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Donald “Don” Abaunza
Main image for Donald “Don” Abaunza

DONALD "DON"
R. ABAUNZA

Of Counsel

,
New Orleans
T  504.556.4110
drabaunza@liskow.com
Connect with me
Linkedin

Practices

  • Construction
  • Litigation
  • Maritime Litigation & Casualty Response
  • Personal Injury & Wrongful Death

Blogs

  • The Energy Law Blog

Assistant

Paige Fussell

504.556.4065

“I have always believed that putting myself in my client’s shoes is central to building the right strategic approach.”

Overview

A past president and managing partner of Liskow, Don Abaunza has over 50 years of experience representing clients in admiralty, energy and commercial law. His practice includes trials, contract negotiations, and arbitrations. Don has served as lead trial counsel in international and local cases involving maritime issues, oil and gas casualty matters, contracting disputes, pipeline accidents, and insurance matters. His experience also includes drafting contracts involving offshore drilling, and vessel construction.

Talks about

#MOIlitigation #energylitigation #productsliability #construction #environmentallitigation

Highlights

Involvement

American College of Trial Lawyers – Fellow since 1994

Recognition

Who’s Who of the World – Listed for more than 30 years

Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America, selected for inclusion for nearly 35 years

Notable Experience

Some of his notable experience in litigation includes:

  • Defending a multinational company in a case involving a vessel collision in the Philippines which resulted in over 4,000 deaths. The case is currently pending in the Philippines.
  • Representing defendants in the Piper Alpha disaster in the North Sea and the Ocean Ranger incident in Canada.
  • Trial counsel in a significant case involving an alleged contamination by oil and gas operations. Trial counsel in several significant cases involving alleged contamination by oil and gas operations.

Involvement

Professional

  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow since 1994
  • Tulane Maritime Law Center
  • Tulane University – Adjunct Associate Professor of Law, 1981-1989
  • Maritime Law Association of the U.S. – Proctor
  • New Orleans, Louisiana State, American and Federal Bar Associations – Member
  • Louisiana State Bar Association – House of Delegates
  • Former Board Member – Louisiana Bar Foundation
  • Member of LSBA House of delegates for over 25 years

Community

  • Trinity Episcopal School – Former Member of Board of Trustees
  • Tulane Inn of Court – Master of the Bench

Recognition

  • New Orleans Magazine's List of "Top Lawyers," 2017-2018
  • BTI Client Service All-Star, 2017
  • Recipient of New Orleans Bar Association 2008 Distinguished Maritime Lawyer Award
  • Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business - Litigation: General Commercial, 2005-2018
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, selected for inclusion for nearly 35 years
  • New Orleans "Best Lawyers 2011 Maritime Lawyer of the Year"
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Award, 2005
  • Listed in Louisiana Life as Top 10 Louisiana Lawyer
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2007-2023
  • Louisiana State Bar Association President’s Award
  • Who’s Who of America
  • Who’s Who of the World

donald-abaunza-chambers-2018

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Credentials

Education

  • Tulane University Law School (J.D., 1969)
  • Vanderbilt University (1966)

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1969

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1969
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Louisiana, 1969
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District, Louisiana, 1969
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Louisiana, 1969

Presentations

  • "Indemnity & Insurance Issues in Offshore Service Contracts: Do We Need to Rethink the Approach to Risk Allocation," Institute for Energy Law, 2010
  • "Force Majeure: The Future Look of Offshore Contracts," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield, Maritime & Indemnity Seminar, 2010
  • "Opening Statements by the Masters," Louisiana State Bar Association, 2009
  • “Crisis or Casualty Response, Investigation & Management”, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, 2008
  • “Ethics and Professionalism in the Legal, Business, Political, and Judicial Professions,” GNOBFA River and Marine Industries Seminar, 2008
  • “Ethics – Lawyer Advertising: New Rules and New Issues,” Louisiana State Bar Association, 2007
  • “Katrina and Rita: What Have You Wrought,” LSU, Mineral Law Institute, 2006
  • “The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 – Potential Liabilities and Expenses That may be Recovered,” Liskow & Lewis Environmental Seminar, 2006
  • “Crisis Management Panel: There’s Been an Accident”, South Texas College of Law, 2005
  • “Risk Management in Accommodation Agreements,” The Center for American and International Law, 2005
  • “Alien Tort Statute: Subject Matter Jurisdiction and a Cause of Action in United States Courts for Suits by Aliens Alleging Torts in Violation of the Law of Nations [Jurisdiction of U.S. Courts Over Conduct of Corporate America on Foreign Soil],” Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Institute, 2001

After Hours

"My wife and I are proud grandparents of a terrific little boy. I enjoy tennis, travel, fishing and riding my tractor at our farm in Mississippi. I am an avid reader of novels and history."

WHAT’S TRENDING WITH Don

  • News
    08.15.24
    118 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2025
    5 minute read
  • News
    08.17.23
    114 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® (BL Rankings) 2024
    5 minute read
  • News
    12.22.22
    Fifty-Five Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2023 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
  • News
    01.12.22
    Forty-Eight Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2022 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.19.21
    74 Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 Edition
    3 minute read
  • News
    01.04.21
    Forty-One Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2021 Louisiana Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.20.20
    Sixty-Two Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, BL Rankings, LLC, 2021 Edition
    3 minute read
  • News
    12.19.19
    Forty-Six Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2020 Louisiana Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
  • News
    08.15.19
    Fifty-Seven Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, BL Rankings, LLC, 2020 Edition
    3 minute read
  • News
    12.27.18
    Thirty-Nine Liskow Lawyers Selected to 2019 Louisiana Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters
    less than a minute
View All
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