Richard S. Vale

Attorney Brief

Mr. Vale is of counsel in the Metairie office and has been with the firm since its inception in 1983. For over 40 years, Mr. Vale has practiced in the field of general insurance defense with concentrations which include construction litigation, federal, state workers’ compensation and Jones Act claims, as well as products liability. He has been a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association since 1973.

Education

Mr. Vale attended Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1970 and a juris doctorate in 1973. While in law school, Mr. Vale was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in corporations.

Narrative

Mr. Vale joined Blue Williams in 1983, becoming a partner in the firm in 1985 and of counsel in 2019. He has represented insurance companies and self-insureds throughout his tenure. Mr. Vale has served as lead trial counsel in hundreds of cases and in numerous venues and holds an impeccable trial record in these cases. His litigation experience spans the gamut of insurance defense. Primarily, Mr. Vale has defended personal injury claims in almost every conceivable scenario including automobile accidents, premise liability claims, personal injury claims, claims arising on vessels, platforms, rigs and other environments. Mr. Vale has also represented insurance companies and self-insureds in construction defect claims, including structural defect claims, moisture intrusion claims, roof claims, as well as claims arising from soil subsidence. He has also handled products liability claims involving a myriad of products. Mr. Vale has defended employers regarding claims brought by employees either for state or federal workers’ compensation benefits, as well as Jones Act claims and tort claims.

Awards

• Louisiana Super Lawyers Business Edition 2011, 2012
• Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2007- 2020 (Construction Litigation)
• National Association of Distinguished Counsel “TOP ONE PERCENT” 2015, 2016, 2017
• Best Lawyers in America 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (Construction Litigation)
• AV® Peer Review Rated certification mark from Martindale-Hubbell

Bar, Courts & Professional Affiliations

Mr. Vale is admitted to practice before all courts in the State of Louisiana, the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, the United States Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeals as well as the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, New Orleans Bar Association, Jefferson Bar Association, Federal Bar Association for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana and Federal Fifth Circuit Bar Association. Mr. Vale holds an AV® Peer Review Rated certification mark from Martindale-Hubbell.