Top best R Lawyers in ZIP 70130 | 1105 available

Developing a profound reputation in the Gulf Coast area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Jeffrey P. Berniard is an established and proven litigation entity. In working to defend the rights of hundreds of Louisiana and Texas residents against the unfair and illegitimate efforts of insurance companies, the Berniard Law Firm has been highly successful at getting clients the payments and claims they are entitled to. Employing a variety of tools and judicial approaches such as arbitration and expert testimony, we take every angle we can to guarantee that our clients receive the legal support that they deserve.. Established by Jeffrey Berniard, a native son to the Gulf Coast, the Berniard Law features employees from all across the United States that each bring a different expertise and experience to our litigation. Educated at McNeese State University and Loyola Law in New Orleans, Mr. Berniard is able to handle federal and state cases in courts across the South. For far-reaching jurisdictions, Mr. Berniard has highly qualified colleagues that are also capable of meeting your legal needs. As such, our firm is able to come to clients to bring them the legal assistance they need to keep insurance companies at bay with their low payouts and denied claims.. With a focus on storm damage and insurance litigation, the Berniard Law Firm also takes cases relating to serious injuries, medical malpractice and other disputes with insurance companies. Any Texas resident that feels they need legal support for a variety of reasons is encouraged to contact the Berniard Law Firm to speak with an attorney regarding what we can do for you.

David Saltaformaggio practices in the area of marine, energy, transportation and insurance law. His practice consists of defending vessel owners and operators from claims arising from personal injury and contract disputes. He has experience conducting shipboard investigations. Mr. Saltaformaggio also practices in the area of transportation litigation, with a focus on employee personal injury and death (F.E.L.A.). In addition, Mr. Saltaformaggio has experience in insurance coverage litigation across multiple lines of insurance, both marine insurance and commercial property and casualty insurance.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Saltaformaggio worked in the marine insurance and commercial insurance industry. As a Claims Manager for a Marine insurance underwriting service, he managed offshore marine hull and machinery and protection and indemnity claims, including both personal injury and property claims.

David Lawton practices in the area of admiralty and tort. He has extensive trial and appellate experience in various aspects of maritime law, including personal injury/death, maritime pollution, contract disputes, offshore rigs and vessels, and major casualties.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, he was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

David Korn practices in the area of labor and employment. He represents private employers, insurance companies and governmental entities in all facets of labor and employment law throughout the Gulf South, with particular emphasis in Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Korn serves as lead trial counsel in cases brought under federal and state employment law statutes. He has handled issues brought under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act as well as discrimination claims and tort-based breach of contract claims asserted under state laws. He has also resolved over 100 claims through alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. At the administrative level, Mr. Korn has represented employers who are faced with charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program, the National Labor Relations Board, the Texas Commission on Human Rights, the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights and the Department of Labor. He regularly gives training seminars and presentations on how employers can prevent charges from being filed and how to defend against them when they are received. Mr. Korn is also an active speaker on a wide range of employment law topics, has served as an adjunct professor to Tulane University Law School and the University of New Orleans and been honored to serve as a guest lecturer through the Fulbright Program teaching students in an international forum about how cases are litigated in the United States.

Dan Pancamo is counsel in the business group in the New Orleans office. He has an electric public utility regulatory practice, representing clients in matters primarily before the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Mr. Pancamo also has a business and commercial transactional practice, representing clients in: (i) commercial real estate matters, including property development, finance, leasing, and acquisitions and sales for a range of projects, including office, retail, commercial and industrial properties and hospital and healthcare facilities; (ii) construction matters, including drafting and negotiating owner-contractor agreements (including EPC agreements and design-build agreements), agreements for architectural, engineering and other professional services, and construction finance documents (including construction loan agreements) for a range of projects, including power plant construction, hospital and healthcare facility construction, and hotel and apartment complex construction; and (iii) commercial contract matters, including procurement contracts and natural gas supply and transportation agreements.

Dan Foley has been crafting winning Maritime and Offshore Accident cases for over 40 years. His meticulous preparation and thorough knowledge of the maritime industry make him an attorney that few opponents wish to tangle with. Other law firms regularly refer some of their toughest maritime cases to him for litigation.. Dan regularly sees the devastating physical and mental consequences to accident victims brought about by an industry that sees injured workers as little more than broken parts to be replaced as quickly and cheaply as possible. The severe pain, helplessness and depression suffered by seriously injured workers can tear families apart, even as employers routinely second guess their actions in order to win lawsuits.. Dan provides a high level of contact with his clients, regularly giving them clear updates on the progress of their case in this highly demanding and technical area of litigation. He builds winning cases designed to provide not only medical treatment and financial security for injured workers and their families, but also the vindication that his clients need in order to resume a normal life.. If you or a loved one has suffered injury because of the negligence of others, contact Dan now for a Free Case Evaluation.

Construction projects can be complex, expensive and stressful, so I lend my knowledge to many insurance companies, corporations and self-insured companies in areas including:. While my role is primarily in construction, I also maintain a diverse practice, which includes workers' compensation litigation, redhibition, commercial litigation, general civil litigation, premises liability, unfair trade practices and products liability.

Commercial Litigation. The Moeller Firm has substantial experience and a track record of success in both full scale litigation and favorable early resolution of a wide variety of commercial and business disputes. We regularly handle commercial and business disputes in both state and federal courts as well as in numerous alternative dispute resolution forums. The firm represents both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, corporate governance disputes, business torts, unfair trade practices, successor liability and fraud. We view ourselves as a strategic partner to our clients rather than mere litigators. In this role, we seek to offer the best counsel and guidance suited to each client’s goals in a wide spectrum of matters.. Construction Litigation. Since its inception, The Moeller Firm has served clients involved in all aspects of construction litigation. Our experience includes the representation of owners, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in a variety of land based and marine construction disputes including residential and commercial and multi-family/mixed use projects as well as marine construction companies in vessel construction disputes. The firm represents clients in construction actions involving defective workmanship, delay, suspension of work, coordination and interference, defective specifications, acceleration, and other performance, pricing, and scheduling disputes, non-payment and breach of contract. The firm is also well-versed in analyzing specialized issues that commonly arise in construction disputes, including insurance coverage, indemnification and additional insured matters.

Colin Cambre practices in the area of admiralty law. He specializes in the areas of maritime personal injury defense and litigation, Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims, and maritime collision and property damage defense and litigation. He has experience conducting shipboard investigations for vessel collisions, personal injury and cargo damage. Mr. Cambre has represented clients in state and federal courts in all aspects of litigation. He has handled numerous cases through mediation and court sponsored settlement conferences.

Christopher focuses on several practice areas including marine insurance coverage; bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; and oil and gas.. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Christopher graduated in 1994 from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. He received a B.A. with a double major in Politics and Religion. In December 1997, Christopher received a J.D. from Loyola University, New Orleans School of Law as well as an M.A. in Religious Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans. Prior to admission to the bar, Christopher clerked in the New Orleans office of the Office of the United States Trustee, Region V.. Since admission to the bar in 1998, Christopher has almost continuously acted as counsel for debtors, creditors, and creditor committees in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, including as counsel for the debtors in some of the largest bankruptcy cases filed in the Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana as well as in the Southern District of Alabama. Christopher has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending avoidance actions and other litigation before bankruptcy courts.. Christopher concentrates his practice on representation of debtors, creditors, and creditor committees in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization cases, creditors in Chapter 7 and 13 cases, and creditors and defendants in all aspects of prosecution and defense of claims before bankruptcy courts and in related litigation before federal district courts. He also represents clients in other commercial litigation matters.

Chris Bynog practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance, with a focus on counseling insurance companies on complex coverage issues in areas including pollution and health hazard, construction defect, auto and garage liabilities, and professional services. As national coverage counsel for a crane insurance program, Mr. Bynog is experienced in dealing with additional insured and contractual indemnity issues, as well as OCIPs and other construction industry insurance-related issues. He has also taught classes on coverage issues to clients’ claims representatives in these areas.

Charles Lavis is the founder and managing shareholder of Lavis Law Firm, aplc.  He was born in New Orleans in 1965 and has practiced law there since 1995.. Practice Areas:  Throughout his legal career, Charles has represented workers, consumers, homeowners, and business owners against insurance companies and corporations.  He represents clients in matters involving Job Injuries, Accidents, Products Liability, Hurricane Insurance Claims, Personal Injury, Premises Liability, Wrongful Death and Survival Actions, and Insurance Bad Faith.. Education:  In 1987, Charles graduated from South-ern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where he earned a Bachelors in Business Administration.  In 1994, he received his law degree from Loyola Univer-sity New Orleans.. Court Admissions & Professional Memberships:  Charles is admitted to practice before all Federal and State Courts in Louisiana, including the Louisiana Supreme Court.  He is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, Louisiana Association for Justice, The American Association for Justice and the Workers Injury & Advocacy Group.. Special Skills & Training:  Charles has been named an Advocate by the American Association for Justice National College of Advocacy.  He has received a diploma in Trial Advocacy Skills from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and has graduated from courses in the Essentials of Civil Litiga-tion (Reno, Nevada) and Deposition College (New Orleans, Louisiana).. Civic Memberships:  Charles belongs to the Better Business Bureau and the United Policyholders.. Hobbies & Interests:  When he is not working, Charles enjoys fishing, grilling and spending time with his wife and his two young children.

Céleste focuses on several insurance coverage practice areas including third-party insurance coverage, general liability, environmental and toxic tort liability coverage, and marine insurance coverage.. Céleste represents insurers in connection with insurance coverage and bad faith disputes involving a variety of matters including environmental and latent injury claims, business torts, and labor- and employment-related claims. In addition, she has significant experience representing insurers as direct action defendants in litigation in Louisiana.. Céleste graduated from Tulane University Law School in 1994. During law school, she served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Judge Veronica Wicker at the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. Prior to joining Lugenbuhl, Celeste served as a staff attorney for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

Cele Gordon practices in the area of health care law. She has significant experience in matters relating to federal and state regulation of health care providers, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, fraud and abuse, compliance programs, hospital/physician financial arrangements and joint ventures, Louisiana Hospital Service District laws, licensure and accreditation, drafting and negotiation of contracts, medical staff issues, risk management, PACE, HIPAA and EMTALA. Her clients include hospitals, hospital service districts, physicians, physician group practices, ambulatory surgery centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, IDTFs, imaging centers, health care clinics, FQHCs, physical therapy practices and pharmacies. Ms. Gordon has provided legal representation as part-time in-house counsel for a major teaching hospital. Prior to law school, she spent several years working as a clinical assistant for physicians in group practice, hospital and clinic settings.

Catherine Cranfield practices in the area of labor and employment law.

Carlos A. Zelaya, II received his law degree from American University’s Washington College of Law in 1992. Upon graduation, Carlos began practicing appellate advocacy in Washington, D.C. He soon returned to his native Louisiana and practiced in a high-volume civil litigation firm representing clients in automobile and truck accident cases, oyster-lease damage claims, asbestos and toxic chemical exposure cases, and industrial noise-induced hearing loss claims. His practice areas later expanded to include complex litigation involving toxic torts, environmental contamination, constitutional takings, commercial disputes, and bad faith insurance claims. Carlos has since successfully represented clients through trials and appeals in state and federal courts.

Calling on over 35 years of experience, my practice includes insurance defense and general litigation in the areas of products liability, toxic torts and maritime personal injury. I defend clients in toxic tort cases involving long-term latent disease, personal injury and death claims involving silicosis or asbestosis. I also have experience with asbestos property damage and building abatement claims. I also defend clients in products liability and maritime personal injury claims defense.

Bruce Schewe concentrates in arbitrations and trials, appellate matters, corporate and securities law, antitrust issues, business litigation and energy law.  During his more than 30 years of practice, he has tried/arbitrated to judgment/award more than 70 actions. A portion of his practice includes representing numerous broker dealers, registered representatives and claimants in arbitrations that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers) administers. Mr. Schewe additionally represents many broker dealers and registered representatives in audits that FINRA or the SEC conducts or in enforcement actions or inquiries that FINRA or the SEC initiates. He has served on numerous panels of arbitrators that adjudicated actions in FINRA’s system. He also represents a number of clients in the areas of real estate transactions, corporate matters, expropriation, antitrust, intellectual property and oil and gas. In 1978, Mr. Schewe received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in the United States Army reserves and the Louisiana Army National Guard until his discharge in 1983 (as a First Lieutenant).

Brandon Davis practices in the areas of labor and employment and business, employment-based and family-based immigration. His employment litigation practice includes representing employers in the defense of employment related claims, alleging retaliation, discrimination and workplace harassment under federal and state statutes. He also handles EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. As part of his immigration practice, Mr. Davis represents employers and individuals in a wide variety of immigration matters including civil and criminal worksite enforcement defense, visa petitions for employees, students, investors/traders, intracompany transfers, and family sponsored petitions. In this capacity, he has successfully represented employers and individuals in the following matters: I-9/E-verify Compliance, Labor Certification, H-1B visas, H-2B visas, Conrad 30 Waivers, J-1 visas, I-130 Applications, Consular processing, Lawful Permanent Resident applications and E-3 visas. In connection with his immigration practice, Mr. Davis has frequently worked in tandem with Phelps Dunbar’s white collar defense attorneys on immigration matters involving potential criminal exposure. These immigration matters have covered a wide variety of regulatory, investigatory, and judicial matters. As part of his administrative practice, he also provides on-site and off-site compliance training on immigration laws and training on best practices for compliance. Mr. Davis also offers advisory and consultation services to companies and institutions to assist them in complying with the complex immigration regulatory requirements of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Social Security Administration and Department of State.

Bob Barbier practices in the areas of admiralty and tort litigation. He has litigated cases in all areas of maritime law and non-maritime products liability law in Louisiana, Mississippi and the territory of Guam, and has handled numerous appeals in the Louisiana Court system and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. While he has litigated cases in all areas of maritime law, he generally represents owners, charterers, and/or underwriters in defense of personal injury claims, both blue and brown water, and cargo claims, as well as handling FD&D claims, ship construction disputes, Rule B attachments, dock damage, environmental, and Coast Guard matters.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, he was with Terriberry, Carroll & Yancey LLP law firm in New Orleans.

Bill Riviere practices in the areas of collision, maritime personal injury, terminal/installation damage, pollution, fire, salvage, maritime lien matters, oilfield indemnity and insurance coverage disputes, and appellate matters. He represents maritime employers, vessel owners, energy interests and their underwriters in personal injury defense litigation, including Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act claims, and represents vessel owners, operators, dock and terminal owners, and their underwriters in connection with collisions, allisions, wavewash/surge damage, groundings and salvage matters. He also represents general liability and marine underwriters with respect to coverage issues involving a broad range of marine, general liability and excess forms of coverage.. Mr. Riviere has attended numerous legal continuing education seminars focusing on civil litigation and the trial process, with a concentration primarily on admiralty matters. Included in this continuing training was a seminar presented at the United States Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point focusing on collision and fire at sea.

Benjamin focuses on several practice areas including bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions; litigation; and asset-based finance. After graduating from Louisiana State University in 2002, Benjamin earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School in 2005. During law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Alma Chasez, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2004-2005), and as a volunteer clerk for the Honorable Judge Sarah Vance, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2003).. Some of the Chapter 11 proceedings where Benjamin acted as debtor’s counsel include Gulf Fleet Holdings, Inc., East Cameron Partners, L.P., and Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co. He has also served as counsel for various official committees of unsecured creditors, including acting as lead counsel in the Chapter 11 cases of Whistler Energy II, LLC, Saratoga Resources, Inc., A&B Valve and Piping Systems, L.L.C., Graham Gulf, Inc., and Virgin Oil Company, Inc., and as special counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Trico Marine bankruptcy.. Benjamin has also actively participated in a number of merger and acquisition transactions pertaining to numerous businesses based in the Gulf Coast, with a focus upon representation of non-public buyers and sellers in equity and asset sales. Because of his experience in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, Benjamin has direct experience and knowledge regarding the purchase or sale of assets by distressed companies, including navigating the process while a buyer or seller is in bankruptcy.. In addition to his private practice, Benjamin regularly provides pro bono services for the Propeller Network, which efforts were recognized by the Louisiana State Bar Association in 2015 by his receipt of the Pro Bono Publico Award.  He has also been a member of the Intersession Faculty for Tulane Law School’s annual Civil Litigation Boot Camp since the program’s inception in 2012.. Benjamin is listed in the 2017 Chamber USA Guide as an Up and Coming practitioner in Bankruptcy/Restructuring, and has been recognized as a Super Lawyers' Rising Star (2014-2017) and a Top Lawyer by New Orleans Magazine in Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2014-2016). Benjamin also enjoys an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbel.

Benjamin "Ben" Schupp is a member in the firm's New Orleans office, where he focuses his practice on admiralty and maritime law. Ben has special experience in vessel financing, vessel charters, marine construction and maritime lien issues.. Business. Ben has represented numerous banks, vessels and rig owners worldwide in financing the purchase or construction of vessels and oil rigs. In connection with such representation, Ben has drafted numerous construction contracts, sale agreements, charters, ship mortgages as well as various loan and registration documentation. He has handled vessel registration in registries throughout the world. Ben has significant experience in MARAD Title XI financing and financing through the Export-Import Bank of the United States, as well as financing through banking and private equity channels.. Representative Transactions. Litigation. Ben has represented U.S. and international underwriters, brokers and businesses in a wide variety of maritime, energy, casualty and commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. He has also represented vessel and rig owners in maritime and oil and gas disputes, including several cases leading to important decisions in these fields by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ben has drafted countless insurance coverage opinions in both the maritime and non-maritime context.. Sample of Litigation Resulting In Published Opinions

Bart Bacigalupi practices in the areas of commercial finance, real estate, banking, leasing and other general business matters. Commercial finance transactions include vessel finance, real estate finance, interest rate hedge matters, and equipment and inventory finance, representing both borrowers and lenders. He also represents clients in drafting and negotiating of a wide variety of general business contracts, real estate lease and purchase documents, and organizational documents for a variety of entities.

Barbara Arras represents defendants in toxic tort litigation primarily involving pulmonary diseases allegedly caused by asbestos and other pulmonary irritants and hematopoietic diseases allegedly caused by benzene. She is responsible for the medical defense in each case. Specifically, she analyzes the facts to formulate a theory of defense and identifies the correct scientific discipline needed to advance that theory. She then identifies and retains the best expert in that discipline from her wide network of contacts, she deposes plaintiffs’ experts, defends defense experts at their depositions, prepares Motions to Exclude plaintiffs’ experts, and opposes plaintiffs’ Motions to Exclude defense experts. She also has considerable expertise in management of complex toxic tort litigation nationwide having spent nine years as in-house counsel with two Fortune 500 corporations.