Gauthier Murphy & Houghtaling continues the tradition of outstanding legal representation established by the late Wendell Gauthier in the early 70's. For the past thirty years, Gauthier Murphy & Houghtaling has been one of the most influential and most respected law firms in the South. Wendell Gauthier was ranked as one of the "Nations Top 10 Litigation Lawyers" by the National Law Journal and one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in America" by the National Law Journal in 1985, 1990 and 1995. The Gauthier Murphy & Houghtaling firm rose to national prominence as leader of the 100 law firm coalition that negotiated the $350 billion settlement with the Tobacco Industry.

Since 2003, the firm has collected over $100 million for business and individual clients. Headquartered in New Orleans, the firm represents business clients whose interests in negotiated contracts total over one quarter of a billion dollars.

In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, the firm has been retained by a variety of victims, from owners of Class A high rise buildings, to "mom and pop" businesses. To date, the firm has collected over $300 million in hurricane-related recoveries.

In March of 2005, in an article entitled "Legendary Law Firm Ruled by New Lawyer," City Business Magazine featured Managing Partner John Houghtaling on its front cover when he overtook the leadership of the Gauthier firm following Wendell Gauthier's passing. In 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Mr. Houghtaling was ranked as one of the "Top 50 Lawyers in New Orleans" by City Business Magazine, one of only four lawyers recognized so consecutively. He and James Williams were elected to the magazine's Hall of Fame in 2009. 

$246 billion
Class Action/Tobacco Litigation - Wendell Gauthier led a coalition of 100 law firms which paved the way for the landmark settlement with the states in 1998

$3.365 billion
Class Action/Environmental Spill - 1987 tank car fire contaminates a New Orleans neighborhood (Wendell Gauthier)

$346 million
Business Litigation/Breach of Contract - profits lost in failure to transfer computer software rights (Ed Downing)

$220 million
Class Action/Wrongful Death - lawsuit filed by the families of 96 victims who died in a fire at the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico (Wendell Gauthier)

$170 million
Class Action/Wrongful Death - 85 people killed in a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, the second largest loss-of-life fire in U.S. history (Wendell Gauthier)

$100 million
Insurance Litigation - insurance recoveries for individual victims of Hurricane Katrina (John Houghtaling/Ed Downing)

$92.5 million
Insurance Litigation - insurance recoveries for individual victims of Superstorm Sandy (John Houghtaling/Cate Biggs)

$75 million
Insurance Litigation - insurance recoveries for individual victims of Hurricane IKE (John Houghtaling/Cate Biggs)

$57 million
Commercial Property Damage/Loss of Business - fire destroys the historic New Orleans Fair Grounds ( Wendell Gauthier)

$45 million
Truck accident- Jury Verdict for crippled victim as a result of a trucking accident (James Williams/John Houghtaling)

$26.2 million
Commercial Property Damage/Loss of Business - Hurricane Katrina commercial property settlement for a Metairie high-rise (John Houghtaling)

$20 million                                                                                                             Jury verdict involving brain injuries caused by collision between a truck and a train Ed Downing)

$17 million
Breach of Contract-  Settlement for breach of a fuel sale agreement (John Houghtaling/Ed Downing)

$13.5 million
Commercial property damage/loss of business - settlement of property damage claims for high rise buildings in Houston following Hurricane Ike (John Houghtaling/Ed Downing)

$13 million
Wrongful Death - three families whose loved ones were killed when a Pan Am jet crashed into a New Orleans neighborhood (Wendell Gauthier)

$12 million
Commercial Property Damage - groundwater contamination caused by radioactive material (John Houghtaling)

9.25 million
Breach of Contract - joint venture arising out of a clients ownership interest in a power plant in El Salvador (John Houghtaling/Ed Downing)

$7.4 million
Commercial Property Damage/Loss of Business - Hurricane Katrina commercial property settlement for an office building in downtown New Orleans (John Houghtaling)

$7 million
Industrial Negligence/Wrongful Death - wrongful death and recovery for a worker severely injured in an industrial explosion (John Houghtaling)

$6 million                                                                                                                  Product Liability - burn injuries to a 2-year old caused by defective product (Ed Downing)

$5.7 million
Jury Verdict - six-week trial involving a business dispute on behalf of a closely held insurance agency doing business in Puerto Rico (James Williams)

$5.25 million                                                                                                                     Wrongful Death - multi death fatality resulting from a negligent truck driver (John Houghtaling)

$5 million
Product Liability - verdict in case involving 95% third degree burns resulting from ignition of flammable vapors by a gas fired water heater (Ed Downing)

$4.7 million
Wrongful Death - drunk driver's negligence (John Houghtaling)

$4.3 million                                                                                                                        Wrongful Death Maritime - crew boat collision on the Mississippi River (John Houghtaling)

$4 million
Jury verdict for a retail center in St. Bernard Parish which was damaged during Katrina (James Williams)