Top Environmental And Natural Resources Lawyers Near Me in New Orleans Area

With 15 years of in-house counsel experience, Director and Trading Counsel, Nicole Russell has proven expertise in crafting pragmatic and commercial legal solutions for clients.  Ms. Russell has represented in-house clients including energy trading companies, utility holding companies, supply trading organizations, an international conglomerate trading business and an investment bank.  With this experience has come a deep understanding of the differing commercial and legal needs of many different commodity market participants.  Ms. Russell was the divisional General Counsel and Global Compliance Officer for an international trading company and brings an integrated company-wide approach to her advisement taking into account financing and corporate governance considerations.. Ms. Russell has been an active participant in industry working groups including ISDA, LEAP, EEI and NAESB.  She is an active participant on International Energy Credit Association working groups and committees.  Ms. Russell was a founding member of the Women’s Network for Energy, Environment and Transportation and a founding board member of the Chicago Chapter of the Women’s Energy Network.  Ms. Russell is the annual co-chair of the American Conference Institute’s Women Leaders in Energy and Environmental Law Conference.. An active speaker, Ms. Russell has provided training to the industry on Dodd Frank, practical compliance solutions for in-house counsel, FERC natural gas capacity release rules and master agreement negotiation.  She is a member of the New York, Georgia and Louisiana Bars.

Wesley Barr brings more than 15 years of litigation experience to his clients, offering skilled counsel in a range of high-stakes disputes. Serving individuals, businesses, pension systems, and charitable organizations, Mr. Barr is known for his effective advocacy in both federal and state courts, as well as arbitration forums nationwide. Notably, he has achieved seven- and eight-figure settlements by pursuing claims against major financial institutions following the 2008 crisis. Mr. Barr also represents clients in complex insurance litigation, including bad faith and underpayment claims related to hurricane, flood, and fire damages. His trial experience—including numerous jury verdicts—demonstrates both creativity and dedication to his clients’ best interests. Wesley holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida and an LL.M. from Tulane University Law School. Licensed in Louisiana, Florida, and Hawaii, he is active in professional organizations such as the Louisiana Association of Justice and has been recognized by Super Lawyers.

Patrick Talley practices primarily in the area of commercial litigation, with a focus on transportation, energy and environmental law. Mr. Talley has worked extensively within the railroad industry, and is well-known both regionally and nationwide in that area. He has successfully represented railroads, including three Class I and two Short Line railroads, in matters involving cargo and freight claims, derailments, crossing litigation, and employee personal injury and death (F.E.L.A.). He also represents the Association of American Railroads (AAR) in Louisiana and the Louisiana Railroad Association, and has served as a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel for more than a decade.  In the realm of energy and environmental law, Mr. Talley represents companies in toxic tort exposure claims, and in litigation related to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (N.O.R.M.), benzene and other chemical exposures, and environmental compliance matters. He also handles claims related to oilfield personal injury and death (Jones Act and Longshoremen's Claims). Before joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Talley practiced at Frilot L.L.C.

Lauren's practice primarily consists of environmental litigation, particularly oil and gas matters and NORM litigation. She is licensed in Texas, Louisiana and California and regularly practices in both state and federal court. Lauren is active in the ABA Section of Litigation and Section of Environmental, Energy, and Resources, as well as the Louisiana State Bar Association. She is a frequent volunteer for the Pro Bono Project of New Orleans. She is a member of the Krewe of Muses and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans.

Andrew Jacoby has spent the last ten years working with people and communities impacted by environmental and public health threats. Whether it is from landowners whose land is contaminated from oil and gas waste, or water contamination from a nearby gas station, or community groups who feel that the local or state government just isn’t doing its job to protect them, Mr. Jacoby has stepped up to help enforce rights built into the law. This includes oilfield contamination, leaking gas station storage tanks, hazardous contamination from dry cleaners. But it also includes where lawsuits to enforce the Public Records Requests to state agencies, and fights to require local governments to follow their own laws with respect to zoning and land use issues.. Mr. Jacoby has quickly become known as “rescue counsel” often being brought into existing litigation to minimize past defeats and provide clients with a fresh, aggressive, and skilled approach to their matter. Mr. Jacoby’s strengths include thorough research and plainly worded legal advice to the client. Mr. Jacoby serves as a volunteer board member of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, and volunteers with the GreenARMY. He writes legislation aimed to protect Louisiana’s most vulnerable communities, including those along the state’s “Cancer Alley,” the small towns along the Mississippi River which are burdened by industrial operations that often don’t comply with public health safeguard rules.. While in law school, and as a member of Tulane Law School’s “Katrina Class,” Mr. Jacoby won the Brian P. McSherry Award for the student demonstrating the greatest dedication to community service. He worked as a student attorney for Tulane’s Environmental Law Clinic, where he fought against landfill expansions, among other work. Mr. Jacoby occasionally testifies at hearings in Baton Rouge on problems related to abandoned oilfields, air pollution, water pollution, and other topics. He recently received the Profile in Courage Award from Concerned Citizens of St. Tammany Parish. Mr. Jacoby’s hobbies include softball playing and football watching.