Lawyer Profile

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Thomas M. Benjamin

Breazeale, Sachse and Wilson, L.L.P.
  • Recognized Since:
    2013
  • Recognized in:
    Commercial Litigation
    Litigation - Securities...
  • Law School:
    Tulane University
  • Website:
    http://www.bswllp.com
  • Location:
    First Bank & Trust Tower, Suite 1500
    909 Poydras Street
    New Orleans, LA 70112-4004

Thomas M. Benjamin is a partner in the New Orleans office, where his practice includes complex commercial litigation, class actions and gaming. Mr. Benjamin is ranked as a leading Louisiana lawyer by both Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers for Louisiana and Best Lawyers in America® and is the head of the Firm’s Gaming Section.

Business and Commercial Litigation

Mr. Benjamin has experience in all aspects of litigation including trial, appellate work, and arbitration. He has represented clients in a variety of industries including real estate, financial, energy, manufacturing, transportation and construction. His litigation experience includes disputes involving the following, among others:

  • unfair competition and trade practices
  • class actions
  • contract and lease litigation
  • partnership and shareholder disputes
  • securities fraud
  • product liability
  • construction disputes
  • copyright infringement
  • bankruptcy litigation

Class Actions

Mr. Benjamin has successfully defended corporate clients in class actions in a variety of matters including:

  • securities fraud
  • defective and recalled products
  • billing practices

Gaming 

Mr. Benjamin is the head of the Firm’s Gaming Section and has extensive experience in gaming law including:

  • buying and selling of gaming assets including video poker truck stops, gaming routes, and contracts for placement of video gaming devices
  • compliance, permitting and regulatory matters including before the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the Attorney General’s Office, and the State Police
  • numerous litigation involving gaming companies including unfair trade practices, breach of sales and other contracts, and partnership disputes

Transactional Matters

Mr. Benjamin has also represented clients in various business related transactions including:

  • contracts, joint ventures, and leases
  • formations of companies
  • the purchase and sale of assets

Mr. Benjamin graduated cum laude from Tulane University School of Law in 1987 where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Tulane Moot Court Board. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983.

Mr. Benjamin is admitted to the Bars of the State of Louisiana, the United States District Courts Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts and the United States Fifth Circuit. Mr. Benjamin is a native of New Orleans. He is the former President and current member of the Board of Governors of the Louisiana Civil Service League and Treasurer and a current member of the Board of Trustees of Metairie Park Country Day School.

Lawyer Bio

Thomas M. Benjamin is a partner in the New Orleans office, where his practice includes complex commercial litigation, class actions and gaming. Mr. Benjamin is ranked as a leading Louisiana lawyer by both Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers for Louisiana and Best Lawyers in America® and is the head of the Firm’s Gaming Section.

Business and Commercial Litigation

Mr. Benjamin has experience in all aspects of litigation including trial, appellate work, and arbitration. He has represented clients in a variety of industries including real estate, financial, energy, manufacturing, transportation and construction. His litigation experience includes disputes involving the following, among others:

  • unfair competition and trade practices
  • class actions
  • contract and lease litigation
  • partnership and shareholder disputes
  • securities fraud
  • product liability
  • construction disputes
  • copyright infringement
  • bankruptcy litigation

Class Actions

Mr. Benjamin has successfully defended corporate clients in class actions in a variety of matters including:

  • securities fraud
  • defective and recalled products
  • billing practices

Gaming 

Mr. Benjamin is the head of the Firm’s Gaming Section and has extensive experience in gaming law including:

  • buying and selling of gaming assets including video poker truck stops, gaming routes, and contracts for placement of video gaming devices
  • compliance, permitting and regulatory matters including before the Louisiana Gaming Control Board, the Attorney General’s Office, and the State Police
  • numerous litigation involving gaming companies including unfair trade practices, breach of sales and other contracts, and partnership disputes

Transactional Matters

Mr. Benjamin has also represented clients in various business related transactions including:

  • contracts, joint ventures, and leases
  • formations of companies
  • the purchase and sale of assets

Mr. Benjamin graduated cum laude from Tulane University School of Law in 1987 where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Tulane Moot Court Board. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1983.

Mr. Benjamin is admitted to the Bars of the State of Louisiana, the United States District Courts Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts and the United States Fifth Circuit. Mr. Benjamin is a native of New Orleans. He is the former President and current member of the Board of Governors of the Louisiana Civil Service League and Treasurer and a current member of the Board of Trustees of Metairie Park Country Day School.

Read more on firm website

Education:

  • Tulane University, J.D., graduated 1987
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, graduated 1983

Bar Admissions:

  • Louisiana, Louisiana

Affiliations:

  • American Bar Association - member
  • Louisiana Civil Service League - Current Member of Board of Governors; President, 2000 - 2002; Secretary, 1998 - 2000
  • Louisiana State Bar Association - member
  • Metairie Park Country Day School - Board of Trustees, 2012 - 2013; Alumni Chairman, Annual Giving Council, 1997
  • New Orleans Bar Association - member

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Securities
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law
 

Awards:

  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers for Louisiana Ranked in area of Gaming & Licensing since 2010.
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
  • "Top Lawyers of New Orleans" by New Orleans Magazine
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Moot Court Board
  • Order of the Coif
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Breazeale, Sachse and Wilson, L.L.P. View Firm Profile
Breazeale, Sachse and Wilson, L.L.P.
http://www.bswllp.com
 
Headquarters
One American Place, Suite 2300
301 Main Street
P.O. Box 3197
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3197
(225) 387.4000
3 Office Locations
in 1 Country

United States

United States

Louisiana

Louisiana

Monroe, LA

300 Washington Street, Suite 210

Monroe, LA 71201

United States

(318) 398.4330

Get Directions

New Orleans, LA

First Bank & Trust Tower, Suite 1500

909 Poydras Street

New Orleans, LA 70112-4004

United States

(504) 584.5454

Get Directions

Lawyer Case History

United Companies Financial Corporation Securities Litigation.

Successfully represented former Chief Executive Officer of United Companies in defending against securities fraud class actions, individual shareholder litigation, and ESOP litigation involving claims totaling over $100 million.

Monnie Greer, et al versus Denbury Resources Inc., et al, 2006 WL 2475317 (E.D. La. 2006).

Successfully defended publicly traded oil company and its chief executive officer in a suit brought by eleven former employees claiming in excess of $10 million in damages allegedly due as a result of stock options vesting from a corporate reorganization and subsequent sale of a subsidiary.

In re: Tahkenitch Tree Farm Partnership (Yorkshire Partnership, Ltd. v. Pacific Capital Partners).

Successfully represented partner in multi-million dollar breach of contract and fraud dispute involving timber properties.

Jules Maraist v. Polymer International Corp., 2000 WL 666381 (E.D. La. 2000).

Successfully defended company against stock option and profit sharing dispute brought by former executive.

Aneco Reinsurance Company (Peter Mitchell, as Liquidator of Aneco v. James H. Brown Commissioner of Insurance, et al).

Obtained judgment requiring over $1 million in funds to be turned over to a debtor in a foreign insolvency proceeding.

Morgan Keegan & Company v. Stern, Agee & Leach, Inc., et al.

Defended brokerage firm and brokers against federal court and subsequent NASD proceeding involving alleged claim of raiding of brokers, unfair trade practices, and breach of noncompete and non-solicitation contracts.

Illinois Central Railroad Company v. 16.032 Acres of Land in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, 1999 WL 1276835 (E. D. La. 1999).

Represented railroad in expropriation of property and defense of counter-claim relating to same.

Coastal Land and Timber Company v. Florgan Forest Products.

Successfully obtained a judgment on behalf of principal in suit for breach of fiduciary duty and misappropriation of funds by agent.

Andy McDonald Copyright Litigation.

Prosecuted claims on behalf of home designer against various contractors and architects involving infringement of home design plans.

Solo Serve Corp. v. Westowne Associates, 929 F.2d 160 (5th Cir 1991).

Represented landlord from the trial court through the appeal before the U.S. Fifth Circuit in dispute over shopping center lease.