Dodson Hooks & Frederick, APLC is a full service law firm with its office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We provide full service counsel and representation to individuals, families, unions, businesses and insurers locally, nationally and internationally.

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Individuals

Our practice and counsel focuses on client representation. People are the most important aspect of each legal issue and our firm understands the importance of interpersonal communication. You as the client will play a large role in framing your case for representation by the firm.

Commercial

Dodson Hooks & Frederick counsels clients on a wide variety of commercial matters, including real estate development, property acquisitions and leases. We assist and support our clients from initial negotiation through the closing of complex transactions.

Environmental

The Firm possess environmental expertise on a number of fronts. Our practice includes the prosecution of individual or mass toxic tort class action claims for individuals or groups seeking damages for personal injury and property damage claims.

Admiralty - Jones Act Claims

The Firm enjoys an international reputation for stellar legal representation in the Admiralty and Maritime field. The partners of the firm have assisted thousands of clients in recovering millions of dollars from shipping companies around the world who were negligent in injuring their loyal workers or who have refused to pay earned wages to seamen when wages were due. The Jones Act provides liberal recovery standards for injured offshore workers and Dodson Hooks & Frederick, APLC specializes in recovery under the Act.

Employer Liability

Our full service to business clients continues with support in the area of employer liability. We respond to client's inquiries regarding the current state of the law, assistance with internal investigations and formulation of proactive measures to prevent or minimize employment related claims. We act as counsel defending claims of employment discrimination, harassment and other workplace litigation. We handle workers compensation claims at all stages and levels, beginning with the defense of claims before state or federal administrative tribunals, and through the courts of appeal.

Casualty Litigation

A significant part of our firm's practice also involves the defense of our clients against personal injury, property, professional malpractice and other casualty loss claims. Many of our partners have been recognized for outstanding advocacy in certain specialties including admiralty, products liability, premises liability, vehicular claims, arson, fraud, and subrogation. We represent a number of corporations, insurance companies, syndicates, managing general agents and third party administrators as approved counsel for their litigation in metropolitan New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana.

Advantages of Doing Business in Louisiana

Louisiana offers a legal environment that encourages business and the development of commerce. Louisiana is the only state within the United States in which its legal system is based on the Civilian Law tradition, as is over ninety-eight percent of the rest of the world. Unlike common law jurisdictions, where laws are for the most part, not codified, but are found in case law, Louisiana's laws are recorded so as to allow those persons not from the state to locate them. The state provides easy access to its laws and procedures through its written codes and searchable electronic data-bases. Louisiana laws can be found on-line at http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/tsrssearch.htm

Louisiana's commercial laws also offer many options in regard to business entities from which an investor may choose. Some examples of these entities are Limited Liability Companies, Corporations, S-Corporations, and Limit Liability Partnerships. Each of these entities provides its promoters with different benefits that would allow one to choose the form that is best suited for their business venture. Some of these benefits include limited liability for shareholders, members, or partners and pass through taxation. The Louisiana Secretary of State Office offers a data base of forms, filing requirements, and a list of applicable fees. This information can be found at http://www.sos.louisiana.gov

Finally, Louisiana and the Federal Government have provided for many programs and incentives to encourage business to come to the state. These programs include State Business Incentives, Federal Business Incentives, and Financial Assistance just to name a few. Louisiana is dedicated to providing a place were businesses and investors from around the world can come and feel welcome. For more information concerning state and federal incentive programs visit http://www.lded.state.la.us/louisiana-businesses.aspx