Jacob K. Best

Attorney Brief

Transportation law, trucking and logistics litigation, healthcare litigation, regulatory compliance, medical malpractice, professional liability, and commercial disputes for motor carriers, transportation companies, logistics providers, healthcare organizations, physicians, insurers, and businesses.

Jacob Best helps transportation companies, healthcare providers, insurers, and businesses manage significant litigation, regulatory, operational, and commercial risks. Licensed in Louisiana and Georgia, Jacob represents motor carriers, trucking companies, logistics providers, insurers, hospitals, corporate healthcare clients, physicians, allied health professionals, and medical practices in courts, administrative proceedings, medical review panels, arbitrations, and professional licensing matters.

His transportation practice includes commercial motor vehicle accident defense, trucking and motor carrier liability, cargo and property damage disputes, transportation-related contract disputes, insurance coverage issues, accident-response coordination, preservation of evidence, driver and company record review, and matters involving applicable safety standards and regulatory considerations. His healthcare practice includes medical malpractice defense, regulatory investigations, credentialing and clinical privilege disputes, professional licensure proceedings, and compliance matters involving HIPAA, the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and EMTALA.

Jacob also advises medical practices and corporate healthcare clients on practice management and physician recruiting agreements. When disputes arise, he helps clients evaluate their exposure, protect their professional and business interests, and pursue a practical resolution through negotiation, administrative proceedings, arbitration, or trial.

An experienced trial attorney, Jacob has served as first- and second-chair counsel in numerous bench and jury trials in Louisiana and Georgia. He joined Blue Williams in 2014 and is a partner in the firm’s New Orleans office.

Education

J.D., Georgia State University College of Law, 2004

• American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition Team, Competitor and Coach
• National Moot Court Competition Team, Competitor and Coach
• Regional Semifinalist, National Moot Court Competition, 2003
• Award for Outstanding Achievement in Litigation Skills

M.A., Political Science, Auburn University, 1998

B.A., Political Science, Louisiana State University, 1996

Narrative

Jacob’s practice combines transportation law, trucking and logistics litigation, healthcare litigation, regulatory counseling, and commercial dispute resolution. Before joining Blue Williams, he practiced for nearly nine years with a New Orleans healthcare boutique, developing extensive experience with the legal and operational issues facing healthcare organizations and professionals.

Jacob defends medical malpractice claims and represents clients throughout the medical review panel process. He also handles regulatory investigations and administrative proceedings involving HIPAA privacy requirements, physician self-referral restrictions under the Stark Law, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, and EMTALA obligations.

Healthcare professionals and organizations also turn to Jacob for assistance with credentialing, clinical privileges, and professional licensure matters. He represents physicians and allied health professionals in hearings and proceedings that may affect their ability to practice, professional standing, and careers.

In addition to his healthcare practice, Jacob represents transportation companies, logistics providers, insurers, and businesses in casualty and commercial litigation, including trucking accident claims, commercial motor vehicle disputes, cargo and property damage matters, insurance defense, class actions, professional errors and omissions claims, contract disputes, judgment recovery, debt collection, and landlord-tenant matters. His trial and arbitration experience allows him to guide clients from early case evaluation through final resolution.

Jacob also assists transportation clients with the practical demands that follow serious accidents and commercial disputes, including early investigation, preservation of electronic and physical evidence, evaluation of driver qualification materials, review of company policies and safety practices, coordination with insurers and claims professionals, expert development, mediation strategy, and trial preparation.

Awards

Best Lawyers in America, 2026, 2027

Bar, Courts & Professional Affiliations

• Louisiana
• Georgia
• Federal district courts in Louisiana
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• State Bar of Georgia
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
  
  

Community Involvement

• Contributor: Louisiana State Bar Association; Louisiana Center for Law & Civic Education
• Trustee (Chair) and Deacon: Broadmoor Baptist Church
• Hospice Foundation of the South Annual Crawfish Cook-Off
• Habitat for Humanity
• Atlanta Community Food Bank
• John Smoltz’s Close Out Hunger Campaign

Representative Work

• Preston v. Tenet Healthsystem Mem. Med. Ctr., 485 F.3d 793 (5th Cir. 2007)
• In re Medical Review Panel Proceedings of Smithson, 2007 2262 (La.App. 1 Cir. 06/06/08) 991 So. 2d 1075
• Zehner v. Touro Infirmary Found., 2009-0740 (La.App. 4 Cir. 10/14/09); 24 So. 3d 1037
• Touro Infirmary v. Am. Mar. Officer, 2009-0697 (La.App. 4 Cir. 11/10/09); 24 So. 3d 948; writ denied 27 So. 3d 857
• Touro Infirmary v. Am. Mar. Officer, 2009-0696 (La.App. 4 Cir. 12/07/10); 2010 La. App. LEXIS 15
• Choice Healthcare, Inc. v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan of Colo., No. 09-12 (E.D. La. Sept. 30, 2009); 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90741
• Falcone v. Touro Infirmary, 2013-0015 (La.App. 4 Cir. 11/6/13); 129 So.3d 641
• Smith v. Northshore Regional Medical Center, 2014-0628 (La.App. 1 Cir. 1/26/15); 170 So. 3d 173
• Par. of Jefferson v. Parochial Employees' Ret. Sys. of Louisiana, 2015-1999 (La.App. 1 Cir. 9/16/16); 204 So.3d 260
• Metro Serv. Grp., Inc. v. Waste Connections Bayou, Inc., 22-30775, 2023 WL 5235222 (5th Cir. Aug. 14, 2023)
• Mitchell v. Goings, 22-30759, 2023 WL 7266991 (5th Cir. Nov. 2, 2023)
• LaCroix v. Coleman, 2020-1247 (La.App. 1 Cir. 5/19/21); 326 So.3d 921
• Salathe v. Par. of Jefferson Through Dep't of Sewerage, 19-497 (La.App. 5 Cir. 10/21/20); 305 So.3d 1030
• Serou v. Touro Infirmary, 2012-0089 (La.App. 4 Cir. 4/24/13); 115 So.3d 688, writ denied, 2013-1201 (La. 9/13/13); 120 So.3d 699
• McLellan v. Yenni, 19-169 (La.App. 5 Cir. 9/18/19); 279 So.3d 1053
• Falcon v. Par. of Jefferson, 22-526 (La.App. 5 Cir. 6/14/23); 367 So.3d 857, writ denied, 2023-00974 (La. 10/31/23)
• Falcon v. Par. of Jefferson, 25-159 (La.App. 5 Cir. 11/19/25); 424 So.3d 1163, reh'g denied (Jan. 5, 2026)
• Bickham v. LAMMICO, 2011-0900 (La.App. 4 Cir. 2/1/12); 90 So.3d 467, writ denied, 2012-0782 (La. 5/25/12); 90 So.3d 413
• Hooper v. Lopez, 2021-1442 (La.App. 1 Cir. 6/22/22); 344 So.3d 656, as clarified on reh'g (Sept. 1, 2022), writ denied, 2022-01421 (La. 11/22/22); 350 So.3d 501, reconsideration not considered, 2022-01421 (La. 2/7/23); 354 So.3d 663
• Mellor v. Par. of Jefferson, 2021-0858 (La. 3/25/22); 338 So.3d 1138
• Allridge v. St. Martin, 2019-1043 (La.App. 1 Cir. 12/7/21), writ denied, 2022-00032 (La. 3/15/22); 333 So.3d 1250