Nicholas J. Wehlen

Nick Wehlen is licensed in Louisiana and Texas.  As co-chair of Stone Pigman’s Appellate Practice Group, he has over two decades of litigation experience and brings a strategic focus to appellate advocacy.  Nick regularly handles appellate matters in state and federal court, including briefing, oral argument, and state court writ applications.  Nick's appellate practice includes representation of clients before judgment is rendered and in connection with pre and post-trial filings, through which arguments are preserved and cases best positioned for success on appeal.

Nick has extensive experience in high-stakes commercial litigation, including cases involving unfair trade practices, breach of contract, and fraud claims. He has also represented professionals in licensing matters, defended malpractice cases, and advised on conflicts of interest and other ethical issues. Nick notably obtained a dismissal on summary judgment of a $100 million securities claim in federal court, and he was part of a post-trial and appellate team that secured the vacatur of a damages award in excess of $120 million.  He also has significant construction litigation experience. 

Nick is an active member of the legal community.  He currently serves on the New Orleans Bar Association's Board of Directors and is a Member of the Local Rules Committee for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  He has been named as a Louisiana Super Lawyer since 2020 and recognized by other publications, including Best Lawyers in America, Chambers and Partners, and New Orleans Magazine.

Represented prevailing party as appellate counsel in Douglas v. Pathway Management of Louisiana, LLC, --- So. 3d ---, 2025 WL 1062631 (La. App. 2 Cir. 2025).

Represented prevailing party as appellate counsel in ETC Tiger Pipeline, LLC v. DT Midstream, Inc., 384 So.3d 458 (La. App. 2 Cir. 2024).

Represented prevailing party as appellate counsel in Williams v. Homeland Ins. Co. of New York, 18 F.4th 806 (5th Cir. 2021).

Secured dismissal on the pleadings of a claim against the Louisiana Department of Economic Development through a supervisory writ application filed in the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal.

Representation of law firm in fee dispute on appeal before the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Representation of nursing home defendant as post-trial and appellate counsel.

Representation of a major manufacturer of computer equipment in a breach of contract/unfair trade practices action where the plaintiff alleged in excess of $1 billion in damages plus punitive damages. Case filed in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana.

Successfully defended arbitration claims against managers and members of a Louisiana LLC.

Successfully represented a bank in litigating bad faith claims against an insurance company that declined to defend covered claims.

Successfully represented a bank in defending numerous cases arising from a ponzi scheme operated by an unaffiliated third party.

Representation of parties to construction and lien matters, including construction companies and public entities.

• New Orleans Bar Association Board of Directors member.

• Local Rules Committee for the Eastern District of Louisiana member.

• Bar Association of The Fifth Federal Circuit member
• Louisiana State Bar Association member.

• Best Lawyers in America 2021 - 2026.
  • "Lawyer of the Year" New Orleans for Litigation - Securities 2025.
• Chambers and Partners 2024 and 2025.
• Louisiana Super Lawyers 2020 - 2025.
  • Rising Star 2012 - 2018.
• New Orleans Magazine "Top Lawyer" 2013 - 2024.
• New Orleans CityBusiness 2025 Leadership in Law honoree.

"Expert Witnesses Staying in their Lane as the World and Generative AI Evolve," Forensic Expert Witness Association's 2025 National Expert Witness Conference, 2025.

"The Appellate Era: Be a Better Briefer," New Orleans Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 2025.

"When Experts Step Over the Ethical Line in Litigation & Arbitration," American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, 2025.

"The Power of Professionalism: Wisdom from Wittmann," New Orleans Bar Association, 2024.

"A discussion of recent damages jurisprudence," New Orleans Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 2024.

"Writ Practice," New Orleans Bar Association, 2022.

"Standards of Review," Louisiana State Bar Association's Advanced Appellate Practice Seminar, 2022.

"Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation," American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, 2015.

"Employment Issues and Non-compete Agreements," Louisiana Pest Management Association Summer Convention, 2014.

• Co-Author, "Securities Arbitration Law," chapter in Recent Developments in Business and Corporate Litigation, published annually by the American Bar Association, 2015-2018.
• "Unscheduled Debtor Assets:  A Risk to Purchasers in Good Faith?" American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, RPTE eReport, June 15, 2010.
• Arbitration: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, ABA Business Law Section, 2005 Spring Meeting.