Attorney Blair Schilling

Practice Focus

Class Actions/Mass Actions/MDLs Environmental Governmental Securities Litigation Insurance Coverage Lender Liability Real Estate Litigation Securities and Antitrust

About

Blair Schilling represents clients in a wide range of commercial matters in federal and state court, with a concentration in environmental law.

“She is an excellent lawyer.” —Environment: Litigation Client, Chambers and Partners

Blair’s environmental practice spans coastal erosion and restoration, land contamination, land use, clean water, asset retirement, brownfield site cleanup and redevelopment, regulatory and permitting matters, and expropriation issues. In doing this work, Blair represents state government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies and individuals, including the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, the Natural Resource Defense Council, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Orleans Audubon Society, Pontchartrain Conservancy, Restore the Mississippi River Delta, and many private landowners. The goal of her environmental practice is to make Louisiana more resilient and encourage future sustainable economic growth in the region.

Blair represents landowners throughout Louisiana against some of the oil and gas industry’s largest operators for land loss, oilfield contamination, erosion, and groundwater contamination. Because the cases she handles are highly technical and require a great deal of scientific and operational understanding, Blair is known for immersing herself in the complicated aspects of these matters, as well as for her keen ability to steer her cases in a strategic and effective manner to achieve the overarching goal of the litigation.

Blair was a member of the five-day trial team in Vintage Assets Inc. v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C., a seminal coastal land loss case that secured injunctive relief requiring pipeline defendants to restore damaged wetlands and protect them from future erosion. Since then, Blair has represented landowners in similar cases across Louisiana, seeking restoration of land loss caused by pipeline canals. Recently, Blair filed suit on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to address damage to the nearly 34,000-acre Pointe aux Chenes Wildlife Management Area, seeking to hold pipeline companies accountable for failing to maintain and restore critical coastal wetlands.

Blair is an experienced mediator who was trained at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, an internationally recognized program at Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law. She earned a Sustainable Capitalism and ESG certificate from UC Berkeley School of Law’s Executive Education program, focusing on integrating environmental, social, and governance considerations into business and investment strategy.

Blair frequently shares her knowledge and experience. She was selected to present “Legal Ramifications Surrounding the Latest Scientific Evidence in Pipeline Canals and Land Loss” at the 2023 State of the Coast conference, the largest statewide forum on Louisiana’s coastal communities, environment, and economy. She is also committed to advancing female representation in the legal profession and her community. She participated in the Loyola University New Orleans Women’s Leadership Academy, which focuses on developing women leaders through education and mentorship.

Experience

Land Loss

In Vintage Assets Inc. v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C., et. al., No. 16-00713 (E.D. La.), following a 5-day trial against two pipeline companies for causing wide-spread erosion of plaintiff’s property, the trial team obtained favorable ruling of first impression ordering specific performance and restoration.

Legacy

In BCR Holdings v. Baby Oil, Inc., et al., No. 127030 (17th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Lafourche, Louisiana) (oil field contamination and illegal discharge case), the trial team obtained a favorable settlement for our client in a confidential amount.
Bowie Lumber Associates v. Anadarko OGC Company, et al., No. 134888 (17th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Lafourche, Louisiana)(multi-million dollar contamination case).
New 90, LLC, et al. v. Grigsby Petroleum, Inc., et al., No. 130528 (16th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Mary, Louisiana)(multi-million dollar contamination of groundwater case).
Bowie Lumber Associates v. White Oak Operating Company, LLC, et al., No. 129052 (17th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Lafourche, Louisiana)(multi-million dollar contamination case).

Professional Activities & Community Involvement

American Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division: Member, Disaster Legal Services Program (2023-2024); Vice-Chair, Environment, Energy & Resources Committee (2023-2024)
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Association for Women Attorneys – New Orleans Chapter: Member; Past President
Independent Women’s Organization of Greater New Orleans, Past Chair, Bylaws Committee
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Recognitions

Chambers USA: Band 2, Environment: Litigation, since 2021
Benchmark Litigation: "Future Star", 2026
Benchmark Litigation: 40 & Under List - South, 2022-2024
The Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law, since 2023
Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch, 2021-2022
Lawdragon: 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers, The Green 500, since 2023
Lawdragon: 500 X - The Next Generation, 2024 and 2025
Super Lawyers: Environmental Litigation, General Litigation, since 2024
Super Lawyers: Rising Star, Environmental Litigation, General Litigation, 2018-2023
New Orleans CityBusiness: Leadership in Law Honoree and Hall of Fame Member, 2023-2025
New Orleans Magazine: Top Women in Law, Environmental Law, 2019; 2024; 2025
Inside New Orleans: Readers' Favorite Elite Lawyers, Environmental Law, 2025
NAWL: Rising List, 2024
LSBA Young Lawyers Division: TOP 40 Awardee, 2023
Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent Rated

Media

Author, “Compelling an Out-of-State Defendant to Appear at Trial,” Louisiana Association for Justice, Louisiana Advocates, Sept. 2018.
Author, “Bundrick v. Anadarko Petroleum Company: Third Circuit Denies Certain Mineral Lessors the Right to Demand Restoration,” Louisiana Association for Justice, Louisiana Advocates, May 2016.

Moderator, “Charting New Waters: Women on the Frontlines of Coastal Law,” 30^th Annual Tulane Environmental Law and Policy Summit, March 29, 2025.
Speaker, “Mass Injunctions (with or without the class),” Louisiana State Bar Association Complex Litigation Symposium, Nov. 8, 2024.
Panelist, “Legal Ramifications Surrounding the Latest Scientific Evidence in Pipeline Canals and Land Loss,” State of the Coast Conference, May 31, 2023.
Panelist, “Litigation in the Coastal Zone”, 24^th Annual Tulane Environmental Law & Policy Summit, March 22, 2019.
Panelist, “Environmental Justice,” 24^th Annual Tulane Environmental Law & Policy Summit, March 22, 2019.
Panelist, “Coastal Remedies Post-SLFPAE: Private and Parish Litigation,” 23^rd Annual Tulane Environmental Law & Policy Summit, March 9, 2018.

Credentials

J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University College of Law, 2013
- Member of the Loyola Law Review
B.A. from the University of Kentucky, 2007

Louisiana
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit