James P. Roy

A senior partner and the managing member of Domengeaux Wright Roy & Edwards LLC in Lafayette, Louisiana, James P. Roy has built a reputation as one of the state’s most accomplished trial lawyers. His practice encompasses maritime injuries, wrongful death and personal injury litigation, as well as complex commercial and class action disputes. Notably, he was appointed co‐lead class counsel in the Deepwater Horizon MDL (2179) arising from the BP oil spill, and he secured what may be the largest individual maritime personal-injury jury verdict ever awarded in Louisiana (Becker v. Tidewater).

A lifelong Louisianan, Mr. Roy earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1973 and his J.D. from the LSU Law Center in 1976. He went on to complete an LL.M. at Georgetown University Law Center, further sharpening his skills in appellate advocacy and complex civil litigation. He is admitted to practice throughout Louisiana, before all federal district courts in the state, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Peers have honored Mr. Roy with an AV-Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell and consistent recognition in The Best Lawyers in America for personal injury plaintiff work, maritime law, and mass tort and class action litigation. Best Lawyers named him “Lawyer of the Year” in Maritime Law (Baton Rouge, 2012) and Personal Injury Plaintiffs (Lafayette, 2016 and 2018). 

Mr. Roy is a fellow of both the International Academy of Trial Lawyers – limited to 500 active North American members under age 70 – and the American College of Trial Lawyers. A past president of the Louisiana Association for Justice, he also serves as a fellow of LSU’s 1860 Society and previously chaired the LSU Board of Supervisors (2008–2009).

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.