client Service All-Stars