
John W. Houghtaling
“There were people along the way that helped me,” says John W. Houghtaling. And according to the New Orleans-based attorney, “it’s now my honor to invest in the future and help children and students along in their journey.” John W. Houghtaling and the law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams have invested in the future in numerous ways including the fields of culinary and law.
“It was and is important to bring awareness to the culinary culture and talent of New Orleans,” explains John W. Houghtaling. John W. Houghtaling, managing partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, co-sponsored a fundraising dinner for Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation held last summer. The Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation, according to John W. Houghtaling, assists young chefs from America who are preparing for the biannual Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest held in France.
When Jerome Bocuse made contact with John W. Houghtaling seeking a way to support young chefs, the lawyer said yes to the opportunity. “Jerome had a desire to put a spotlight on New Orleans cuisine,” comments John W. Houghtaling. At the fundraising dinner, reports John W. Houghtaling, the all-star chefs executed six courses in under two hours. The fundraising occasion for Bocuse d’Or USA “raised $50,000.00 that championed American chefs and assisted in their culinary education” adds John W. Houghtaling. The law firm of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams was proud to participate,” notes John W. Houghtaling.
Continuing a commitment to the future, John W. Houghtaling and James Williams of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams recently made a contribution of $50,000.00 to Loyola Law School. “We gave the money to help build a new career services office,” states John W. Houghtaling. The new office, according John W. Houghtaling, can provide information concerning job placement following law school. “This office will help graduates begin and close the process of finding legal employment upon graduation,” adds John W. Houghtaling. “We have all been there, education loans coming due, wondering where we could find our first legal ‘gig’,” recalls John W. Houghtaling.
Upon receiving the donation, the law school chose to rename the office the Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams career services office. “We were humbled to have it renamed after the founder of this firm,” concludes John W. Houghtaling.
John W. Houghtaling is the Managing Partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams. For more information, visit the firm’s website online at http://ghwlegal.com.
About John W. Houghtaling
Loving the drama of the courtroom would lead John W. Houghtaling from modest means and background to managing partner and ownership of the prestigious Gauthier firm in New Orleans, now renamed Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams.
It was at Emory where John W. Houghtaling had first heard the name Wendell Gauthier. While at College his mother sent him a newspaper article about pending big tobacco litigation and the famed attorney, John W. Houghtaling would remember the name some time later. A fellow Loyola law school student was bragging about his work with the nationally known Gauthier firm. John W. Houghtaling pressed for details only to find that the classmate had done manual labor, not legal work. Yet the enterprising John W. Houghtaling saw a door of opportunity where most would have not, and took the next step.
Wearing a suit and tie and carrying his laptop, John W. Houghtaling reported to work at the Gauthier firm, moving boxes for $8.00 an hour. And though he was told he looked “silly” and that he should dress more appropriately for the job, John W. Houghtaling dressed for success – every day – to move boxes. One day, that dress-for-success mentality paid off when the legendary Wendell Gauthier was unsuccessfully looking for a lawyer to write a letter. John W. Houghtaling stepped up and offered his writing services. The rest is history.
Starting at 6 AM everyday and ending his day after everyone else had left the office, John W. Houghtaling, in the next step of his life as an attorney for the Gauthier firm, was a tireless worker. Passionate about his work and able to choose the cases in which he was interested, John W. Houghtaling began showing Wendell Gauthier and the other partners his value and keen legal mind. Yet something would happen that would devastate both the Gauthier firm – and John.
In 2001, after a brief battle with liver cancer, Wendell Gauthier died at the age of 58. The loss of his mentor precipitated the unseen next step for John W. Houghtaling. While the other partners of the Gauthier firm bickered over leadership roles, John W. Houghtaling continued his tireless work. Bringing in new clients, hiring his own staff from people who had been laid off by the stagnating Gauthier firm and even tapping the partnership of James Williams, John W. Houghtaling saw his next opportunity. With the blessing of the Gauthier family and enough money, clients and staff, John W. Houghtaling purchased the law firm in which just ten years earlier, he had carried books.
In 2005, at the age of 33, John W. Houghtaling became managing partner of Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams.





