Please plan to join us on Friday, February 27th for a learning luncheon at the Petroleum Club.
Louisiana Oil & Gas Precedents: What Landmen Need to Know and How to Prepare for Litigation
Speakers: Jess Waltman and Ethan Zubic of Gordon Arata Law Firm
Gerald “Jess” Waltman III
Gerald “Jess” Waltman III joined Gordon Arata in 2023 and represents clients in banking, construction, energy, and other litigation matters. Prior to Gordon Arata, Jess litigated complex pharmaceutical and medical device cases.
Jess graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law and was awarded the Robert C. Khayat Award for Outstanding Service to the Mississippi Law Journal by his peers and the 2016 Outstanding Law Student Award by the faculty. While in law school, Jess served as president of the Student Bar Association, as the executive online editor and alumni coordinator of the Mississippi Law Journal, and as editor-in-chief of the UM Business Law Newsletter. He was also active with the School of Law’s Trial Advocacy Board, Dean’s Leadership Council, and Pro Bono Initiative, which allows practicing attorneys and law students to provide legal services to low-income individuals.
In 2013, Jess graduated from the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the Patterson School of Accountancy at the University of Mississippi. In his senior year, Jess was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi and the University of Mississippi Hall of Fame.
From 2022 to 2023, Jess served as the president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar, and he has served in leadership roles in multiple other organizations, including the New Orleans Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Mississippi Association for Justice, the University of Mississippi Alumni Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Human Rights Campaign.
In 2023, Jess was honored as one of the members of the “Top Forty Under Forty” class by the University of Mississippi Alumni Association and in the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2023 “Top Forty Under Forty” class. He was also named the 2023 New Lawyer of the Year by the Mississippi Association for Justice.
Ethan Zubic
Ethan Zubic is a seasoned commercial litigator who represents clients in a broad range of disputes, including real estate, land use and zoning, environmental matters, construction, contractual disputes, and business organization litigation. He also handles trust and estate issues, collection matters, and select commercial transactions.
Ethan began his career practicing admiralty and maritime law before shifting his practice to land-based litigation. With extensive experience in both Louisiana state and federal courts, he is known for his practical and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, his strong courtroom presence, and his ability to navigate clients through every phase of a dispute.
Ethan serves on the firm’s Associate Development & Recruitment Committee, where he mentors junior attorneys, and he is an active volunteer with the Pro Bono Project New Orleans. His litigation work has earned him recognition from The Best Lawyers in America and Louisiana Super Lawyers.