Walter F. Becker, Jr.
Partner
Criminal and Civil Litigation, Louisiana & Texas
Walter F. Becker, Jr. leads the Criminal Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense Section at Chaffe McCall. With extensive experience as a trial lawyer, he adeptly manages criminal and select civil litigation matters. Walter represents individuals and companies facing federal or state criminal investigations or indictments, as well as those undergoing administrative investigations by state or federal agencies. Additionally, he supports corporations and non-profits through internal investigations and corporate compliance programs. Walter’s broad experience encompasses a diverse range of matters, consistently delivering effective representation for clients involved in various legal matters, including:
- Health Care Fraud
- Maritime Criminal Law
- Oilfield and Oil Platform Criminal Law
- Louisiana Motor Vehicle regulations
- Civil RICO
Before joining Chaffe McCall, Walter had a fourteen-year career as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Louisiana, where he served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division. During this time as a federal prosecutor, Walter also served as an Associate Independent Counsel in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish for four years. As a prosecutor, Walter tried over 100 jury trials.
Walter has served on the Lawyer Disciplinary Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. He currently serves as General Counsel for the New Orleans Office of Inspector General. In addition, he serves as a jury consultant, assisting other trial lawyers with jury research activities designed to identify winning trial themes and juror profiles.
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
- Speaker, Louisiana State Bar Association’s Annual White Collar Crime Symposium, “White Collar Law Update – Recent Developments and Trends,” New Orleans (2015 – 2023)
- Manslaughter Charges Against Corporations – Maritime Advocate Online (July 25, 2011)
- Recent Trends in Magic Pipe Cases – Maritime Advocate Online (December 9, 2008)
- How to Use a Jury Consultant – A Guide for Trial Attorneys – Louisiana Bar Journal (April/May 2003)
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Ranked in Chambers USA – Leading Attorney in Litigation Related to White Collar Crime and Government Investigations, 2023
- AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating in Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ® for Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Commercial Litigation, 2010- present
- Selected as a “Local Litigation Star” for White Collar Crime by Benchmark Litigation, 2019 – 2022
- Selected for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2007 -2023; and ranked among New Orleans Top 10 attorneys
- Named as a Top Lawyer in Criminal Defense: White-Collar by New Orleans Magazine, 2011 -2023
- Twice named as City Business Leadership in Law Honoree
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Federal Bar Association, Board of Directors, New Orleans Chapter (2011- 2012)
- Sugar Bowl Committee, Member (2004-Present), Executive Committee (2015-2019), Secretary (2020), Treasurer (2021), Vice President (2022-present), President-Elect (2023), President (2024)
- St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, Clerk of Session (2012)
- United States v. Jeff Dunlap – Lead defense counsel for a client indicted for conspiracy to commit a $23 million bank fraud in a federal investigation of First NBC bank failure in the Eastern District of Louisiana (2022).
- United States v. Skanska USA Civil Southeast Inc., et al – Member of a trial team in a civil federal judge trial (admiralty) relating to the client’s barge damaging the Pensacola Bay Bridge (2021)
- United States v. Dwight Alexander – Lead trial counsel in a federal jury trial of a client on drug, firearm, and structuring charges. (2019)
- United States v. Don Moss – Lead defense counsel in a successful defense of a contractor charged with felony offenses after an explosion on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. (2019)
- Lead defense counsel for the Board of a hospital in a criminal investigation by the St. Bernard Parish District Attorney. (2016)
- State of Louisiana v. Dennis Neville – Lead trial counsel in state judge trial of client charged with issuing worthless checks. Client found not guilty. (2016)
- United States v. Kurt E. Mix – Trial counsel in the federal jury trial of a BP engineer who was charged with felony offenses arising out of the Deepwater Horizon platform blowout and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (2015)
- Lead defense counsel for the Board of a railroad in criminal investigations by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and Orleans Parish District Attorney. (2010)
Key Matters
- United States v. Jeff Dunlap – Lead defense counsel for a client indicted for conspiracy to commit a $23 million bank fraud in a federal investigation of First NBC bank failure in the Eastern District of Louisiana (2022).
- United States v. Skanska USA Civil Southeast Inc., et al – Member of a trial team in a civil federal judge trial (admiralty) relating to the client’s barge damaging the Pensacola Bay Bridge (2021)
- United States v. Dwight Alexander – Lead trial counsel in a federal jury trial of a client on drug, firearm, and structuring charges. (2019)
- United States v. Don Moss – Lead defense counsel in a successful defense of a contractor charged with felony offenses after an explosion on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. (2019)
- Lead defense counsel for the Board of a hospital in a criminal investigation by the St. Bernard Parish District Attorney. (2016)
- State of Louisiana v. Dennis Neville – Lead trial counsel in state judge trial of client charged with issuing worthless checks. Client found not guilty. (2016)
- United States v. Kurt E. Mix – Trial counsel in the federal jury trial of a BP engineer who was charged with felony offenses arising out of the Deepwater Horizon platform blowout and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (2015)
- Lead defense counsel for the Board of a railroad in criminal investigations by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and Orleans Parish District Attorney. (2010)