William Taylor Hale

W. Taylor Hale was born and raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  He graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School, attended Louisiana State University and earned his B.S., cum laude, from McNeese State University.  Taylor earned his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in New Orleans, serving on the Editorial Board of the Loyola Law Review as Articles Editor and graduating at the top of his class.  Taylor’s law review comment, A Critical Misdiagnosis: Re-Evaluating Louisiana Medical Malpractice Act, was selected for publication in the Fall 2007 edition of the Loyola Law Review.  During his time at Loyola, he was the recipient of the Lemle & Kelleher, LLP Scholarship in 2007-2008.

 

Immediately upon graduation from law school, Taylor accepted a job at the New Orleans insurance defense firm Phelps Dunbar LLP, where he gained extensive experience defending personal injury and maritime claims.

 

Taylor returned to Lake Charles and since this time he has devoted his practice to helping the wrongfully injured receive the compensation they deserve.  The knowledge Taylor gained from working for a defense firm and defending personal injury claims allows Taylor to provide valuable insight to your personal injury claim.

 

In 2015, Taylor was selected to the Rising Stars List by Super Lawyers magazine (Top Attorneys under 40 in Louisiana) in the area of Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Law.  This recognition is conferred upon no more than 2.5% of attorneys in Louisiana that have practiced 10 years or less. 

 

 

In 2012, Taylor was named a Top Trial Lawyer in America and is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which requires a settlement or verdict over one million dollars on behalf of his clients for membership. 
 
Taylor has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury and maritime cases. His practice focuses on serious personal injury and maritime law.  He has litigated a variety of personal injury cases including those involving automotive/trucking liability, premises liability, industrial/workplace safety, and products liability.  In his maritime practice, he has handled numerous cases involving the Jones Act, OCSLA, LHWCA, DOHSA, and general maritime law.

Taylor is admitted to practice in all of the state and federal district and appellate courts of Louisiana and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  Taylor served as Treasurer of the Young Lawyer’s Section of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and as co-chairman of Holiday Helping Hands.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, and Louisiana Association for Justice.  In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, grilling, and spending time with his family.

 

Taylor was recently named to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum which requires a settlement or verdict over one million dollars on behalf of his clients for membership.

 

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Litigation Percentage

 

Bar Admissions

 

Education

 

• McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana
  • B.S. cum laude - 2005
  • Honors: With Distinction
  • Honors: With Honors
  • Honors: Dean's List
  • Major: Business

 

Published Works

 

Representative Cases

 

Honors and Awards

 

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Past Employment Positions