Overview
Joseph Briggett has a diverse commercial practice with experience in multiple disciplines: commercial litigation; bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; transactions and loan documentation; and corporate law. This broad background allows Joseph to keep the big picture in mind as he advises business clients on the specific issues they’re facing.
In his bankruptcy practice, Joseph represents parties in pre-bankruptcy negotiations, state court insolvency proceedings and disputes, commercial foreclosures, bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings. He often helps clients resolve debtor/creditor disputes outside of litigation or bankruptcy, handling matters from the first signs of distress all the way to resolution. His experience helping clients navigate a wide range of bankruptcy situations allows him to respond to complex cases with tailored strategies and with the flexibility to pivot as situations change.
In maritime bankruptcy cases, Joseph brings unique experience, having argued shipping and offshore service insolvency disputes in bankruptcy courts throughout the country, including cases involving maritime liens, maritime personal injury claims, vessel finance, preferred ship mortgages and other admiralty issues.
Also an experienced trial attorney, Joseph has advocated for his clients in federal and state trial courts in controversies concerning breach of contract, property disputes, corporate governance, breach of fiduciary duty, intellectual property and banking law.
Prior to attending law school, Joseph worked abroad as a grade school English instructor in Seoul, Korea, and held positions as a production editor for subtitles and closed captions for film, television and legislative programming.
Outside the office
Joseph enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons in New Orleans and Miramar Beach, Florida. He is a past board member of Girls on the Run of New Orleans and has been a mentor with Son of a Saint since 2020. He also plays in the least competitive division of the Metairie Basketball League.
- Represented a secured lender as lead counsel in the foreclosure and acquisition of a Louisiana shipyard and recycling facility.
- Represented the interests of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas as Special Respondent in a bankruptcy appeal before the U.S. Fifth Circuit.
- Represented leading global offshore service provider in contesting Chapter 15 proceeding in US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in which debtor representative sought recognition of foreign main proceeding in London.
- In the Southern District of New York, served as lead counsel for a marine finance creditor in the contested Chapter 11 plan of an international maritime company.
- Served as debtors’ counsel for Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc. in bankruptcy proceedings in the Western District of Louisiana, along with several related entities in Chapter 11 cases with more than $100,000,000 in assets and approximately $65,000,000 in claims.
- Served as counsel for parties in admiralty seizures under Rule B and Rule C of the Supplemental Rules for Admiralty or Maritime Claims and Asset Forfeiture Actions, including arrests of vessels, equipment and other property.
- In the Eastern District of Louisiana, served as counsel for the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of Virgin Oil Company, Inc.
- In the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, served as Special Maritime Counsel for the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of the Trico Marine Group.
Public Decisions and Opinions
- Longhai Desheng Seafood Stuff Co. Ltd. v. Louisiana Newpack Shrimp Company, Inc., No. 22-30653, 2023 WL 5316473 (5th Cir. August 17, 2023) (per curiam)
- WLP Capital, Inc. v. Tolliver, No. 19-01003, 2022 WL 20470521 (W.D. La. Feb 1, 2022)
- Lefoldt v. Frankel, No. 18-5303, 2020 WL 5658898 (E.D. La. Sept. 23, 2020)
- WLP Capital Inc. v. Tolliver, No. 19- 01003, 2020 WL 2130995 (W.D. La. May 4, 2020)
- F & M Mafco, Inc. v. Ocean Marine Contractors, LLC, 434 F.Supp.3d 428 (E.D. La. 2020)
- In re: Chapter 13 Plan Administration, No. 17-40273 (5th Cir. 20, 2018)
- Moody Company, LLC v. Biological & Environmental Solutions LLC, No. 17- 01602, 2018 WL 1567597 (W.D. La. Feb. 23, 2018)
- In re Grabanski, 691 F. App’x 159 (5th Cir. 2017) (per curiam)
- Dawson v. Dorignac, 2017-316, 2017 WL 9916475 (La. App. 5 Cir. 7/14/17), writ denied, 2017-1395 (La. 11/13/17) 229 So.3d 477 (Mem)
- Cakebread Art Antiques Collectables, Inc. v. Keno, No. 16-12737, 2016 WL 6679990 (E.D. La. Nov. 14, 2016)
- Conmaco/Rector L.P. v. L & A Contracting Co., No. 12-CV-2337 (JTM), 2014 WL 1796651 (E.D. La. May 6, 2014)
- Candy Fleet LLC v. Goodman, No. 14-1799, 2014 WL 5808357 (W.D. La. Sept. 26, 2014)
- In re Virgin Offshore USA, Inc., No. 13-0079, 2013 WL 4854312 (E.D. La. Sept. 10, 2013)
- Bridges v. Lebeouf Bros. Towing, Inc., 2012-2703 (La. 2/8/13) 108 So.3d 90 (Mem)
- Trinity Yachts, LLC v. Thomas Rutherford, Inc., No. 11–2587, 2012 WL 397377 (E.D. La. Feb. 7, 2012)
- Wildlife Outfitters, LLC v. Buckshot Products, LLC, No. 11–119, 2011 WL 13214363 (M.D. La. Nov. 14, 2011)
- Duck Commander, Inc. v. TNP Productions, Inc., No. 10–1790, 2011 WL 4973880 (W.D. La. Sept. 12, 2011)
Professional Affiliations
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- New Orleans Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association, New Orleans Chapter
- Tulane American Inn of Court, President
- Turnaround Management Association, President – Louisiana Chapter
- Louisiana Banker’s Association
- Judge Jerry A. Brown Louisiana Bankruptcy American Inn of Court
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce
Community Affiliations
- Son of a Saint, Mentor
- Young Benefactors of National World War II Museum, Member
- Girls of the Run of New Orleans, Past Board Member
- Super Lawyers (2024)
- Best Lawyers (2024)
- Inside New Orleans Reader’s Favorite “Elite Lawyers” (2022-2023)
- New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2017, 2023)
- New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” in Banking and Finance (2016, 2019, 2022)
- Super Lawyers: Rising Stars (2015-2021)
- “Navigating Ethical Issues During Asset Sales” American Bankruptcy Institute, with Evelyn Meltzer, Stephen M. Blank, and Ken Mann, February 2021
- “Ethics in Courtroom Advocacy” for the Tulane Law School American Inn of Court, with Judge Stanwood R. Duval, Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, and Judge Michael B. North, November 2016
- “Litigation in Bankruptcy Courts” for the New Orleans Bar Association, with Hon. Meredith Grabill, December 2016
- “Corporate Control Issues in Complex Commercial Bankruptcy” with Christopher T. Caplinger and Nathan Horner, 2013
- “Involuntary Bankruptcy, and Other Ways to Collect Money Owed Your Client” with Stewart F. Peck, 2012