Paul Vance was born in Santa Monica, California in 1954. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California - Irvine in 1976. Paul graduated from Tulane University Law School, cum laude, in 1979 where he was also a member of the Tulane Moot Court Board.

Paul recently joined the firm in 2000 bringing to the firm a wealth of legal knowledge. His primary areas of practice include but are not limited to maritime, insurance and general casualty litigation. In connection with his maritime practice, Paul also defended the first persons in the country to be criminally charged with conspiracy to violate the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships.

Paul is a frequent speaker at legal seminars. He has spoken three times at the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute on topics involving legal ethics and criminal exposure of ship's operators, officers and crew, and has also spoken about EPA Enforcement Guidelines and the Elements of an Environmental Inspection at seminars sponsored by Executive Enterprises.

Currently, Paul is an active member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Maritime Law Association of the United States and the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and the United States Supreme Court.