Known for taking on big oil, Baron & Budd, P.C. will be representing numerous Louisianans in the upcoming case against BP concerning the calamitous Gulf Oil Spill.  Baron & Budd’s motto “Protecting What’s Right” spans back to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill proceedings of 1989 when Baron & Budd attorney Brent Rosenthal represented the National Wildlife Federation.  A short year later, the Oil Pollution Act became law, allowing those economically affected by an oil spill to receive benefits from the spill’s responsible party.

Now, environmental attorney and Baton Rouge native Burton LeBlanc of Baron & Budd has been retained to represent the people and business owners of Louisiana affected by the spill.  According to the firm’s website, the shareholder and head of the Baton Rouge office says, “Fighting companies the size and wealth of Halliburton or BP takes tremendous resources and Baron & Budd has amassed a team of expert witnesses who can determine not only present value losses, but difficult to calculate long-term economic losses.”

Though the Gulf Oil Spill may put out fewer total gallons than the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the former may actually have a greater impact on the environment due to the many endangered species and susceptibility of the wildlife in the Mississippi River delta.  Burton LeBlanc is confident, “We know how to get this job done and, importantly, have a tremendous familiarity with the ecology of the Louisiana coast. We are honored and proud to represent the great state of Louisiana and my home in this extremely important process.”