Delise and Hall: Admiralty Attorneys - New Orleans, Louisiana Law 4 Seamen

Meet The Crew

Bobby J. Delise

Bobby J. Delise,


attorney, is a native of New Orleans and founding partner of the firm. Mr. Delise's primary area of expertise is the representation of professional mariners throughout the world. Mr. Delise has represented commercial divers, merchant seamen, oilfield workers and professional fisherment since 1979 in numerous Federal Courts throughout the United States.

A son of a merchant seaman Mr. Delise received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Loyola University School of Law in 1979, a Master of Laws (LLM) from Tulane University School of Law in 1990 and his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University in 1976. Mr. Delise holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest (AV) rating. Mr. Delise was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar Association in 1979 and the Texas State Bar and Colorado State Bar Associations in 1998. He has been admitted pro hac vice in numerous Federal and State Courts all throughout the United States. Mr. Delise holds membership in the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, The Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association and The Federal Bar Association. He sits on the faculty of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society where he lectures on Diving Law and legal issues related to hyperbaric medicine.

He has been visiting skills professor at Loyola Law School teaching law students Negotiations, Trial Techniques and Motion Practice since 1990. He has lectured on Diving Law and safety within the commercial diving community at several of the leading commercial diving schools throughout the United States.

Mr. Delise is a past Chairman and Co-chairman of the Professionalism and Quality of Life Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association and lectures extensively on Professionalism and Ethics within in the legal profession. In 2006 Mr. Delise earned the Louisiana State Bar Association’s President’s Award for his efforts to promote professionalism in the law as well as his contributions to the Bar and the public following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Mr. Delise can be contacted bdelise@dahlaw.com



Alton J. Hall, Jr.

Alton J. Hall, Jr.,


is a native of Natchez, Mississippi. He and his wife Carmen reside in Covington, Louisiana, where they maintain a small thoroughbred farm. Mr. Hall earned his Bachelor of Science from Mississippi State University in 1986 where he was a President’s Scholar. He earned a Juris Doctor in 1991 from Tulane University School of Law graduating Magna cum laude, was a member of the Order of the Coif, Moot Court, and was the recipient of the Dean’s Honor Medal and awards of excellence in admiralty, trial advocacy and federal procedure.

Upon graduation he accepted a position at Phelps Dunbar handling admiralty and maritime litigation matters. Upon leaving Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Hall assumed a full time faculty position with Tulane School of Law as one of two directors of Tulane’s Criminal Clinic where he taught classes in criminal advocacy and handled the representation of indigents. In this position Mr. Hall handled hundreds of criminal cases in matters ranging in diversity from simple assault to murder.

Mr. Hall joined Delise & Hall in 1994. His practice focuses on admiralty and maritime matters involving recreational, public safety, technical and commercial divers. He is also an expert in treasure/salvage law, charter party and ship collision litigation.

Mr. Hall’s diving related practice is nationwide and in addition to general bar memberships in Louisiana and Texas he has been admitted pro hac vice nationwide at both the state and federal level. He is also admitted before the United States Supreme Court, the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Federal Maritime Commission. Mr. Hall holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest (AV) rating.

Mr. Hall has been a PADI open water scuba instructor since 1984, with a Master Scuba Diver Trainer rating having provided instruction on every level of diving including numerous specialties. He is a certified NACD cavern instructor, a cave diver through NACD, GUE and NSS-CDS and a recipient of the Wakulla award, and holds additional certifications through IANTD. He has vast experience with mixed-gas diving, deep diving, cave exploration and wreck penetration. He is a FAA licensed private pilot, Ironman triathlete and avid hunter worldwide. He is the author of numerous published diving legal manuals and continuing legal education articles along with diving and hunting adventure articles.

Mr. Hall can be reached at ahall@dahlaw.com

Delise and Hall
New Orleans, Louisiana
Phone:(504) 836-8000 / (800) DIVER 55 (348-3755)