Georgina Noakes talks to Mary Hubbard, partner at New Orleans firm Fowler, Rodriguez & Chalos

EVERYONE has been influenced by events and experiences that have shaped how they think, work and live. Mary Hubbard is no exception.

"My grandfather was a principal in Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Co in Mobile, which was then a large shipbuilder," she says. "My father was in shipping, our family had friends who were respected maritime lawyers, and I also had friends whose fathers were shipping lawyers. So the field was not foreign to me, and I was not intimidated by it. As it has turned out, I could not have made a better choice. What I really love about this work is that it is different every day."

Mary grew up in Mobile. "As an undergraduate at the University of Alabama," she says, "I studied journalism, art history and political science. Then I got married and four years later our son was born. Two years after that, I was divorced."

"I had always thought about going to law school, and this seemed the right time as I was going to need to support myself and my child in the longer term."

"Everyone has obstacles to overcome, but I don't think it's productive to focus on them. I had a certain amount of determination but I also had great mentors."

Mary rattles off this information with hardly time to think about what this must have actually entailed as a single mother. "My son's third birthday was just after I started law school. Now he is grown and lives in Washington DC, where he works as a financial consultant."

In between those years, Mary joined Phelps Dunbar as an associate and went on to become the firm's first female partner in its maritime section. At Phelps, Mary met and worked with Toney Rodriguez, George Fowler and Winston Rice. George and Winston left Phelps in the mid-eighties to set up their own firm, to be joined in 1992 by Toney, Mary and the rest of their practice group. After Winston withdrew, the firm became Rodriguez Fowler.

On September 1 it became Fowler, Rodriguez & Chalos (FRC), when well-known New York maritime criminal defence lawyer Mike Chalos joined. "We are all very excited about the merger with the Chalos firm, and the expertise Michael brings to our group," says Mary.

What was it like to be an associate at Phelps? "It was a wonderful place to be as an associate in the early 80s," explains Mary. "We were trained by excellent lawyers, including John Sims, Barbee Winston, Bunky Healy and Jimmy Kemp, as well as the younger partners like Toney and George. We had a large volume of varied cases, so the work was hard but interesting and there was a lot of camaraderie among the associates."

In terms of mentors, who has influenced Mary the most? "Barbee Winston was fabulous," she says, "always willing to take time to help you understand things and improve your skills. I have tried to learn something from everyone with whom I have worked - opposing and referring lawyers, as well as those in my firm. But Barbee and Toney Rodriguez in particular have been great examples of dedication to knowledge and giving clients your absolute best efforts."

Were there obstacles to overcome in her achievements as a female in a male- dominated environment? "Everyone has obstacles to overcome," says Mary, "but I don't think it's productive to focus on them. I had a certain amount of determination, but I also had great mentors.

"Women have become more accepted in all areas of the maritime industry. As more women have taken on positions of responsibility in shipping and insurance companies, banks and P&I clubs, female lawyers have become not only accepted but valued. Also, the men in these industries - at least many of them - have come to realise that competence is not gender-based.

"I have had great opportunities and I appreciate the confidence shown in me by clients. The best thing about a maritime law practice is that you get to work with all kinds of interesting people."

Mary enjoys the challenge of litigation and could be described as 'formidable' in court. "But," she adds in her persuasive southern drawl, "one of the things I remember most about when I was a new lawyer was that there were people who had been practising a long time who were gracious to their opponents without compromising the position of their clients. And then there were other lawyers who were downright nasty . I have always tried to avoid that and, anyway, it often only ends up costing your client more money.

"I have been up against some of the most difficult lawyers in Louisiana, Texas and Alabama and have had to be tough. But there is no point in employing unnecessary tactics because all it does is make it more difficult to get to your ultimate goal, which is favorable resolution of the dispute.

"Two reasonable lawyers, who both know what they are doing, should not be that far apart in the evaluation of their respective cases. In most cases, they should be able to sit down and agree a solution in the best interests of their clients in order to avoid the unpredictability and cost of litigation. Of course, if favorable settlement cannot be achieved, I am determined and I do like to win. Any litigator who doesn't like to win is in the wrong profession. But you must consider the goals of your client."

Mary has enthusiasm in equal measure with her undoubted resilience. She obviously enjoys being a partner at a successful firm, which has grown from a New Orleans admiralty practice to become well known as a firm with expertise in international business and energy work. It is also a firm with offices throughout the Gulf region, and affiliate firms in South America. "Everyone works hard here. We admire and like each other, " says Mary. "I enjoy the teamwork. For instance, in casualty response, it can make your stomach churn, but it is immensely satisfying when the team can turn a chaotic situation into an organised operation."

And what of the future for maritime lawyers? Mary says, "The ISM code, despite the fact that it provides an opposing party with a road map of how your client operates, should have the effect of reducing casualties. But regulations and advances in technology cannot eliminate human error. The human factor can also give rise to commercial disputes. If people doing deals communicated well with each other, there would be fewer contractual disputes."

There is certainly plenty of work to keep maritime lawyers going. "There is a tremendous amount of traffic on the Mississippi and in the Gulf," says Mary, "and the Houston ship channel remains an admiralty lawyer's dream."

In summary, what does Mary love most about her job? Her response comes quick as a flash - "Winning".

And life outside work? "When is that?" Mary quips. "I love spending time with my son, gardening, cooking and casual entertaining, painting, playing bridge, reading, sailing, movies, music, I could go on. I just don't get to do enough of any of those things. But I love my work..

"I would like to achieve serenity one day, but then I would probably be bored. There is no secret ingredient to any success I've had - just a lot of hard work, determination and good fortune, coupled with self-belief, good fortune and a guardian angel sitting on my shoulder."

True, but we make our own luck.