Alan H. Goodman

Alan Goodman is a partner in the New Orleans office. While his good name and reputation are known nationally in the Chapter 11 and commercial litigation practice areas, Best Lawyers in America has recognized him in not only those two practice areas but also in the practice areas of mergers and acquisitions, distressed M&A, class actions, product liability, and real estate litigation. Alan was selected by City Business Newspaper for the Legal Hall of Fame in 2022 and has likewise been recognized by other publications for his broad experience in many practice areas.

Alan is Certified as a Mediator in Louisiana. Alan's professional activities have included serving as an adjunct professor at Tulane Law School; serving as chairman and vice-chairman of various committees and subcommittees of the American Bar Association; being active in a leadership role locally and nationally in the Anti-Defamation League (e.g., Regional Board Chairman; Vice-Chairman, National Legal Affairs Committee; National Executive Committee); and serving on Governors' and Mayors' task forces and trade missions. He is a member of the bars of Louisiana and Washington, D.C.

A native of New Orleans, Alan graduated from the elite Newman High School as the Second Honor Student (and was All-State in basketball) and thereafter attended Tulane University on a basketball scholarship and graduated with honors.

He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. where he served as the Articles Editor for the Georgetown Law Journal and was selected as "Best Editor" of the Law Journal.

He served as a law clerk for the Honorable Charles Fahy on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and practiced law at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C. for four years before returning home to New Orleans in 1975.

Alan has been married to Sherrie since 1972 and has four children.

Practice Areas

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Class Action, Mass Tort & Multi-District Litigation
• Real Estate
  • Litigation - Real Estate
• Corporate & Finance
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
• Commercial Litigation
• Products Liability Litigation

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1970

Tulane University, B.A., cum laude, 1967

Newman High School, Second Honor Student, 1963

Admissions

Louisiana

District of Columbia

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits

Louisiana Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Associations

Certified as a Mediator in Louisiana

Adjunct Professor, Tulane Law School

American Bar Association, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of various Committees and Subcommittees

Governor’s Economic Development Advisory Panel, Member

Governor’s Super Bowl Task Force, Member

Mayor’s Trade Mission to Japan, Member

Anti-Defamation League, Chairman, Regional Board; Vice-Chairman, National Legal Affairs Committee; Member, National Executive Committee, National Commission and National Civil Rights Committee

Covington & Burling, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C.

Judge Charles Fahy, United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C., Law Clerk

Honors and Awards

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® (2024)

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers (Since 2006)

Best Lawyers in America, Since 2009

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Class Actions
• Product Liability Litigation
• Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Litigation - Real Estate

AV^® Preeminent^TM Peer Review Rated

New Orleans CityBusiness Leadership in Law Class of 2007, 2018, 2022, and Hall of Fame Member

Louisiana Super Lawyers^® (Since 2007)

"Top Lawyers of New Orleans" by New Orleans Magazine

Selected Among “Top 50 Attorneys in New Orleans” by Local Newspaper

 Educational Honors:

• 1970-1971: Law Clerk, Judge Charles Fahy, United States Court of Appeals for the District of
• Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C.
• 1969-1970: Articles Editor - Georgetown Law Journal, Selected "Best Editor" of Georgetown Law
• Journal
• 1967: Graduated cum laude, Tulane University
• 1963: Second Honor Student, Newman High School

Sports Honors:

• Selected to Top 100 Prep Basketball Players in History of New Orleans
• Basketball Scholarship - Tulane University, 1963-1967
• All-State Basketball - 1963

Publications

Representative Matters

Bankruptcy:

In re OCA, Inc ., Case No. 06-10179, USBC, E.D.LA.: Represented secured lender in confirmation of plan contested by debtor’s principal after 7 days of hearing.

In re Communications Corporation of America and White Knight Holdings, Inc., et al , Case No. 06-50410, USBC, W.D. LA.: Represented junior secured lender in contentious Chapter 11 case.

In re JLH, L.L.C ., Case No. 99-11535, USBC, E.D.LA.: Represented major lender and obtained confirmation by consent of plan.

In re Wichita River Oil , Case No. 96-11660, USBC, E.D.LA.: Confirmed creditors plan for lenders after five day contested confirmation hearing, including dismissal of $100 million lender liability claim of debtor immediately following confirmation of creditors plan.

In re Canal Place Limited Partnership , 921 F.2d 569 (5th Cir. 1991): Represented major lender and obtained a lift of the automatic stay four months after the Chapter 11 case was filed.

In re Consolidated Companies, Inc ., Case No. 91-10422, USBC, E.D.LA.: Confirmed plan of reorganization by consent representing the debtor.

In re Gaylord Container, Case No. 92-3654-A, USDC, E.D.LA.: Confirmed pre-packaged plan of reorganization in less than 40 days from the date the chapter 11 case was filed.

In re TransAmerican Natural Gas , Case No. 84-03474-H1-5, 84-03475-H2-5, 84-03476-H1-5, 84-03477-H3-5, 84-03478-H3-5, 84-03479-H1-5, 84-03480-H1-5, 84-05539-H2-11, USBC, S.D. TX: Represented non-bank members of plan committee.

In re Frank Martin Farms, Case No. 12-50367, USBC, W.D.LA.: Represent lessors of sugar cane farm in Chapter 12 bankruptcy.

In re Rock Glen HealthCare, Inc. d/b/a Rock Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Case No. 12-10320, USBC, M.D. LA. and In re Ravenwood Healthcare, Inc. d/b/a Harborside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Case No. 12-10612, USBC, M.D. LA.: Represent healthcare and management corporation in possible acquisition of two nursing homes.

In re Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., Case No. 10-50713, USBC, W.D.LA.: Appointed Trustee of Gulf Fleet Liquidating Trust.

Class Actions:

Billy R. Brew, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. University Healthcare System, L.C. D/B/A Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, Case No. 15-7328, CDC: Defend Tulane Hospital (now owned by HCA) in a class action involving alleged violation of the Louisiana Balance Billing Statute

Steven J. Leon, Individually, and on Behalf of all Others Similarly Situated v. Blue Bell Creameries, Inc., Case No. 15-3454, USDC, EDLA: Defend Blue Bell in a class action, seeking refunds for allegedly contaminated ice cream.

The Tobacco Institute: Represent trade association in numerous class actions.

Norman P. Lasky, et al v. J. Terrell Brown, et al., Case No. 99-1035-B-M2, 99-1049-B-M2, 00-0006-B-M2 and 00-0099-B-M2, USDC, M.D.LA.: Obtained favorable settlement for less than half of insurance coverage in federal class action securities fraud litigation.

Charles James Myer v. U.S. Trust Company of California, N.A., Case No. 00-147-D-M3, USDC, M.D.LA.: Defended fiduciaries of ESOP in a class action and obtained settlement without payment of any funds.

Intellectual Property Litigation:

Sugar Busters, L.L.C v. Ellen C. Brennan, et al ., 177 F.3d 258 (5th Cir. 1999): Seminal case in Fifth Circuit on book titles – obtained reversal in Fifth Circuit that no trademark infringement in book title.

Athletic Training Innovations, Inc. v. L.A. Gear, Inc., Case No. 10-01524, USDC, E.D. LA.: Represent defendant in trademark infringement claim over athletic shoes.

Sports Design & Development Inc. d/b/a Bill Lewis Lures v. Miller Brewing Co., Case No. 08-01179, USDC, W.D. LA.: Represent defendant in trademark infringement claim over beer ad in the form of a fishing lure.

Securities Litigation:

Charles James Myer v. U. S. Trust Company of California, N.A ., Case No. 00-147-D-M3, USDC, M.D.LA.: Defended fiduciaries of ESOP and obtained settlement without payment of any funds.

Norman P. Lasky, et al v. J. Terrell Brown, et al., Case No. 99-1035-B-M2, 99-1049-B-M2, 00-0006-B-M2 and 00-0099-B-M2, USDC, M.D.LA.: Obtained favorable settlement for less than half of insurance coverage in federal class action securities fraud litigation.

Findim Investments S.A., et al v. J. Terrell Brown, et al., Case No. 474,161, 19th Judicial District Court, Parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana: Obtained dismissal of state securities fraud claims.

Insurance Coverage Litigation:

A.L. Sizeler Construction Company, Inc. et al v. United States Fire Insurance Company, et al, Case No. 06-4649, USDC, E.D. LA.: Represent commercial entities regarding substantial insurance claims arising out of Hurricane Katrina.

Consolidated Companies, Inc. v. Lexington Insurance Company, Case No. 06-4700, USDC, E.D. LA.: Represent commercial entity regarding substantial insurance claims arising out of Hurricane Katrina.

Caudle Aviation, Inc. v. Hartford Fire Insurance Company, Case No. 06-4653, USDC, E.D. LA.: Represent commercial entity regarding substantial insurance claims arising out of Hurricane Katrina.

Corporate Realty, Inc. et al v. Gulf Insurance Company, Case No. 04-2933, USDC, E.D.LA.: Represented commercial entity on coverage under an E&O policy – obtained summary judgment and then settled.

Product Liability Litigation:

A.O. Smith Corporation et al v. Perfection Corporation, et al., No. 99-15646, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana: Represent manufacturer of dip tubes for water heaters in state court litigation.

The Tobacco Institute: Represent trade association in numerous class action and individual tobacco litigation.

Martco Limited Partnership v. Bruks-Klockner, Inc., Case No. 07-2002, USDC, W.D. LA.: Represent manufacturer of conveyor belt system in complex litigation.

Other Commercial Litigation:

Borders, Inc. v. Perkins Rowe Associates, L.L.C. et al., Case No. 05-1374, USDC, M.D. LA.: Represent book company in unfair trade practices and breach of letter of intent litigation.

Monnie Greer, et al. v. Denbury Resources, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-0682, USDC, E.D.LA.: Represented defendant in claims for stock options of former employees; won at trial of main claims; settled afterwards.

Weeks Marine, Inc. v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, Case No. 02-40825, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: Obtained reversal and summary judgment on appeal to Fifth Circuit in claim on surety bond.

Consolidated Companies, Inc. v. Peter C. Kern, Case No. 00-CV-1804, W.D.LA.: Obtained summary judgment on claim under guaranty of debt.

Diefenthal et al. v. Longue Vue House and Gardens, 556 So.2d 1272 (La. 1990): Obtained unanimous favorable reversal in Supreme Court in local neighborhood dispute.

Max Williams, Jr. v. Paul B. Deal, in his capacity as Executor of the Succession of Gerald A. Kendal c/w Succession of Gerald A. Kendal, Case No. 10-10571, CDC, Parish of Orleans, State of La.: Represent Executor of succession in defense of substantial breach of contract claim.