
Practice Areas:
Admiralty and Maritime Law, Offshore Personal Injury
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BARRETT RICE
Partner – Trial Lawyer
Barrett Rice has always loved hearing people’s stories. Even though she had an interest in the law, as the daughter of a lawyer, she started her career out as an actor, where she could recount those stories on stage. Barrett went to school for drama at Northwestern University and scored some significant roles in New York and Los Angeles. She believes the key to being a good actor is being a good listener. After a few years of playing fictional characters, she decided to explore telling the stories of real people—in the courtroom.
Storytelling remained a key part of Barrett’s persona, and she brought this passion with her as she entered the legal profession. Just as with acting, Barrett believes the key to being a great lawyer is being a good listener. With compassion, Barrett goes deep into her cases and with her clients—she learns everything about them and their situation, empathizing with them and bringing their stories to life in the courtroom.
Like many top students, Barrett started her legal career on the defense side, primarily representing large corporations in the maritime, oil and gas, and insurance industries. But she always felt sympathy for the individuals on the other side of the table—the real people who were severely injured by incidents such as explosions, collisions, and sinkings. She finally decided it was time for a change and now advocates solely for plaintiffs, ensuring that hard-working maritime professionals and their families can get as close to “whole” again in the wake of tragedy.
Barrett loves getting to know her clients as people. She focuses on making them feel safe. She works to gain a deep understanding of the ordeal they endured and how they’re feeling in the aftermath. In her eyes, making this connection with her clients is the only way she can truly speak for them.
- Tulane Law School, JD, Admiralty/Maritime Law Program Certificate, magna cum laude, 2005 Order of the Coif; Order of the Barristers; National Trial Team Member, Moot Court, Associate Justice of Moot Court
- Northwestern University, Bachelor of Arts, Drama, 1997
- Louisiana State Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- American Bar Association
- Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
- Federal Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- New Orleans Bar Association
- Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
- Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, New Orleans Chapter Co-President
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation—Insurance (2022)
- The Legal 500 United States, Transport: Shipping—Litigation and Regulation (2021)
- "The Creeping Criminalization of Maritime Incidents," Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute, June 2019
- "Subchapter M Update," Jones Walker LLP Maritime Client Alert, June 16, 2016
- "The New Frontier: The Practical Implications and Future of General Maritime Law After the 5th Circuit Decision in McBride," Submarine, The Newsletter of LIIBA's Marine Claims Sub-Committee, February 6, 2014
- "Breach of Warranty and Misrepresentation — USA," Tulane Law Review, June 1, 2013
- "Sub-Chapter M From a Defense Lawyer's Perspective: How Your Liability and Litigation May Change in an Inspected World," April 26, 2012
- "Criminal Prosecutions and Defenses Relating to Maritime Operations and Activities," Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 27–29, 2019.
- "Likely Legal Implications of SubChapter M," Maritime Law Association, Committee on Inland Waters and Towing, October 27, 2016
- “Jones Act 101”, Avoyelles Parish Bar Association Annual CLE, November 2016
- "Recent Developments in Maritime Law," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, April 27, 2016
- "Recent Developments in the Law - Its Effect on the Marine Industry," GNOBFA River and Marine Industry Seminar, April 9, 2014
- "Breach of Warranty & Misrepresentation - United States," March 13, 2013
PERSEVERANCE + PATIENCE
“What is to give light must endure burning.”
– Viktor Frankl


Settlement
$23,000,000.00
Boat Crash – Wrongful Death
READ Barrett Rice’S ARTICLES
- 17November,22
Before Starting A Maritime Injury Lawsuit, Read This
Working in the maritime industry has enticing perks such as great pay and work assignments that give you a chance to see the world. But the industry also has drawbacks, especially when you face a maritime injury, as it can be fatal—data collected by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health...

CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“ Broussard Law Firm help us when our family really needed it. We couldn’t be more thankful for the attorneys and staff who go above and beyond their means to make sure we are taken care of. We never feel ‘second rate’ or like we are ‘just another client’. Thank you for all that you guys do for US! ”
– Levi Lalanne, Client
PRACTICE AREA VIDEOS


