Top best Civil Lawyers Near me in ZIP 70130

Nan Alessandra represents employers in both the public and private sectors in the defense of discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims for age, gender, disability, race, religion, national origin, and other protected categories. Her litigation experience includes the defense of EEOC and other administrative charges filed through the various federal and state court agencies, as well as defense of legal claims filed at both the judicial level, as well as through the arbitration process. She has also represented clients on a wide variety of human resource issues and compliance issues and assists in developing appropriate policies and procedures, as well as provide onsite training to management and personnel on both employment related topics and corporate compliance issues. Ms. Alessandra’s experience for clients involves many different industries including financial institutions, educational institutions, public agencies, manufacturing companies, chemical companies and healthcare organizations. Ms. Alessandra is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Panel of Neutrals for employment related matters in both arbitration and mediation. She has participated in a wide range of mediations and arbitrations as a mediator, arbitrator and advocate. As part of her mediation and arbitration experience, she has mediated and arbitrated a wide variety of cases in the labor and employment arenas, with both single and multi-party claimants/respondents. As part of her practice in the Employment and Labor arena, Ms. Alessandra has adjudicated cases at both the bench and jury trial levels. In this regard, Ms. Alessandra’s industry experience has varied dramatically and ranges in the gaming, restaurant, engineering, hospitality and academic areas in both the public and private sector. Ms. Alessandra has also represented executives in contractual disputes and has an active counseling/advisory practice involving all aspects of labor and employment in both federal and state administrative agencies, including defense of civil rights claims and constitutional challenges. Ms. Alessandra serves as the Practice Coordinator for the firm's Labor and Employment Group in New Orleans. Prior to going into private practice, Ms. Alessandra was a judicial law clerk upon graduation from law school and was judicial extern for a federal judge while she was in her last year of law school.

Michael Lane primarily handles construction and suretyship disputes, representing owners, developers, sureties, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.  Mr. Lane’s depth of experience in construction, insurance, and commercial disputes allows him to advise and represent clients on a wide range of legal matters.  He also has considerable experience representing insurers in coverage and defense of property damage and personal injury claims.  Mr. Lane is active with the ABA Forum on Construction Law and has authored several articles on construction law topics.  He has an undergraduate degree from LSU and a JD from Tulane University.

Kevin LaVie practices in the area of admiralty and tort. He has a very broad-based practice involving nearly all aspects of maritime law including personal injury and death claims; cargo damage claims; dock damage and collision claims; Limitation of Liability matters; charter party and related commercial disputes (including ship arrests and Rule B attachments); insurance coverage disputes; oilfield indemnity actions; pollution matters; and various Coast Guard and immigration matters. His practice covers both the offshore energy or “brownwater” industry and traditional “bluewater” shipping.. Litigation is a major focus of Mr. LaVie’s practice, and he has tried personal injury and death cases (including Jones Act and 905(b) cases) in all federal courts in Louisiana, many state courts, and in federal courts in other states on a pro hac vice basis. He has also tried a number of cargo damage claims. A sub–specialty of his litigation practice involves maritime products liability claims, including machinery and equipment failures. Due to the number of cases he has tried, Mr. LaVie has handled numerous appeals, including over two dozen appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. LaVie was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

Jay Sever is a partner in the Insurance and Reinsurance group of Phelps Dunbar. He is also the Practice Coordinator for the Insurance and Reinsurance group in the New Orleans office. He serves as local, regional and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving a wide variety of insurance coverage issues, including matters arising from bad faith, construction defects claims, third-party liability claims, first-party claims, professional liability claims, crane and rigging claims, racing and competitive sport claims, entertainment claims, transportation claims, environmental claims, general and toxic tort claims, advertising, copyright and trademark claims, media liability claims, multiple-year trigger and allocation issues, marine liability claims, Louisiana direct action claims and numerous others. In addition to handling cases in Louisiana and California courts in which he is admitted, Mr. Sever also has acted as lead counsel in cases pending in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Mr. Sever's practice, both litigation and counseling, involves attorneys from all of Phelps Dunbar's offices in the Gulf South and, where necessary, local counsel in states throughout the United States.. Mr. Sever serves as the Practice Coordinator for the Insurance and Reinsurance group in the New Orleans office.

In house counsel for a growing and innovative healthcare finance company.

In his more than 20 years practicing law, Mike has recovered awards of more than $300 million in settlements and in excess of $1 billion in jury verdicts for his clients.

I'm a construction lawyer defending clients in construction defect, design and professional liability, and third-party injury claims. I also handle general liability matters for local restaurants and department stores which include well-known regional restaurant chains with Louisiana locations, the nation's largest broad-line closeout retailer and one of the largest food retailers in America.

I have over 40 years experience as a civil litigator representing corporations and insurance companies in a wide variety of matters.  My main focus includes civil litigation defense; admiralty and maritime litigation; insurance defense litigation; insurance coverage; product liability litigation; class action and mass tort / disaster litigation.

I have developed a very diverse legal practice that encompasses all facets of civil litigation with an emphasis on both insurance defense and coverage work as well as domestic/family law.

I defend clients in complex litigation matters covering products liability, medical malpractice, transportation, and commercial litigation and frequently select appellate cases.

I defend clients against employment and constitutional claims. I am best known for litigation involving Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and Family Medical Leave Act, as well as general employment claims.

I am privileged to represent clients who share a desire to “get to the right result, quickly.”. “Unfortunately, an offshoot to Louisiana’s intertwined networks of transportation, tourism, and industry is a significant human cost. Whether it’s a trucking accident or a conventioneer failing to navigate a side-walk, severe injuries occur on a daily basis.” While most of my practice is dedicated to achieving the best-possible result for clients in litigation, I work with my clients in Louisiana and around the country to develop training and investigation protocols to reduce accidents and to effectively investigate the ones that happen. By developing claim and case-handling protocols, for example, I am able to significantly reduce a client’s exposure in high-value personal injury across multiple jurisdictions.

I am a passionate writer of state and federal appeal briefs with experience in alternative dispute resolution methods. I am certified by the American Arbitration Association as an arbitrator and mediator.. In my professional liability practice, I defend architects, engineers, lawyers and insurance agents against coverage disputes, malpractice, and construction claims.  I also have an active products liability practice.

I aim my career on trying all types of commercial matters before juries, judges and arbitration panels.  I have over 25 years of extensive experience defending insurance carriers and insurance guaranty associations in the areas of professional liability, employment law, securities and commodities fraud, and insurance.. I also defend life, health, disability, directors & officers, and errors & omissions claims for the insurance industry and malpractice suits for CPAs, attorneys, surveyors, appraisers and insurance agents.

Harry Rosenberg practices in the area of commercial litigation, concentrating in the areas of business torts, trial practice, civil rights, and white collar criminal law. Mr. Rosenberg is the regional practice coordinator of the firm’s commercial litigation practice. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar in 1974, Mr. Rosenberg served as a judicial clerk to The Honorable Jack M. Gordon, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. He also served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1990 through 1993.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Alicia M. Bendana practices bankruptcy law and commercial litigation. She has considerable and wide-ranging experience representing creditors, creditors’ committees, bankruptcy trustees, asset purchasers, and Chapter 7 and 11 debtors. Ms. Bendana has represented a variety of debtors in connection with bankruptcy proceedings and workout negotiations with creditors, taxing authorities, and other governmental agencies. In addition, she has represented creditors in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy proceedings with respect to the prosecution of claims and contract rights, the partitioning of marital property, the excepting of debts from discharge, the opposing of plans of reorganization, and the proposing of competing plans. Ms. Bendana has also represented bankruptcy trustees in connection with their administration of bankruptcy estates, including in actions seeking turnover of estate property, objections to proofs of claim, prosecution of debtors’ causes of action, prosecution of avoidance actions and objections to discharge.. In addition to her bankruptcy work, Ms. Bendana has extensive experience litigating a variety of commercial and business tort cases in both state and federal courts including disputes involving commercial fraud, racketeering, officer and director liability, professional malpractice, insurance coverage, a wide variety of contracts, and trusts and estates. She has also handled indigent consumer bankruptcy and criminal defense cases on a pro bono basis.. Ms. Bendana enjoys an “AV” Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards. She has authored numerous articles for professional publications and is a frequent lecturer at professional programs.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in Paducah and surrounding areas.