W. Brett Mason
Top rated Transportation & Maritime attorney in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Degan, Blanchard & Nash
Practice areas: Transportation & Maritime, Business Litigation
Licensed in Louisiana since: 1993
Education: Tulane University Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2026 Degan, Blanchard & Nash
5555 Hilton Ave.Suite 620
Baton Rouge, LA 70808 Phone: 225-773-6351 Email: W. Brett Mason Visit website
Details 
W. Brett Mason helps businesses in the maritime, offshore energy, trucking, third-party logistics, and insurance industries initiate and/or defend legal actions so that C-suite executives can confidently continue to focus on what matters most. He possesses vast experience from thirty years of litigating disputes in state and federal court and arbitration tribunals. In addition to his role as a business litigator Brett is skilled in negotiating and finalizing long term supply contracts, terminal agreements, vessel construction contracts, vessel repair contracts, preferred ship mortgages, charter agreements, trans-loading agreements, and shipping contracts. From decades of assisting clients Mr. Mason understands that the safety and efficiency of warehousing, bulk storage facilities, and product distribution centers can help businesses lower their overall cost of operation.
First Admitted: 1993, Louisiana
Bar / Professional Activity
- W. Brett Mason is a member of the International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers of New Orleans; The Transportation Lawyers Association; The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance ("CLM"); and The Maritime Law Association of the United States ("MLA"); In 2023, Mr. Mason served as Co-Chair of Louisiana Bar Foundation Annual Gala; Mr. Mason is also a member of the Bar Association of The Fifth Federal Circuit as well as the Louisiana and Baton Rouge Bar Associations. Mr. Mason is a former President and Treasurer for the Wex Malone American Inns of Court. In 2014, Mr. Mason was awarded the designation of Certified Litigation Management Professional by the CLM. Mr. Mason is also a former President and current Board Member of the International Propeller Club Port of New Orleans. This year Mr. Mason presented a webinar to the Tort Trial & Insurance Committee of the American Bar Association as part of a panel that discussed a 2024 marine insurance case from the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2024, Mr. Mason also individually presented a webinar on document retention best practices to the Inside Counsel Committee of the Transportation Lawyers Association.
Representative Clients
- Mr. Mason successfully defended a construction materials producer and distributor against a trespass suit brought by a land owner for mining an adjacent tract of land owned by another company., 2024
- Mr. Mason represented a company that provides drilling fluids products and field services in connection with a breach of warranty claim against a distributor and manufacturer of defective packaging equipment., 2024
- Mr. Mason assisted a laboratory service provider that brings rapid turn around times and cutting edge technology to healthcare facilities in the Gulf South in connection with executive insurance coverage., 2024
- Mr. Mason defended a Wyoming mutual bank in a suit filed by a borrower who defaulted on a medical equipment loan secured by medical equipment located in Louisiana., 2024
- Mr. Mason represented an out of state contractor in connection with an administrative proceeding brought by the Louisiana Licensing Board for Contractors., 2024
- Mr. Mason defended a hazardous waste transportation company against a personal injury suit arising out of a truck/car accident that occurred at a garbage transfer facility during its operation., 2023
- Mr. Mason assisted a dredge owner/operator in a suit against a vessel repair yard for breach of contract as a result of continued problems with the dredge's suction pump., 2023
- Mr. Mason represented a privately held oil and gas company in a suit to recover damages arising out of damage to a segment of one of their offshore pipelines by a capsized liftboat in the Gulf of Mexico., 2023
- Mr. Mason successfully defended a Mexican company that provides comprehensive services to pipeline constructors and offshore field operators in an arbitration proceeding brought in the International Centre for Dispute Resolution for alleged breach of vessel charter agreements., 2022
- Mr. Mason served as Louisiana counsel for a medical device company in connection with enforcement of a non-compete agreement., 2021
- Mr. Mason assisted a drilling fluids company with a privilege on an oil and gas well is Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. The client recovered a significant outstanding balance plus all attorneys fees incurred in the process., 2021
- Mr. Mason defended a Third Party Administrator in a suit filed by the Louisiana Department of Insurance as Receiver for Louisiana Health Cooperative, Inc. to recover over fifty million dollars., 2021
- Mr. Mason successfully assisted a leading harbor service company on the Lower Mississippi River with an insurance coverage dispute in connection with a personal injury suit arising out of a barge break away., 2020
- Mr. Mason successfully assisted a steamship agent on the Lower Mississippi River secure full and complete payment of amounts owed to it by KSS Line Ltd., the M/V GAS UTOPIA, and the M/V GAS VENUS., 2020
Transactions
- Mr. Mason assisted a group of qualified investors with the purchase of convertible notes., 2021
- Mr. Mason successfully assisted a commercial lender to a passenger vessel owner on the Lower Mississippi River with the negotiation and preparation of preferred ship mortgages., 2020
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Certified Litigation Management Professional by the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, 2014
- Mr. Mason serves as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association on its Consumer Panel.
Pro bono / Community Service
- Mr. Mason represented a prisoner in a civil rights suit against a prison warden., 2024
- Mr. Mason enjoys defending merchant mariners in United States Coast Guard Suspension and Revocation Proceedings on a pro bono basis. He has also served as a Probation Monitor at the request of the Louisiana Office of Disciplinary Counsel., 2021
Educational Background
- B.A., Washington and Lee University, 1990
- J.D. Tulane School of Law, 1993
- LL.M. Tulane School of Law - Admiralty, 1994
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Appointed to serve as chair of a hearing committee of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, 2021
- Elected to the Washington and Lee University Alumni Board, 2021
- Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Leadership Louisiana Class of 2019, 2019
Honors
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale, Martindale, 2024
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale, Martindale, 2023
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale, Martindale, 2022
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale, Martindale, 2021
- AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale, Martindale, 2020
Industry Groups
- Transportation/Maritime; Business Litigation; Insurance Litigation
Office location for W. Brett Mason
5555 Hilton Ave.
Suite 620
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Selections
13 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2026