Lansden Law

A Maritime Lawyer Serving our Community on the Sea and on the Land

Writer: Nick Gagliano

Photographer: Johnny Chauvin

One block south of Pine Street in Ponchatoula there is a modest office that is home to an extraordinary family who have followed the call to help and serve sailors who have been injured or killed at sea.

That extraordinary family is maritime attorneys Captain Robert and Claire Lansden.

“As a maritime attorney and active deep sea vessel captain, I bring a unique and complete understanding of maritime law to the clients we serve, ” said Capt. Lansden. “I still work as a captain or master of a deep-sea vessel, so I know the current rules and regulations for maritime cases. ”

Having successfully represented sailors and their families in New York, Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Florida, Captain Robert and Claire were called to remain in Ponchatoula to open and operate their Maritime Injury Law Office.

“Most people don’t realize it, but there are a large number of sailors who live in Tangipahoa Parish, the Northshore, and southeast Louisiana.

Our mission is to help make whole the men and women when they have been injured or killed while working at sea or on the waterways ”

Captain Lansden was lured to the love of the sea by his Father, who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Navy.

“My father was my guide to serving our country An early example was the role he and his friends played in getting the USS Ponchatoula named after Ponchatoula When the US entered the war, he was at Ponchatoula High School It was announced by the War Department that any town that raised the most scrap metal would have a ship named after it. He and others in the community gathered enough scrap metal to fill three football fields. As a result, the USS Ponchatoula was commissioned. Thanks to veterans of the vessel, we are blessed to have the anchor and other parts of the ship permanently displayed in the center of our town It’s a special place for me and for us to bring our children ”

A humble man and active member of Wellspring Church, Captain Lansden received the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq and was commended for being the Officer in Charge of the USNS Pollux during Hurricane Katrina which survived the storm and was able to provide their excess diesel for emergency vehicles, hospitals, evacuation vehicles, and even dairies in Tangipahoa Parish

Captain Lansden graduated in 1986 from the US Merchant Marine Academy with a double Bachelor of Science degree in Maritime Transportation and Maritime Engineering. Since then, he has served in the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine, and today he captains vessels with military defense supplies to ports around the word

Captain Lansden received his Law Degree from Tulane University School of Law in 1994 while Claire received her law degree from Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law. Claire joined the firm immediately upon graduation and they have practiced law together ever since.

Both Captain Robert and Claire have seen and agree that maritime law is heavily fact-based When a client meets with either one, they immediately know which documents are needed which can lead to a faster case resolution.

“We see horrific and tragic injuries and death. We treat our sailors and their families with dignity and compassion while trying to make them whole It’s not about the money, it’s about doing the right thing legally and morally as we are called by God to serve our maritime brothers and sisters ”

As a final thought, Captain Lansden summed up his view on his career by simply saying, “I always say I may be a ship’s captain, but God is my captain ”

If you or someone you love has been injured on the water, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone Lansden Law can be reached at 985-3709006 or captainlansden.com.