Joseph G. “Joe” Kopfler is a Houma trial attorney who has practiced law in South Louisiana since 1977. One hundred percent of his practice is devoted to litigation, with a focus on maritime and offshore injuries, medical negligence, serious car and commercial truck crashes, industrial accidents and wrongful death. He works from the Kopfler & Hermann office at 306 Grinage Street in Houma.
Studies in physiology, anatomy, biochemistry and the related sciences give Joe an analytical edge in medical negligence, maritime and offshore litigation. In cases where medicine plays a central role, his understanding of “what doctors do and how they do it” helps him evaluate injuries, question medical evidence and explain complex damages in plain language.
The same approach carries into industrial and maritime cases, where understanding the mechanical, chemical and physical causes of an accident is often what separates a well-built case from a weak one.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Joe learned the value of hard work early, competing on the state championship track and field team at Baton Rouge High School. That mix of team and individual effort carried into his legal career, where preparation and teamwork both matter.
Joe earned a B.S. in Arts and Sciences from Louisiana State University in 1973 and his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 1977. Loyola’s litigation clinic gave him his first taste of the courtroom, and he has been a trial lawyer ever since.
Since 1977, Joe has represented oyster fishermen harmed by an oil spill, residents forced from their homes by a high-pressure gas explosion, and patients hurt by negligent medical care. In one case, his analysis of complex industrial conditions helped a client whose business was destroyed when a gasoline truck was filling an above-ground tank, and a jury held the fuel company responsible for mishandling its product.
In maritime cases, Joe has represented injured deckhands, floorhands, welders and other offshore and vessel workers, along with families affected by catastrophic industrial accidents. He also stays connected with trucking attorneys from across the country to compare notes on complex commercial truck cases, which often involve multiple companies, layers of insurance and federal safety rules.
Joe builds every case with trial in mind from the beginning, investigating early and preparing as if the case will be decided by a jury.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Outside the courtroom, Joe stays involved in the organizations that serve Houma and the surrounding parishes:
Joe and his wife, Pamela, celebrated 24 years of marriage in 2026, and he is the father of three adult children. He enjoys fishing, physical fitness and sports, and he can often be found cheering on the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. He and Pamela also enjoy South Louisiana’s music and arts, from New Orleans Concert Band performances at the Ogden Museum to the local restaurants and businesses that make the region home.
You can follow along with Joe and the firm on Instagram and Facebook.
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Louisiana, 1977
Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana
J.D. – 1977
Louisiana State University
B.S. – 1973
Major: Arts and Sciences
If you’ve been searching for a Houma maritime or personal injury attorney, you may have seen the name spelled “Kopler” — a common misspelling of Kopfler. The correct spelling is K-O-P-F-L-E-R, but Joseph “Joe” Kopfler answers to both. Whether you searched for “Joe Kopler,” “Kopler attorney Houma,” or “Kopler personal injury lawyer,” you’ve found the right firm. Kopfler & Hermann has been serving Houma since 1977 and welcomes you to call (985) 851-3311.
Joseph “Joe” Kopfler (sometimes searched as “Joe Kopler” or “Joseph Kopler”) concentrates his practice on maritime injury, offshore accidents, Jones Act claims, medical malpractice, and serious personal injury cases throughout South Louisiana. His background in physiology and biochemistry gives clients an edge in cases where medical knowledge is critical.
