Picture of Victor J. Suane Jr.

Victor J. Suane, Jr.

Partner

Vic Suane is a proven legal strategist and litigator who brings a stellar history of successful advocacy to those he serves. Vic’s practice focuses on environmental law, torts, trial practice, appellate advocacy, and corporate law matters. He is valued for being a smart, considerate, and reasonable advocate who never loses sight of his client’s goals – both in and out of court. Included among the National Black Lawyers’ “Top 100” list, Vic was also selected as a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Vic defends local, regional, and national businesses involved in energy and environmental litigation at the state and federal court levels and before government and administrative agencies. He resolves complex disputes involving oil and gas, regulatory, soil and groundwater contamination, wetlands loss, pipeline right-of-way negotiation and expropriation, toxic torts, lost leasing opportunities, and commercial and environmental claims.

Among Vic’s clients are Fortune 50, 250, 500, and independent energy companies for which he defends multi-jurisdictional litigation brought by governmental entities claiming historical oil and gas activities that contributed to Louisiana’s coastal land loss. He also represents supermajor, major, and independent oil and gas companies in resolving Louisiana legacy lawsuits brought by landowners seeking property and remediation damages, including surface, subsurface, sediment, NORM, groundwater contamination, and wetlands loss related to historical oil and gas exploration, transportation, and production activities.

Moreover, Vic resolves contentious royalty and production disputes and production in paying quantity lawsuits brought by lessors seeking damages and lease cancellation from oil and gas companies. He navigates operators and former operators through seeking site closure and letters of no further action before the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources. In the area of expropriation and other property law matters, including pipeline rights of way involving federal and state laws of eminent domain and surface rights in south Louisiana, Vic is a formidable advocate for major pipeline companies involved in such disputes.

In addition to his energy industry clientele, Vic advocates the rights of other businesses and organizational clients across a wide variety of general litigation claims. He has ably resolved business disputes that have ranged from alleged personal injury claims to defamation and restriction of privilege to breach of contract, among many other examples.

Representative Experience
  • Representation of supermajor, major, and independent oil, gas, and energy companies in property damage disputes and “legacy” oilfield litigation resulting from historic oil and gas exploration and production activities, including claims of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) contamination, soil contamination, groundwater contamination, drinking water aquifer contamination, and land loss
  • Representation of energy companies in litigation dealing with environmental permitting claims by local and state authorities concerning historical operations in wetlands areas in south Louisiana
  • Representation of oil and gas companies in royalty and production in paying quantity lawsuits brought by lessors seeking damages and lease cancellation. 
  • Representation of companies in expropriation and other property law matters, including pipeline rights of way involving federal and state laws of eminent domain and surface rights in south Louisiana. 
  • Representation of a Texas business in a commercial dispute involving a take-or-pay contract 
  • Representation of an industrial services company in a lawsuit alleging personal injuries resulting from chemical release
  • Representation of a national non-profit organization in a lawsuit seeking damages for defamation and restriction of privilege
  • Representation of a local non-profit organization in a lawsuit by a former director seeking injunctive relief
Education

  • Southern University Law Center, J.D., cum laude, 2007
    • Member, Southern University Law Review
    • Member, American Inns of Court
  • Rhodes College, B.A., 1998

Admissions
  • Louisiana
  • United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Memberships
  • Executive Committee Member, Commercial Law Section, National Bar Association
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Executive Committee Member, Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Greater Baton Rouge Chapter
  • Member, Professional Ethics Committee, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Federal Bar Association
  • Past Council Member, Young Lawyers Section; Past Chair, Belly Up with the Bar Committee, Baton Rouge Bar Association
  • Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
Articles, Publications and Presentations
  • Newest Amendment to Article 966 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Requires Strict Adherence for Summary Judgment Evidence, Louisiana Law Blog, August 15, 2023
  • Overcoming Diversity and Inclusion Challenges in Recruiting, Hiring, and Retention, CLE Presentation, August 2022
  • Age and Race: The Court’s Search for Equality Through the ADEA, 33 Southern University Law Review 399
  • CLE Presentation, Attorney-Client Privilege/Work-Product Doctrine, November 2012
  • Business Law Society Presentation, Southern University Law Center, Developing Business as an Associate, September 2012
  • Environmental Seminar Presentation, I Wish They Hadn't Written That!, September 2012
Community Service
  • Chair, Kean Miller Diversity and Inclusion Council, 2023
  • Past President and Member, Board of Directors, Louisiana School for the Deaf Foundation
  • Member and Past Member of the Board of Directors, Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge
  • Kean Miller Team Co-captain, Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area, Walk to Remember, 2007-2009
  • Volunteer, Kean Miller Dictionary Project
  • Volunteer, Easter Egg Hunt, Buchanan Elementary, 2006 to present; North Highland Elementary, 2006-2007, Baton Rouge Bar Association
  • Volunteer, Literacy Night, Buchanan Elementary, 2006-2007
Recognition
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Environmental Litigation, 2024
  • The National Black Lawyers “Top 100,” 2020
  • Fellow, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, American Bar Foundation, 2018
  • "Israel M. Augustine Award,” Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Greater Baton Rouge Chapter, 2016
  • “Rising Star,” Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2016
  • “Outstanding Young Lawyer of Louisiana,” Louisiana State Bar Association, 2014
  • “President's Award,” Baton Rouge Bar Association, 2013
Super Lawyers
SuperLawyers
Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity
Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity logo
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation logo