He has an AV Preeminent rating by the national organization Martindale-Hubbell, which is determined by input from his peers and is the highest rating by the organization.
He is a member of the Louisiana 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association, the Louisiana 22nd Judicial District Court Inns of Court, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Kentucky Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.
He is also admitted to practice law in the State of Kentucky.
He is a past President of the University of New Orleans Alumni Association.
William J. Dutel received his high school education in New Orleans at De La Salle High School, earned his B.S. degree in accounting from the University of New Orleans and Juris Doctorate from Tulane University. While in school he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi Accounting Fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi Accounting Honorary Fraternity and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.
He has lived in Covington since 1987.
For the first nine years, he practiced law in the real estate closing and title insurance business as well as corporate and business litigation with his father, Louis G. Dutel, Jr. as Dutel & Dutel, a firm of eighteen attorneys in four offices. During that time he was managing partner. In 1985 he established his own firm, The Law Offices of William J. Dutel, APLC. In 1999 he became a partner in Dutel and Tranchina (later Dutel, Tranchina and Tomeny). In 2011 he formed Dutel Law Firm. He maintains an office in Mandeville.
Mr. Dutel lectures on continuing legal education matters to attorneys in the area of Wills, Trusts and Successions. Since 2010 his lectures have included:
In 2020:
- 2020-One of three judges who judged the American Bar Association-Law Student Division-National Litigation Finals
In 2019:
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish on the topic of “Probate Disputes and Litigation” as well as “Ethics”
- Estate Administration on the subjects of “Legal Ethics in Estate Administration” and “Estate and Trust Contests, Disputes, Challenges”
- Estate Administration on “Common Issues to be Prepared for in Litigation and Probate”
In 2018:
- Estate Planning and Administration: The Complete Guide in the areas of “Common Trust Structures and When They’re Used” and “Marshalling Assets and Dealing with Creditors”
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish on the subjects of “Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative in Probate” and “Litigating the Case in Probate Court”
- The Advanced Estate Planning Seminar on the topic “Ethics: Explaining Real World Scenarios”
- Probate Boot Camp on the subject of ‘Ethics in the Succession Process”
In 2017:
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish on the matters of “Understanding the Role of the Personal Representative in Probate” and “Administering the Estate Effectively”
- Successions – Estate Administration from Start to Finish – A Comprehensive, Step-By-Step Guide to the Estate Administration Process on the subjects “Handling Creditor Claims and Debt,” “Complex Issues In Estate Administration,” and “Handling Estate Administration Tax Issues”
In 2016:
- The Continuing Legal Education program on successions titled “Probate Boot Camp,”on the topics “Educating the Personal Representative,” “Handling Debts and Creditor Claims” and “Probating Estates That Include a Business”
In 2015:
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish on the business of “Handling Debts and Creditor Claims, Litigating the Case in Probate Court, Putting the Case to Rest and Closing the Estate”
In 2013:
- Probate Boot Camp on the subject of “Handling Debts and Creditor Claims, Probate Litigation and Closing the Estate”
In 2012:
- “Navigating the Trust Process from Start to Finish – Essential Knowledge for Working with Trusts and Mechanics of Drafting and Executing Trusts.”
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish – Administering the Estate Effectively and Putting the Case to Rest and Closing the Estate”
In 2011:
- “Drafting and Administering Special Needs Trusts – Drafting Solid Supplemental Needs Trusts – Sample Trust Review and Analysis.”
In 2010:
- A national program on “Estate Planning: Conflicts of Law in Different Jurisdictions” and “Handling Common Trust Controversial Issue and Litigation in Louisiana”
Additional Accomplishments
- In 2019 he furthered his studies by attending the two day American Law Institute Seminar on “Estate Planning for the Family Business Owner” in Phoenix; which he also attended in 2014 in Boston.
- He has also lectured at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting.
- William J. Dutel served for many years as a Judge of the finals of the American Bar Association’s Law Student Division Moot Court Competition.
- He served for two years as the Assistant Secretary of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust section. He served on the Section’s Counsel for two years.
- He has been a delegate to the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates.
- Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
- Admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.
- Admitted to practice before the United States 5th and 11th Circuit Courts of Appeal.
- Admitted to practice before the United States Western and Middle District Courts in Louisiana.
- Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court and all other courts in the states of Louisiana and Kentucky.
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Business Law
- Wills, Trusts & Estates
- Probate
- Successions
- Probate and Successions Litigation
- Trust Litigation
- Real Estate and Title Litigation
- Interdictions
Memberships/Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Kentucky Bar Association
- Louisiana 22nd Judicial District Court Bar Association
- Louisiana 22nd Judicial District Inns of Court
Education
- De La Salle High School
- University of New Orleans
- Tulane University Law School