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2017

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of New Orleans Generations of Leadership

Herman, Herman & Katz, LLC is proud and honored that two of our attorneys have been selected for recognition in CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law.

Congratulations are in order to Maury Herman and Steve Herman for being selected to the Leadership in Law Class of 2017.

Maury HerMan StepHen J. HerMan

Managing Partner of Operations–Brian Katz Managing Partner of Litigation–Stephen Herman

17-124-7_LeadershipInLaw.indd 1 5/1/17 3:27 PM 2017 INSIDE Magdalen Blessey Bickford .11 Joanne Mantis ...... 27 Mike Butterworth ...... 13 Conrad Meyer ...... 28 2017 Brad Cashio ...... 13 Kerry Miller...... 28 Louis Colletta ...... 14 Douglas Moore ...... 29 Kaye Courington ...... 14 Michael O’Brien ...... 30 Brandon Davis ...... J. Douglas Rhorer ...... 30 Kathleen Gasparian ...... 15 James Rogers III ...... 31 William Gaudet ...... 16 Kelly Titus Scalise ...... 31 Published by NOPG LLC 3445 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 901 • Metairie, LA 70002 sponsored by: Tabatha George ...... 17 Matthew Sherman ...... 32 of New Orleans Phone: 504.834.9292 1 Leadership in Law John Jerry Glas ...... 18 H. Bruce Shreves ...... 33 Publisher: Lisa Blossman Introduction ...... 4-5 Demarcus Gordon ...... 19 Mike Stag ...... 33 Editor: Natalie Chandler Past honorees ...... 6 Matthew Guy ...... 20 Susan Talley ...... 34 Managing Editor: Lance Traweek Lesli Harris ...... 20 April Watson ...... 35 COURT-ASSOCIATED Web Editor/Event Coordinator: Meghan Keen Lambert Hassinger Jr...... 21 Adam Zuckerman ...... 35 Lauren Anderson ...... 8 Miriam Wogan Henry .... 22 Special Publications Designer: Skye Pournazari IN-HOUSE COUNSEL EDUCATORS Maury Herman ...... 22 Account Executives: Liz Baldini, Susan Broussard ...... 36 Cassie Foreman, Coco Evans Judd, Becki Kondkar ...... 8 Stephen Herman ...... 23 Chelsea Brener Cusimano ...36 Monique Sullivan Katherine Mattes ...... 9 Megan Kiefer ...... 23 Karen Freese ...... 37 Market Researcher/Reporter: Valerie Huntley Monica Hof Wallace ...... 9 Allen Krouse III ...... 24 Megan Guy ...... 38 Photographer: Tracie Morris Schaefer William Langenstein III ...... 25 FIRM-ASSOCIATED Sarah Vandergriff ...... 38 Photo venue: Seaworthy Michael Balascio ...... 10 Rose McCabe LeBreton ...... 25 Tad Bartlett ...... 10 Georges Legrand ...... 26 J. Patrick Beauchamp .... 11 Luis Llamas ...... 26 Kelly Longwell ...... 27

PEOPLE FIRST Leadership In Law

Please join us in congratulating Michael J. O’Brien, 2017 Leadership in Law Honoree.

Michael joins David Halpern (2016), Brett Fenasci (2015), Chuck Talley (2014), Anthony Williams (2013), Stephen Hanemann (2012), Karen Shipman (2011), Brad Schlotterer (2010), Glenn Orgeron (2008), MICHAEL J. O’BRIEN Mike McGlone (2005), and Chris Dicharry (2005) 2017 Honoree as previous Kean Miller honorees.

People First

NEW ORLEANS | BATON ROUGE | SHREVEPORT LAKE CHARLES | KEANMILLER.COM

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 3 Top attorneys reveal PROVIDING RELIABLE AIR how profession CHARTER SERVICE SINCE 1982 has evolved The 13th edition of “Leadership in Law” stands as a record of local professionals who have distinguished themselves within the legal industry as well as the larger community. Honorees discuss their most challenging, memorable or rewarding cases as well as how they ended up in the legal profession. This year’s honorees say the new cases and the challenges they bring are reasons why the eld remains compelling to them after so many years of service. Their work encompasses a variety of commercial and public interests, and their expertise reveals how the legal industry has evolved just in the short time CityBusiness has recognized the top attorneys in the region. “Leadership in Law” identi es individuals in four categories: court-associated professionals, including judges, magistrates, clerks and support personnel; educators, both in the law school setting and professional realm; rm-associated, which includes attorneys, paralegals and other staff professionals; and in-house counsel, which includes full-time representation of for-pro t companies, nonpro ts and governmental entities. CityBusiness congratulates its 13th class of Leadership in Whatever your interest, air charter services, aircraft rentals, joy rides, a desire to learn to Law honorees, and we appreciate their willingness to share fly or promoting your business with aerial advertising. Air Reldan, anytime anywhere. their personal stories. 985.893.0096 | www.airreldan.com Editor Natalie Chandler can be reached at [email protected] or 293-9255.

Congratulations to McGlinchey Stafford’s 2017 Leadership in Law Honorees

McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to congratulate our colleagues, J. Patrick Beauchamp and Magdalen Blessey Bickford, for being named to the CityBusiness Leadership in Law Class of 2017. Their dedication to clients and the legal profession inspires us all.

Where Business & Law Intersect

Alabama California Florida Louisiana Mississippi New York Ohio Texas Washington, DC mcglinchey.com

THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT. Authorizing attorney: Richard A. Aguilar, New Orleans. McGlinchey Stafford PLLC in AL, FL, LA, MS, NY, OH, TX, and DC. McGlinchey Stafford LLP in CA.

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 4 Hall of Fame

The following honorees have been inducted into the Leadership in Law Hall of Fame. The entrance requirement is recognition in three LIL classes. Even though they are no longer eligible to be selected as honorees, their contributions to the profession and place in the community persist. 2017 2014 2010 Kaye Courington Kay Baxter Kim Boyle Susan Talley Joseph Bruno William Hines Russ Herman 2016 2009 Lawrence Chehardy 2013 John Houghtaling J. Kelly Duncan Christopher Mora Steve Lane Christopher Couch Robert Kerrigan Walter Leger Jr. Fredrick Preis Wayne Lee 2015 David Sherman Mark Cunningham James Williams 2012 Scott Wolfe Jr. Donna Klein Chris Ralston Ted LeClercq Scott Whittaker

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 5 Past Honorees 2016 Frank Lamothe III Peter Butler Deborah Villio Andrew Lee Duris Holmes Kathryn Caraway David Lawson Kaye Courington Irving Warshauer Ivan Lemelle John Houghtaling James Carroll COURT ASSOCIATED Frederic Theodore “Ted” Michelle Craig Jim Letten Chauntis Jenkins Charlie Cerise Kenneth Polite Jr. Le Clercq Mark Cunningham IN-HOUSE COUNSEL Marjorie McKeithen Robert Kerrigan Jr. Shaun Clarke John “Chip” Leyens Jr. Stevan Dittman Charles Booker Malcolm Meyer Keva Landrum-Johnson Philip deV. Claverie EDUCATORS Ryan McCabe Dana Douglas Jade Russell Lori Mince Walter Leger Jr. Miles Clements Mary Garvey Algero C. Lawrence Orlansky Dow Edwards Jeffrey Mitchell Lynn Luker Frank D’Amico Jr. Jane Johnson Elizabeth Peterson John Galloway 2011 Kim Moore Eve Masinter Nancy Scott Degan Stacy Seicshnaydre George Recile Charles Gay Bryce Murray Michael Mitchell John Duck Diana Velez Lee Reid Louis Gertler COURT ASSOCIATED Edward Poitevent Max Nathan Val Exnicios Leon “Trey” Reymond III Steven Griffith Robin Pittman Christopher Ralston Glenn Orgeron George Frilot III FIRM ASSOCIATED Josh Rubenstein Edward Harold Henry Sullivan Monica Sanchez Marshall Page John Galloway Kelly Brechtel Becker William “Bill” Schwartz Lesli Harris Bradley Schlotterer Erin Parkinson Covert Geary Kristin Beckman Patrick “Rick” Shelby Peck Hayne EDUCATORS Seth Schmeeckle Joseph Peiffer Russ Herman Ashley Belleau Mike Sherman Dominick Impastato Mark Davis Marta-Ann Schnabel Robert Perez John Houghtaling Bradley Belsome Benjamin Slater III Craig Isenberg Oliver Houck William Schwartz Fredrick Preis Jr. Grady Hurley James Carter Cynthia “Cindy” St. Amant Gladstone Jones Richard Simmons Deborah Rouen James Irwin Lawrence Chehardy Peter Strasser David Kelly FIRM ASSOCIATED Robert Steeg David Sherman Steven Lane Christopher Couch Mark Suprenant Robert Kerrigan Edward Arnold Charles Taylor Randall Smith Patricia LeBlanc Brandon Davis Scott Whittaker Patricia Krebs Brent Barriere Rykert Toledano Renee Smith Edward LeBreton III Johnny Domiano Stephen Kreller Regina Bartholomew Marie Williams Ray Steib Andrew Lee J. Kelly Duncan IN-HOUSE COUNSEL Leslie Lanusse Kay Baxter Rachel Wisdom Martin Stern Wayne Lee Timothy Falcon Donna Klein David Melancon Michael Brandner Patrick Talley Jon Leyens Jr. Wayne Fontana Deborah Schroeder Conrad Meyer Joseph Bruno Susan Talley Kelly Longwell Vic Franckiewicz Damian Yemma Kerry Miller Bob Burvant 2009 Patrick Vance John Manard Jr. James Garner Alysson Mills Carl Butler David Waguespack Robert Manard Meredith Grabill Randy Opotowsky Ray Cornelius Hirschel Abbott Joel Waltzer Joseph Marino III David Halpern 2014 Laura Plunkett Daniel Davillier Lawrence Abbott David Ware Robert McCalla Steven Hayes Fredrick Preis Edward Downing Jesse Adams George Wentz Jr. Corinne Morrison Aimee Hebert COURT ASSOCIATED Robert Rooth Brooke Duncan Paul Andersson Scott Whittaker Thomas O’Brien Douglas Holmes Kendall Green Harry Rosenberg Stephen Dwyer Jonathan Andry James Williams Paul Pastorek Patricia Krebs Stuart Smith Michael Ecuyer Mark Carver Scott Willis Lawrence Ponoroff Jim Letten EDUCATORS Peter Sperling William Forrester Robin Cheatham Brett Wise Fredrick Preis Jr. Lynn Luker Joel Wm. Friedman P.J. Stakelum Mike Gertler Christopher Couch Scott Wolfe Jr. Richard Richter Donald McKay Jr. David Meyer Sarah Stogner Joseph Giarrusso James Daigle Howard Shapiro Evans Martin “Marty” Brent Talbot Richard Goins Timothy Daniels Jack Stolier McLeod FIRM ASSOCIATED Robert Thibeaux Alida Hainkel J. Kelly Duncan 2007 Noel Vargas Jr. Richard Montgomery III Charles Abbott Peter Thomson Susan Henning Ernest Edwards Nelson Wagar III Carole Cukell Neff Aaron Ahlquist Todd Wallace Keith Jarrett Gene Fendler Robert “Bob” Angelico Kenneth Weiss Stewart Peck Gilbert “Gibby” Andry Anthony Williams James Klick Robert Fisher Mark Beebe David Willenzik Erin Pelleteri Phil Antis Amelia Koch Richard Foster Lucia Blacksher John Wilson Loulan Pitre Jr. Elisabeth Lorio Baer IN-HOUSE COUNSEL A.J. Krouse Gus Fritchie Kim Boyle Phillip Wittmann Stephen Pizzo Kay Baxter Alden Kellogg Terrence Lestelle Monica Ann Frois Peter Breslin Scott Wolfe Jr. Roy Rodney Jr. Walter Becker Kathryn Lichtenberg Paul Masinter Lawrence Hand Dana Douglas Robert Worley Jr. Richard Roth III David Bland Christopher Mora Carey Menasco Pauline Hardin Sandra Feingerts Elizabeth Roussel Doris Bobadilla Michael Mentz A.J. Herbert Janice Martin Foster David Salley Philip Brickman David O’Quinn William Hines Alan Goodman 2005 Scott Schneider Joseph Bruno 2012 Brian Quirk John Houghtaling Deborah Harkins Philip Sherman Jaye Calhoun Michael Riess Ralph Hubbard Peter Hilbert Jr. Donald Abaunza Robert Steeg Michael Conroy COURT ASSOCIATED Antonio Rodriguez Robert Johnston William Hines Robert Acomb Jr. Susan Talley Guy Curry Derwyn Bunton David Salley Howard Kaplan John Houghtaling Judy Barrasso Edward Trapolin Mickey deLaup Daniel Friel Michael Schneider Brian Katz William Howard III Hilton Bell Michael Walshe Jr. Nakisha Ervin-Knott Karen Roby Tim Scott Bob Kerrigan Ashlye Keaton Edward Benjamin Jr. Conlee Whiteley Joshua Force Phillip Shuler Roselyn Koretzky Steven Klein Virginia Boulet Asher Friend FIRM ASSOCIATED Karen Shipman Gerald Meunier Stephen Kupperman Kim Boyle IN-HOUSE COUNSEL Samantha Griffin Bill Aaron Lee Robert Stefani Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Robert Kutcher Alan Brackett Charles Emile “Peppi” John Hainkel III Adler Charles Stern Mora Steven Lane William Bradley Bruneau Jr. Russ Herman Morris Bart Margaret Sunkel William Patrick Wayne Lee James Brown Rosemarie Falcone Jack Jurgens James Carter Max Swetman Sharon Perlis Walter Leger Paula Brown Daniel Falstad Allan Kanner Pamela Carter Jack Truitt Kenneth Pickering Georges Legrand Joseph Bruno Scott Kiefer Lawrence Chehardy Jason Waguespack Loulan Pitre Julie Livaudais Peter Butler Sr. Paul Kitziger Justin Chopin William Wright Christopher Ralston David Lukinovich McChord Carrico 2015 Edwin Laizer Keith Colvin William Reinhardt Nancy Marshall Roy Cheatwood Kent Lambert Dalton Courson IN-HOUSE COUNSEL Jerome Reso Robert Mathis James Coleman COURT ASSOCIATED Frank Lamothe III Mark Cunningham Donna Klein Charles Rice Pam Metzger Keith Colvin Fredericka Wicker Chris Martin George Fagan Christopher Mora Tara Richard Carole Cukell Neff Howell Crosby Allen Miller William Finn Monica Sanchez Robert Nuzum Howard Daigle Jr. EDUCATORS John Pearce George Fowler Scott Schneider John Olinde Christopher Dicharry Janet Hoeffel Andrea Mahady Price George Freeman 2010 Danny Shaw Lawrence Orlansky Anthony DiLeo Elizabeth Grace Leon Rittenberg III Monica Frois David Sherman Allison Penzato Kelly Duncan Livingston de Calderon Joshua Rubenstein Kirk Gasperecz Neil Abramson Randye Snyder Keith Pyburn Jr. Ernest Edwards Jr. John Lovett Michael Schneider John Glas Paul Batiza Mark Spansel Harry Rosenberg Michael Ellis David Meyer Ron Sholes Jennifer Greene Christopher Beary James Swanson Dionne Rousseau Frank Fontenot Ronald Scalise Richard Simmons Jr. Stephen Hanemann Walter Becker Frank Tessier James Roussel George Fowler III Eric Simonson Christopher Kane Marcus Brown Tania Tetlow Kyle Schonekas James Garner FIRM ASSOCIATED John Sinnott Kenneth Klemm Stephen Bruno Derek Walker Paige Sensenbrenner William Grace Jr. Robin Penzato Arnold Kimberly Smith Harvey Koch Leon Cannizzaro Hal Welch David Sherman Mat Gray III Jamie Berger William Sommers Jr. Stephen Kreller David Carrigee James Williams Lloyd Shields Harry Hardin III Scott Bickford Lynn Swanson Martin Landrieu Richard Chopin Stuart Smith Russ Herman Len Brignac Charles “Chuck” Talley Ted Le Clercq Celeste Coco-Ewing Peter Sperling Bill Hines Lawrence Chehardy Dorothy Tarver Brian Lenard Stephen Conroy 2008 Marx Sterbcow John Houghtaling Kaye Courington Chris Teske Frank Liantonio James Conway Jeffrey Thomas Richard Ieyoub J. Dalton Courson Kelly Theard Timothy Madden Christopher Couch William Aaron Quentin Urquhart Jr. Donna Klein Richard Crisler Richard McCormack Meredith Cunningham Nan Alessandra Steve Usdin Roselyn Koretzky Mark Cunningham Jackie McCreary Rene Curry Gilbert Andry Laurie White Cheryl Kornick Bessie Antin Daschbach 2013 Robert McNeal Martha Curtis Raymond Areaux Constance Willems Steven Lane Crystal Domreis Mark Moreau Leonard Davis Peter Barbee Henri Wolbrette III Dwight LeBlanc Jr. Brett Fenasci COURT ASSOCIATED Dwight Paulsen Richard Exnicios Charles Branton Scott Wolfe Jr. Wayne Lee Timothy Francis Ernestine Gray Darleene Peters Delos Flint Kenny Charbonnet Jonathan McCall Asher Grant Nancy Konrad Minor Pipes Philip Franco William Credo Michael McGlone Michael Harowski Christopher Ralston Francine Giugno Taylor Darden 2006 Robert Mouton Jan Hayden EDUCATORS Kermit Roux Lambert Hassinger Christopher Davis Antonio Rodriguez Marshall Hevron Leslie Shoebotham Richard Stanley Jan Hayden Bobby Delise Marguerite Adams Dionne Rousseau Ben Janke FIRM ASSOCIATED Molly Steele Stephen Herman Richard Duplantier Nan Alessandra Leopold Sher Mark Jeanfreau Kay Baxter David Strauss Stephen Huber Leslie Ehret Thomas Beron Mark Surprenant Brian Katz Terrence Brennan Max Swetman Greg Johnson Richard Exnicios Carmelite Bertaut Robert Vosbein Byron Kitchens Terrel Broussard Daniel Tadros Henry King Tracey Flemings-Davillier Kim Boyle David Ware David Krebs Tracey Bryan Benjamin Varadi Ted Le Clercq Donna Fraiche Elwood Cahill Jr. Scott Whittaker

6 Leadership in Law Premium Sponsors

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The network has expanded from 200 members in 2009 to the thriving network that it is today. COURT ASSOCIATED Lauren Anderson As staff attorney for the Orleans young age. Anderson was able to get Public Defenders office, Lauren her help and the woman is now receiv- Anderson sees the human face of the ing treatment. criminal justice system. It motivates her Anderson is dismayed at the every day to help her clients overcome high incarceration rate per capita in the issues that entangle them in that Louisiana and feels the state uses it as system. a substitute for mental health and sub- A native of North Carolina, stance abuse treatment. Anderson enrolled at Tulane She is proud of a program she University in 2005 for undergradu- helped develop called Municipal Court ate studies two days before Hurricane at the Mission. The program took Katrina hit. court officials to homeless shelters and After graduation, while teaching at helped participants avoid jail by clear- an orphanage, another teacher and ing hundreds of warrants and fines at mentor suggested law school if she no cost to the city. really wanted to change something She relaxes from the daunting work- for marginalized communities. After load by being a barre instructor, teach- a clerkship at the Juvenile Public ing fitness classes and participating in a Defender’s office in Baton Rouge, she Mardi Gras dance troupe. was hooked. Anderson said she is a “lifer” at the “At the end of the day, I wanted to office, which typically sees a lot of law- find a job where I could help people no yer burnout and turnover. She wants to one else is willing to help,” she said. work to make the system better and she She details the case of a 70-year-old advises aspiring lawyers to find an area grandmother with multiple simple drug of the law that inspires them. She has offenses being threatened with 20 years found hers. in prison. Her turbulent history, which “My job is all about our clients and included family abandonment, rape giving them a voice,” she said. and sex trafficking, had started at a very — Leslie Quinn

EDUCATORS Becki Kondkar Seeing the effects of Hurricane Katrina sonally rewarding than the work I’ve had a deep and emotional impact on done for domestic violence survivors. For Becki Kondkar. Feeling compelled to anyone who cares deeply about social help New Orleans recover, she began justice issues, there is so much important assisting low-income families displaced work you can do as a lawyer.” after the storm. Some of her clients have made lasting Kondkar is now a professor at Tulane impressions, she said. University Law School and director of the “They are each, in their own way, Tulane Domestic Violence Clinic. After extraordinary,” she said. “They perse- attending law school at the University of vere under personal circumstances and North Carolina, Kondkar knew she want- indignities most of us would find diffi- ed to fight gender inequality. cult to imagine, and find ways to parent The avenue she chose was the difficult through abuse and keep their children road of combating domestic violence. safe. My clients don’t really need a hero - Kondkar worked as an attorney for a pri- they need meaningful access to the legal vate firm fighting for victims of domestic system, and that’s what I try to give them.” violence and child abuse. These cases When thinking of her biggest accomplish- spanned over 11 states, ranging from tri- ments, the first thing that comes to her als to appellate courts. mind is the students that she has educated. Along the way, she has trained a Many are now lawyers in the local commu- diverse range of professionals, from law- nity and around the country. yers and judges to advocate and social “Graduates have taken on jobs that workers, about the legal issues surround- include director of domestic violence ing family law courts. programs for the city of New Orleans, “I’m not sure I can say that I knew and head of a Department of Justice fund- what I was getting into when I chose a ed pilot project to reform the criminal career in law,” she said. “But now that justice system response to domestic vio- I am doing it, I can’t imagine having a lence,” she said. career that feels more meaningful or per- — James Sebastien 8 Leadership in Law EDUCATORS Katherine Mattes It’s well known that a criminal defendant Mattes moved to Louisiana with her has a right to an attorney. But that’s not true husband in 1995 and joined the Tulane for post-conviction hearings — considered a Law School faculty in 2002. She took critical stage of the prosecution — or under over the director’s role shortly after federal habeas corpus procedures, in which Hurricane Katrina. a federal court can review the legality of an With the New Orleans public defend- individual’s incarceration. ers office in disarray after the storm, That’s where Katherine Mattes comes in. the Tulane and Loyola law clinics were Mattes is senior professor of the practice and appointed to identify, locate and rep- director of the Tulane Criminal Law Clinic. resent the indigent criminal defendants Under Mattes’ supervision, Tulane who had been incarcerated at Orleans law students represent indigent crimi- Parish Prison at the time of the storm. nal defendants who wouldn’t otherwise There were 6,000-7,000 defendants, and have legal representation for these pro- only four lawyers. Many of these defen- ceedings. The students meet with the dants had been evacuated and sent to clients, file motions, make court appear- various correctional facilities throughout ances, write briefs and make arguments Louisiana and elsewhere. in front of the appellate and the Louisiana Although it can be demoralizing for Supreme Court with Mattes present. young lawyers to experience the flaws of Mattes is an expert on criminal justice the criminal justice system firsthand, Mattes and mental illness and was lead counsel in believes it’s her job to help them to hold on the landmark State v. Denson case, which to some of their idealism and to understand resulted in statewide changes to Louisiana’s that they can help things improve. treatment of mentally ill and criminal defen- Outside the realm of law, Mattes vol- dants who are incompetent to stand trial. unteers for Lost Lands Environmental The field of law has always been familiar Tours, giving kayak tours in the swamps to Mattes, whose father was also a public and focusing on the unique and threat- defender. She started her career working as ened wetlands of coastal Louisiana. a deputy public defender in San Diego. — Autumn Cafiero Giusti

EDUCATORS Monica Hof Wallace As the daughter of an attorney and In addition, she said, “I absolutely a school teacher, it makes sense that love the students at the law school, so I Monica Hof Wallace would end up as an feel like I have a whole other set of chil- attorney who teaches law. dren.” Her job as the Dean Marcel Garsaud Outside her job, she finds time to Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law at indulge her love of travel by taking her Loyola Law School allows her to meld family with her. the two. After a brief stint in banking Wallace reminds aspiring lawyers right out of college, law school beck- there’s a reason attorneys are called coun- oned. selors. It is a huge part of what they do. Practicing law has allowed her to par- She also teaches the importance of dis- ticipate in some memorable cases, like the agreeing with opposing counsel without one negotiating to bring the New Orleans being uncivil. Pelicans to the city from their initial home For the future, she plans a sabbatical in North Carolina. next year to finish her book, a treatise on “It was exciting because you could see Louisiana family law. She is responding the immediate impact it was having on to the call by the ABA for law schools the city ... realizing you were going to be to focus on learning outcomes for their a piece of that history,” Wallace said. students, including the mastery of skills She stills consults on private cases and like communication and creative prob- serves as an expert on Louisiana law in lem-solving. Wallace is working to her specialty, family law. expand the curriculum to include mock Her proudest accomplishment, client interviews, drafting pleadings and besides her children, is gaining tenure working in teams to negotiate a case set- in 2009 through hard work and with the tlement. constant challenge of balancing the many Future attorneys will learn the law, she roles she plays. Wallace is very involved said, but they will also learn the things to in the lives of her 13-year-old son and make them a better “counselor.” 10-year-old daughter. — Leslie Quinn New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 9 FIRM ASSOCIATED Michael Balascio When Michael Balascio graduat- fun and exciting to get into the court- ed from college, he joined Teach for room. I like the intellectual challenge America in Baltimore and worked as a and crafting the written product. I also middle school teacher. love working with the lawyers at this “I was 22 years old and immediately firm. They are skilled litigators and responsible for 120 students learning wonderful people.” every day, which was an eye-open- One highlight of his career, he said, ing experience,” he said. “I taught for was working in 2014 with founding three years before going to law school. member Stephen Kupperman on a case I wanted to advocate for clients and involving Common Core education communities on a broader scale, and I standards. They represented teachers, thought that a law practice might give parents and a charter school associa- me opportunities to do that.” tion in a lawsuit against the state gov- Balascio moved to New Orleans after ernment. law school to clerk for Federal District “We won an injunction against the Court Judge Lance Africk. After his governor and the state, preventing clerkship, he moved to New York and them from interfering with the imple- practiced securities law at Paul, Weiss, mentation of Common Core stan- Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. He dards,” he said. “The state’s actions moved back to New Orleans in 2010 had created confusion around the state. and joined Barrasso Usdin as an asso- Teachers didn’t know what standards ciate. He became a member of the firm they needed to teach to that year, and in 2015. as a former teacher, I knew only too His practice focuses on securities well what a problem this was.” litigation and arbitration, complex When he isn’t working, he enjoys commercial litigation and class action spending time with his family. He also defense. looks forward every year to running the “I knew coming out of law school I Crescent City Classic. wanted to be a litigator,” he said. “It’s — Kerry Duff

FIRM ASSOCIATED Tad Bartlett For the last four years, Tad Bartlett litigation groups, as well as briefing in the has worked on a high-profile case that he firm’s international arbitration practice. said is the reason he went to law school – He previously practiced for Liskow & it blends his love for both environmental Lewis; Krebs, Farley & Pelleteri and as a law and his love for Louisiana. solo appellate practitioner before joining Since July 2013, Bartlett, a member Jones Swanson in 2009. He is ranked of Jones, Swanson, Huddell & Garrison among the Louisiana Super Lawyers in LLC, has worked on behalf of the business litigation. Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection In 2007, Bartlett received the Authority-East to file suit against nearly Pro Bono Publico Award from the 100 oil, gas and pipeline companies to Louisiana State Bar Association and a hold them accountable for coastal land Distinguished Service Award from The loss. The lawsuit alleges that the com- Pro Bono Project for his work helping panies broke their obligations to restore families return to New Orleans after the land they worked on, contributing to Hurricane Katrina. Through more than Louisiana’s coastal land loss and in turn 700 hours of pro bono work in two years, making the state’s population more vul- Bartlett helped create a new nonprofit nerable to hurricanes. entity to manage funds from the country In March, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Qatar to spur a $3 million program of Appeals affirmed the district court’s of rebuilding close to 100 homes in the ruling dismissing the SLFPA-E’s lawsuit. Tremé/Lafitte neighborhood. Jones Swanson and co-counsel are cur- Bartlett is a founding member of rently pursuing review of that three-judge Peauxdunque Writers Alliance, which start- decision. ed in 2007 with 10 writers and has grown Bartlett practices in complex com- to 43 writers across six states. Bartlett’s mercial litigation, land damage litigation short stories and non-legal writings are pub- and appellate advocacy. He directs Jones lished online and in literary magazines in the Swanson’s appellate-related matters for U.S., Canada and Europe. both the commercial and environmental — Tommy Santora 10 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED J. Patrick Beauchamp McGlinchey Stafford partner J. Patrick Finance: Public Finance, and he has previ- “Pat” Beauchamp values the tangibility of ously been selected as a Top Rated Lawyer his law practice. in banking and finance by American “It is very rewarding to see the work Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell. that you take part in – driving by the build- Beauchamp considers one of the high ings and commercial projects that came to points of his career as serving as bond coun- fruition, and seeing families you help exe- sel in 1993 to the Jefferson Parish Home cute their dreams by buying homes, and Mortgage Authority for its $28 million the enthusiasm that comes from those trans- bond issue, which provided subsidized actions,” said Beauchamp, who has close loans to first-time homebuyers. to 40 years of practice in real estate, asset Beauchamp has also served for more finance and municipal finance law. than 10 years on the Louisiana Supreme Since beginning his practice in 1974 at Court Committee on Bar Admissions, act- Metairie real estate firm Mmahat, Gagliano, ing as examiner for property and family law Duffy & Giordano, and subsequently join- for eight years, as director of testing - crafting Phelps Dunbar before his current firm, ing and administering the Louisiana bar McGlinchey Stafford, Beauchamp has exam to prospective lawyers - and finally, as advised and represented clients in revolving chair of the committee. and term loan facilities, construction loans, In the community, Beauchamp is a for- syndicated loans, letter of credit facilities, mer board member of the Central Business restructurings and workouts. He also rep- District and has volunteered for vari- resents community development districts ous events through the American Heart and economic development districts in Association. real estate development and infrastructure When not practicing, Beauchamp is a col- finance, and advises institutional clients on lector of wine. His brother Brian introduced municipal finance matters including New him to the California wine industry in the Market Tax Credit transactions. 1970s while working as a part-time sales rep- Beauchamp is ranked by his peers and resentative for Paul Masson Vineyards. clients in Chambers USA in Banking & — Tommy Santora

FIRM ASSOCIATED Magdalen Blessey Bickford Magdalen Bickford remembers telling That is what she considers her biggest an aunt she wanted to be a lawyer when challenge as an attorney - using creativity she was just five years old. She never in cases when parties want to win uni- changed her mind. laterally. She is most proud of her chil- Born and raised in New Orleans, she dren, ages 21, 20 and 17, who all want finished her schooling at LSU and Loyola to follow in their mother’s footsteps as Law School. Her diverse career has put her attorneys. on all sides of labor and employment law, She advises them and all young law- which she feels makes her a better lawyer. yers to make the best grades possible in “I pride myself on looking at (these school, believing it gives the best options issues) from all three sides,” she said. and choices. Her most memorable case put her in “It may be a little trite, but it’s really the middle of the charter school unioniza- true,” she said. tion issue in New Orleans. Outside of work, Bickford sits on sev- “It’s something that is unfolding every eral boards and volunteers in the com- day. And I’ve been very fortunate to be a munity, particularly in the area of female part of the development of that local and elder care initiatives. On the fun side, she national discussion,” she said. participates in the all-female Krewe of She feels she is most comfortable and Nyx, centering around networking and effective on the management side of the the personal development of women. issue and is proud of the collective bar- She hopes to continue mentoring young gaining agreement she helped negotiate lawyers and helping to define and refine the for Benjamin Franklin High School. charter school unionization issue. “It maximized the needs for both the “Continuing to be a leader in that issue union and management side. It had creative is very important to me,” she said. ways of solving problems.” Bickford said. — Leslie Quinn New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 11 DEFENDING OUR FUTURE

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NewOrleansChamber.org FIRM ASSOCIATED Mike Butterworth Before law school, Phelps Dunbar part- Shipping Co. in Margate Shipping ner Mike Butterworth worked as a vessel Company v. JA Orgeron. The case midshipman officer and captain. He said involved a loaded oil tanker saving a strick- ever since he was a young man living on the en tug and barge carrying a Space Shuttle farm, but gravitating to “any activity on the fuel tank during Tropical Storm Gordon. water,” he felt destined to work in the mar- “In my profession, I am most proud of being a itime industry. partner for two preeminent maritime law firms But those plans changed a bit when he (Terriberry, Carroll & Yancey and Phelps met his wife of now 38 years – Marta Alicia Dunbar) with superb clients, and also teaching Medina. maritime law at Tulane as a pro bono adjunct “I fell in love, and that didn’t mix with professor for 15 years,” Butterworth said. me being out at sea nine months out of the Butterworth works pro bono for Mater year, so I swallowed the anchor and came Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, which ashore,” he said. “People told me that since includes the Mater Dolorosa Senior I like to talk a lot and socialize, I should be a Apartments. The apartments are part of the maritime lawyer.” Archdiocese of New Orleans’ Christopher So Butterworth did, and practicing for Homes elder care housing ministry. almost 30 years in maritime law, the former “Our team negotiated a 50-year ground vessel captain made a good career decision. lease extension which should enable our Butterworth practices in the areas of admi- ministry to continue long after we are ralty and tort litigation, mediation and arbi- gone,” Butterworth said. “Pro bono work tration. He is ranked among the top attor- makes me proud to be a lawyer.” neys in admiralty and maritime law in all of Butterworth is involved with the church the big three legal publications: Chambers choir and formerly taught Sunday School USA, Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best catechism and confirmation. He belongs Lawyers in America. to Knights of Columbus, helping at Lenten Butterworth was part of a legal team fish fries, parish fair and at the Oak Street that secured the largest voluntary salvage Po’boy Fest. award in history, representing Keystone — Tommy Santora

FIRM ASSOCIATED Brad Cashio Guided by his deep personal faith, attor- Having seen the troubles and hardships ney Brad Cashio has made it his life’s work that result when families aren’t prepared for to help people who are hurting and in need. vital life decisions, he started offering the “I consider my career an opportunity “Peace of Mind” package, which includes to help people when they need help the discounted services such as a living will, a last most,” said Cashio, a personal injury attor- will and testament and power of attorney. ney with Cashio Law Firm in Kenner. “Unfortunately, death comes quickly. And Cashio runs the firm with his father, when we’re not prepared for it, it can leave our whom he calls his inspiration in both life families in some real problems,” he said. and career. During most of his 14-year career, “I realized he’s the guy I wanted to be Cashio has led Bible studies at Orleans like,” Cashio said. “I saw not just his talent Parish Prison and throughout Jefferson and hard work, but that he really helps his Parish. He also volunteers with Junior clients in meaningful ways.” Achievement of Greater New Orleans to Cashio said he prefers personal injury help young people with financial literacy. work because he doesn’t like taking money These days, Cashio’s latest mission has from his clients’ pockets, and it’s one of the him heading to the Far East. He’s planning few areas where he can offer his services to move to China later this year to teach law with a contingency fee. and business after developing a passion for “I’m never asking my client to write me a the country. check, and that makes me happy,” he said. “I believe and hope that God is leading “I can reach anyone of any financial situa- me in a new direction and offering me a tion of any background.” new opportunity to use the law and my Although personal injury is what keeps knowledge to impact a new place,” he said. the lights on, the firm does a great deal of “We want to affect and help the world, and pro bono and discounted work that falls sometimes that means leaving my comfort- outside of that. able place and going to a new place. So, it’s “When people need help, we don’t like going to be an adventure.” PHOTO COURTESY BRAD CASHIO turning them away,” he said. — Autumn Cafiero Giusti New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 13 FIRM ASSOCIATED Louis Colletta Louis Colletta has always been inter- need help with,” he said. “I get to work ested in trains. He just never dreamed with some really good lawyers and my he would be representing railroads practice exposes me to opportunities during his career. to advise clients on contract disputes to The 47-year-old attorney has been personal injuries.” practicing for 17 years. He started his One of his most memorable cases career as a law clerk to Judge Gene was a products liability case where a Thibodeaux and then entered private young man died. What made it diffi- practice focusing on casualty litigation. cult, he said, was knowing the man’s He was a partner at Lemle & father. Kelleher before joining the Lake Other cases he considers memorable Charles Harbor and Terminal District, were first-party property damage cases where he was assistant executive that resulted from Hurricane Katrina counsel and director of security for and Chinese drywall cases. two years. Then he returned to New His most humbling experience, he Orleans and re-joined his old firm, said, was realizing he is not as smart as which was acquired in July 2016 by he thought he was. Akerman LLP. “It happens more frequently than I’d He is a partner in the firm and his like to admit, but I’m grateful for all the practice focus is civil defense with a con- intelligent and capable people I’ve had centration on transportation law. He the benefit of working with,” he said. represents Norfolk Southern Railway Colletta was appointed in 2015 to Company on matters such as personal serve four years as a hearing commit- injuries and crossing accidents. He also tee member on the Louisiana Attorney represents their interests on properties Disciplinary Board. Committee mem- they own, such as lease and property bers listen to appeals from clients of disputes and condemnation. lawyers seeking disciplinary action “I’m fortunate because the railroad against their attorneys. has a wide range of legal issues they — Kerry Duff

FIRM ASSOCIATED Kaye Courington Last September, Kaye Courington summer, Courington oversaw her firm’s presented at the Louisiana Association of relocation from renting at 650 Poydras St. Defense Counsel conference on how to to owning at 616 Girod St., in an 1800s- prioritize to-do lists to optimize a work-life era building that needed extensive renova- balance. tions. Hopefully, her audience took really Courington starts every day walking good notes. three loops around Audubon Park. Her The three-time CityBusiness group of walking friends got her even fur- “Leadership in Law” honoree is the CEO ther involved in something else – as a mem- and founding member of Courington ber of the Amelia EarHawts Cabin Krewe Kiefer & Sommers LLC. In addition – an all-female, marching krewe during to running the day-to-day operations Mardi Gras. of a 12-attorney and 30-staff law firm, Courington has practiced law for 30 Courington serves as the national coordi- years in toxic torts, workers’ compensa- nating counsel and helps oversee litigation tion, energy, transportation, admiralty and across the country in 29 states for one of maritime, insurance defense, products lia- the firm’s largest toxic tort shipyard clients. bility and casualty insurance. She has filed “Those personal and professional rela- amicus briefs on behalf of the Chamber tionships I have built over the 25 years rep- of Commerce of the United States of resenting that client have been very reward- America, American Insurance Association, ing,” she said. Property Casualty Insurers Association of Courington also is involved in the America, Coalition for Litigation Justice inaugural New Orleans Leukemia & and American Chemistry Council. Lymphoma Society’s “Woman of the Before deciding to attend law school, Year” fundraising competition, and serves Courington was an admissions counsel- on the Director’s Advisory Council of the or and acting director of admissions for Newcomb College Institute, an academic Dominican College. Following law school, center at Tulane University with a mis- she developed a niche in toxic tort law. sion to educate women for leadership. Last — Tommy Santora 14 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Brandon Davis When Brandon Davis made equity impacted by national immigration and partner at Phelps Dunbar, he considered trade policies.” it a career benchmark. A year later, how- Five years ago, the U.S. Department ever, he felt differently. of Labor issued a decision that stopped “I realized a year into it, I hadn’t ‘made the flow of foreign labor in Louisiana to it’ at all and was starting over in many harvest a wide variety of agricultural com- respects of my career,” he said. “It’s one modities. The state had $1 billion worth thing to become something, but it’s a of agricultural products that couldn’t be whole different ball of wax to actually be harvested and sold on the world market. something. When you’re an associate, Since Davis had practiced in this arena you work for everyone else. When you and developed expertise, he was retained become a law partner, you are respon- as counsel and prevailed in the case. sible for everything, so serious maturity “Agriculture touches multiple indus- takes place and continues to take place.” tries like employment, insurance, trans- Davis has been with Phelps Dunbar portation, trade, etc. – all existing and for 12 years. He clerked at the firm during emanating from a single farming opera- law school and then joined the practice tion,” he said. “When you are produc- full-time after graduating from Tulane ing something like sugar cane, it involves University Law School. His practice multiple businesses to produce one tea- focuses on labor law and his main concen- spoon of sugar for your table. It’s also tration is business immigration matters. highly regulated, so there’s a serious need “I help people that want to start busi- for immigration lawyers that understand nesses in the United States, or compa- the agri-business process.” nies that have international employees, Davis believes that new lawyers should which can be better utilized in the U.S.,” focus on providing quality service to cli- he said. “I also handle business aspects ents without regard to profit. Once you of agriculture. Agri-business is a bil- master the craft, everything else comes lion-dollar industry in Louisiana and it later, he said. relies heavily on foreign labor. It’s heavily — Kerry Duff

FIRM ASSOCIATED Kathleen Gasparian Kathleen Gasparian knew even when every aspect of immigration law and pol- she was in law school that she wanted icy, a field that intersects daily with inter- to focus on immigration law upon grad- national policy and national politics. uation. “I represent people who are in But the roots of her interest may go removal proceedings, those who are back farther than that. fighting to stay in the U.S.,” she said. “My grandfather came to the U.S. “I also represent businesses that want to from Armenia, fleeing the massacres bring employees to the U.S., as well as there, and was always very vocal about families who want to bring their wives the idea of how much opportunity we and children and parents to the U.S.” were granted as a family by coming to In 2014, Gasparian and her col- the U.S,” she said. “The immigrant leagues at Ware Gasparian founded dream and immigrant narrative was the Pro Bono and Juveniles Program, very important to him.” designed to train attorneys to han- That same dream and narrative dle children in removal proceedings, has animated nearly the entirety of before she launched her own firm the Gasparian’s career. following year. Working for more than a decade with Gasparian said she likes running her the firm of David Ware and Associates, own shop “because I can set my own and eventually becoming a partner in hours, and I can be political and out- the Ware/Gasparian law firm, Gasparian spoken if I feel the need.” said she has never lost her fascination for With immigration policy given pre- immigration law, although it’s an end- cedence in President Donald Trump’s lessly complicated field. administration, Gasparian is candid. “They say the only regulations that “The last few months I feel like I might be more complex are the tax have been sprinting. It has been a very code, and I don’t want anything to do tumultuous time, with heightened feel- with that,” she said. ings — and I am just glad to be in it.” She has instead immersed herself in — Garry Boulard New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 15 FIRM ASSOCIATED William Gaudet If there’s one thing William Gaudet has Shell Norco. He was likely the youngest learned in his 35 years of practicing law attorney on the trial team. and as the son of two teachers, it’s that you In mentoring young lawyers, Gaudet never stop learning. said his advice is to realize that they must “I read an article in which a company not fi ght every battle, but instead pick their CEO said that in today’s practice, if you battles wisely. In the five years he spent don’t reinvent or improve your skill set on the Shell Norco case, Gaudet said he every two years, you’re going to be left came to value the skill and ability of the law- behind. That has become more and more yers on the other side of the case and even true as we change in our legal environment became friends with many of them. and market,” said Gaudet, a partner at In the community, Gaudet was pres- Adams and Reese LLP. ident of the executive board of Big Gaudet leads the complex/class-action Brothers/Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana law practice across all of the fi rm’s offi ces for four years. He is now president of the nationwide. As a result, he often acts as Loyola University College of Law Alumni an adviser or mentor to other lawyers in Board and serves on the New Orleans Bar the fi rm. He also helped open the fi rm’s Association board. Houston office and served on the com- Gaudet is also active in his law firm’s mittee that oversaw the fi rm’s expansion corporate philanthropy program, HUGS, to Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville, which stands for Hope, Understanding, Tennessee. Giving and Support. Many of the clients Gaudet has repre- In his personal time, Gaudet enjoys sented are Fortune 500 companies, and playing and watching golf, soccer, foot- he has defended them on several class-ac- ball, softball and basketball. He also enjoys tion cases. His most signifi cant cases have spending time with his seven children, who involved multi-district litigation. Perhaps range in age from 9 to 30. One of his sons is one of his most infl uential cases took place an attorney and in his third year at Adams early in his career, when he joined the trial and Reese. team for a case involving an explosion at — Autumn Cafi ero Giusti

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16 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Tabatha George When Tabatha George was diagnosed she focused on employment law, but when with Stargardt’s Disease (juvenile mac- the Affordable Care Act passed she transi- ular degeneration), she knew her eye- tioned to ERISA, helping companies with sight would eventually deteriorate, so she health and retirement plans with a particu- picked a profession that would be fulfi ll- lar focus on HIPAA and the ACA. ing regardless. She fi nds the job rewarding because “I knew my eyes would get worse, so she is helping employers take care of their I got as much education as possible to employees, she said. make sure I’d always be able to work and Fisher Phillips is a national fi rm with contribute,” she said. “The law was a 33 offi ces, and George has clients all over great fit because so much of the job is the country. thinking and reasoning. I like not only “My legal focus is very specialized and interpreting the law but helping my cli- I’m lucky to have a national practice living ents fi nd ways to approach legal compli- in the city I love,” she said. “Being on the ance that fi t with their business goals and front lines of a new law has also been for- corporate culture.” mative and an exciting part of my career.” The 37-year-old attorney started her When the ACA was passed in 2010, legal career at a large Wall Street fi rm in George said it was a great opportunity for New York working on private equity and young attorneys like her to learn the new hedge funds. After two years, she and law and become experts. husband Charlie Marts moved to New George is on the board and executive Orleans so he could attend law school at committee of Lighthouse Louisiana, a Tulane University and she could com- nonprofi t organization that helps support plete a yearlong fellowship for the Harvard the blind and visually impaired. She has Law Project on Disability, which helped been on the board for six years and serves to implement the U.N. Convention on the as secretary. She also serves on the board Rights of Persons with Disabilities. of the Harvard Club of Louisiana, for After the fellowship, she joined Fisher which she also serves as secretary. Phillips in 2011 as an associate. Initially, — Kerry Duff

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New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 17 FIRM ASSOCIATED John Jerry Glas When John Jerry Glas thinks of his accused of murder, believes that the days jury presentations, he is often reminded of flowery courtroom oratory are over. of the church history and sacred scripture “Jurors today want you to pile up all of classes he used to teach at Jesuit High the evidence,” he said. “They don’t want School. you to tell them what to think, and they are “With students, you are taking complicated information, simplifying it and explaining it in a way that everyone under- “Jurors today want stands and will be able to discuss later,” said you to pile up all of the Glas, who has to date argued more than 70 cases in court. “And that’s the exact same evidence. They don’t thing a lawyer tries to do with a jury.” want you to tell them Serving for two years as an assistant district attorney for the Orleans Parish what to think, and they District Attorney’s office, Glas joined Deutsch Kerrigan 18 years ago, where he are definitely not there is vice chair of civil litigation. He has taken to see the lawyers on a variety of civil cases that he has always been glad to see end up in a courtroom. fight.” “In fact, you even look forward to those —John Jerry Glas, attorney trials, because in many ways they are the easiest days of your practice,” he said. “You’re not retuning 100 emails and 20 definitely not there to see the lawyers fight.” phone calls. You are, instead, focused on In his few free hours, Glas has one case at a time, one witness at a time.” remained scholastically inclined, contrib- Glas, who has successfully seen a uting to the 2015 textbook “From the death penalty for an inmate vacated and Trenches: Strategies and Tips from 21 of reduced to a life sentence, and secured the Nation’s Top Trial Lawyers.” a not guilty verdict for a police officer — Garry Boulard

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18 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Demarcus Gordon Demarcus Gordon recalls “two wins” For 13 years, Gordon has defended oil on his first case back in 1999. and gas exploration and production com- The young defense lawyer had just panies in legacy litigation filed by land- started working for Johnson & Bell Ltd. in owners and public entities alleging envi- Chicago when he was assigned to a team ronmental damage arising from historic oil representing a rail car manufacturer related and gas exploration and production oper- to chemical release and associated toxic ations. He also practices in environmental tort litigation in Jackson, Mississippi. It and water law, toxic torts, and class action was related to a rail car explosion case in and products liability litigation. In 2014, Bogalusa.Gordon helped the multi-state Gordon was ranked by “Benchmark team earn a complete defense verdict. Litigation” among its “Future Stars” of It was “a great victory coming out of the leading litigation attorneys. gate as a lawyer, and I got a lot of good expe- Gordon is actively involved in promot- rience to see how defense teams worked in ing diversity in the legal profession. He the trenches on a major case,” he said. has served in former leadership positions Gordon also met his future wife while with the Defense Research Institute and on the trial, Donna, a paralegal for one is the current chair of the Louisiana State of the co-defendants in New Orleans. Bar Association’s Minority Involvement Two years later, they would marry, and Section. Gordon moved down to New Orleans to In the community, Gordon was a for- join Abbott, Simses & Kuchler in 2002. In mer baseball coach for his son, Gabriel, 2005, he joined Gordon Arata and prac- who is now a freshman at Jesuit and trav- ticed there until 2014, when Kelly Hart el soccer player. In 2006, Gordon was & Hallman (doing business as Kelly Hart instrumental in working with former New Pitre) took in Gordon and five others to Orleans City Council President Arnie open a New Orleans office. Gordon is a Fielkow in the post-Hurricane Katrina ren- partner at Kelly Hart & Hallman, and he ovations of Goretti Playground in New serves as the firm’s diversity committee Orleans East. co-chair. — Tommy Santora

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400 Poydras Street, Suite 1812 New Orleans, LA 70130301

Main Street, Suite 1600 Demarcus J. Gordon, Partner, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 Oil & Gas/Energy /Environmental Law

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 19 FIRM ASSOCIATED Matthew Guy Matthew Guy might never want for a that, you have various competing inter- change of scenery as long as he is a mari- ests, such as what needs to be reported to time attorney. the government and to insurers, and what One day he’s working in his office. The needs to be dealt with in terms of health next day, he’s in court somewhere between and safety,” he said. “Quite often those New Orleans and Houston. And the day things are in conflict with one another. So after that, he might be at a shipyard in to try to balance all of that is quite a chal- Mississippi. lenging issue to be dealt with.” “When I practiced law in London, it Outside the courtroom, Guy lends a sig- was very much an office-based job,” he nificant amount of his time to advancing the said. “I find my practice in New Orleans is field of law and educating the next generation much more varied.” of attorneys. He is board chairman for the A member with Bland & Partners nonprofit Court Watch NOLA, which was PLLC, Guy has 16 years of experience founded in 2007 as a grassroots volunteer in his field. He grew up in London and effort to bring greater transparency and effi- got his start as a maritime attorney at the ciency to the criminal courts of New Orleans. firm Clyde & Co. After taking a rig school Guy is also treasurer of the Tulane course in Houston in 2003, Guy moved to University School of Law Inn of Court, the U.S. and came to New Orleans a year which provides educational meetings for later after meeting his wife. members of the local bar and Tulane stu- Guy said his most challenging case to dents. The organization promotes profes- date involved the blowout of a jack-up drill- sionalism, ethics and civility in the field of ing rig in July 2013. Although no one was law. killed or seriously injured, it was the first And since 2012, Guy has been an inter- major rig accident in the Gulf since the cession faculty member for the Tulane Deepwater Horizon disaster. Guy contin- University School of Law Civil Litigation ues to represent the owner of the drilling rig Boot Camp, which teaches second and in ongoing litigation. third-year law students civil litigation skills. “Anytime you have a major casualty like — Autumn Cafiero Giusti

FIRM ASSOCIATED Lesli Harris With a background as an artist, it ents got what they were seeking. might seem unusual for Lesli Harris to Harris is proud of what she’s accom- become a lawyer. But she has been able plished, coming from a small town and to meld the two fields by developing a no legal background. But she finds it thriving practice in intellectual property challenging to focus on priorities in her law. work. Originally from a small village on the “The career grows, you get pulled in Ohio/West Virginia border, she stayed different directions. It’s a challenge to in New Orleans after graduation from me because I want to do everything,” Tulane University. she said. Harris works for small and emerging She advises young lawyers to be real- businesses, counseling them on intel- istic about the practice of law. A lot of lectual property protections they might it is not glamorous, but calls for dili- need, such as trademarks, copywrites, gent and sometimes tedious preparation etc. She also does commercial litigation to be successful. She advises them to along with trademark and copywrite visit courtrooms and talk to attorneys enforcement. She likes that her prac- and judges so they are prepared for law tice gives her the opportunity to see her school. client’s companies “grow up” and be Outside of work, Harris loves her on the ground floor of helping them do work on the board of YA YA (Young that. Artists, Young Aspirations), a group However, her most memorable case that helps young artists, including musi- had nothing to do with intellectual prop- cians, learn how to market their art. She erty law. Two years ago, she and a firm also is on the local film society board. partner represented six couples in a For the future, she hopes to grow her marriage equality case in New Orleans intellectual property practice and con- that they initially lost. While it was on tinue learning. “Every day it’s my goal appeal, the Supreme Court ruled in to learn more,” she said. favor of same-sex marriage, so her cli- — Leslie Quinn 20 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Lambert J. “Joe” Hassinger Jr.

Although he majored in philosophy “But it also gives you the opportunity, and religious studies while in college, whether it’s a judge or jury, to connect the decision to become an attorney in a very real way with people and deal was not an unexplainable jump for Joe with the law in a given case on a common Hassinger. sense basis,” he added. “My father was a lawyer and also my Focusing on such areas as construc- mentor,” said Hassinger of the late Joe tion, insurance defense and professional Hassinger Sr., who served for many liability, among other areas, Hassinger years as a judge on the New Orleans said there is no sixth sense when it Traffi c Court. comes to reading a jury. “He respected the law and had con- “Lawyers who say they have a sense cern for his colleagues and the general for what is going to happen in a trial public,” he said. are just fooling themselves,” he said. By the time he was a sophomore, he “So many times you think one thing is knew that he wanted to follow in his important, and then after the trial is over father’s footsteps. But Hassinger, direc- the jurors will tell you what they thought tor at Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins was the most important thing, and it’s Burr & Smith, decided on a career focus something entirely different.” not readily embraced by all lawyers. At the same time, Hassinger said that “I knew from the start that my interest is exactly what he likes about being a was in litigation, and that has been my litigator. steady focus now for the last 25 years,” “You are always surprised, which he said. “You are on stage and on line all means you are always learning some- the time, and there is an aspect of theatre thing,” he said. and showmanship to it.” — Garry Boulard

We don’t just practice in this community WE’RE A PART OF IT

We would like to congratulate Jones Walker LLP congratulates our partner Miriam Wogan Henry on being named a 2017 JOE HASSINGER New Orleans CityBusiness “Leadership in on being named a CityBusiness Law” award recipient. We congratulate Miriam and all of the honorees for their achievements Leader in Law and contributions across the city and state.

William H. Hines 201 St. Charles Ave. Managing Partner New Orleans, LA 70170-5100 504.582.8000 www.joneswalker.com

ALABAMA | ARIZONA | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | FLORIDA | TX | LA | MS | AL | FL | GA | MO | GEORGIA | LOUISIANA | MISSISSIPPI | NEW YORK | OHIO | TEXAS

Jason P. Waguespack - 701 Poydras St. 40th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70139 Attorney Advertising. No representation is made that the (504) 525-6802 quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the Joe Hassinger - 701 Poydras St. 40th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70139 quality of legal services performed by other attorneys. (504) 525-6802

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 21

2017 Jones Walker Leaders in Law.indd 1 4/27/2017 5:19:14 PM FIRM ASSOCIATED Miriam Wogan Henry Jones Walker partner and tax and is a member of the planning committee estate planning attorney Miriam Wogan of Louisiana State University’s Estate Henry likes putting together the pieces Planning Seminar. of a puzzle. Henry was recognized in “Chambers “I am a math and spreadsheet person, High Net-Worth Guide” in 2016, and and figuring out how to put all the pieces she was recognized by Best Lawyers of a puzzle together for my clients makes in America as the “Trusts and Estates my job both intriguing and rewarding,” Lawyer of the Year” in New Orleans said Henry, who for close to 20 years has in 2014 and 2016. Since 2013, she has spent her entire career at Jones Walker. been recognized annually among the She advises clients on wills, trusts, mar- Top 25 female attorneys in Louisiana ital agreements, powers of attorney, family by Super Lawyers. “I greatly value the wealth transfer plans and charitable gifts. work I do for individuals, families and She also provides trust and estate plan- businesses, and the long-term rela- ning advice, representing clients before the tionships that I have built through that Internal Revenue Service in connection work,” she said. with gift and estate tax audits. Henry knew she wanted to practice tax Henry is on the firm’s board of direc- and estate planning law since clerking for tors, and she is a former practice group Jones Walker before she started there in leader for the Tax & Estates Practice 1998. Group. She works with members of the In the community, Henry has served firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation on the boards of Trinity Episcopal School Practice Group in connection with fiducia- and the Louisiana SPCA. In 2003, she ry litigation and tax controversies. Henry helped her husband Ned open Crescent is a Fellow of the American College of City Veterinary Hospital. Trust and Estate Counsel and a board-cer- Miriam enjoys “anything on the water,” tified estate planning and administration including sailing, surfing and paddle- specialist as certified by the Louisiana boarding. Board of Legal Specialization. She also — Tommy Santora

FIRM ASSOCIATED Maury Herman When Tom Benson wanted to buy Herman, Herman & Katz. the New Orleans Saints from John It was among 60 firms comprising Mecom Jr., he called Maury Herman’s the plaintiffs’ legal committee of the firm, which had won an important Castano Tobacco Class Action, and case for Benson against the Louisiana was part of the trial team representing Motor Vehicle Commission. Mecom Louisiana Attorney General Richard was negotiating with two other possible Leyoub in the state’s claim against Big buyers, and the team’s future in New Tobacco. Orleans was in doubt. “Up to that time, there had never “There were rumors flying around been a successful case against the that that a ‘used car dealer’ from the 7th tobacco industry,” Herman said. Ward couldn’t put this deal together “The plaintiff’s bar deserves a tremen- with that small, Uptown law firm,” said dous amount of credit for taking on Herman, now a partner with Herman, one of the most powerful groups of Herman & Katz. “Tom was irate, and companies in the world, which made it only gave him and us more drive handsome profits off of addicting their to get the deal done.” The deal went customers, and in many cases taking through in 1985, and Herman served their lives.” as the team’s general counsel from He credits the class representatives 1986 to 1993. “for hanging in there with us for all As a boy, Herman wanted to be a those years.” doctor until he realized he was better It’s a difficult time to be a young law- at debate than science and math. After yer, financially and politically, Herman graduation from Tulane Law School, said. His advice: Persevere, work hard he joined his father, Harry Herman, and remember the law is a vital, honor- and uncle David Herman in the fam- able profession. ily practice Herman & Herman, now — David Jacobs

22 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Stephen J. Herman In college, Steve Herman studied month trial on damages and two appeals Milton and Shakespeare and won a play- to the U.S. Supreme Court, “We were writing competition with his one-act able to set up a cessation program for play, “The Phoenix Sleeps Tonight.” Louisiana smokers, which has helped He thought he might try to write novels tens of thousands of people quit smok- and screenplays or plays for a living, but ing,” he said. becoming a lawyer seemed a better way In 2010, he was one of two court-ap- to secure a steady paycheck. pointed co-liaison counsel for the plaintiffs in the BP oil spill case. The court “There usually is a was determined not to let the litigation drag on for three decades like the Exxon ‘right’ answer, but you Valdez case, Herman said. Despite the really won’t know what it size and complexity of the BP case, it was resolved in less than six years. is until you have finished “It was extremely rewarding, very challenging and, I think, did the case. Any case can a lot of good for a lot of people, be won or lost. Any businesses and government bod- ies in New Orleans and through- case can be lost or won. out the Gulf states,” Herman said. So don’t ever quit.” He advised young lawyers to remember that the practice of law is both an art and — Stephen J. Herman, attorney a science. “There usually is a ‘right’ answer, but He says he’s been part of two “once- you really won’t know what it is until you in-a-lifetime” cases, including Scott v. have finished the case,” Herman said. American Tobacco, which spanned 16 “Any case can be won or lost. Any case years. After 18 months in jury selec- can be lost or won. So don’t ever quit.” tion, a six-month trial on liability, a one- — David Jacobs

FIRM ASSOCIATED Megan Kiefer For Megan Kiefer, practicing law ly humbled when someone trusts me is a family affair. The firm she works with their problems,” she said. for, Kiefer & Kiefer, was started by her But her proudest accomplishment grandfather, the late Sen. Nat Kiefer is her work to raise suicide aware- Sr., and is now a partnership with ness. She works with the local chapter Megan, her father and uncle. of the American Society for Suicide As a young child, her father would Prevention, serving on the Annual take her to work and give her “busy” Walk committee and organizing a work to occupy her. As she grew, team. she began working there in the sum- Working with family sometimes mers. By the time she went to college presents challenges in striking a good in Georgia, she was well-versed in the work/life balance. Kiefer said she strug- law. gles to find time to maintain profession- Kiefer returned to New Orleans al excellence, give back to the commu- for law school at Tulane University, nity and pursue other interests. one of the first classes there after She advises aspiring lawyers to work Hurricane Katrina. After gradua- hard, but also to “find something that tion, she left again to practice in San interests you that doesn’t have anything Francisco for a few years, a move that to do with the law.” allowed her some experience in a few Kiefer teaches a cooking class, vol- high-profile cases. unteers at the food bank and travels. Her sister’s suicide brought Kiefer She loves the great music and festival back to the family firm four years ago experiences of New Orleans and sees and she has since carved a niche as a her future rooted in the city. personal injury attorney. Being with a She hopes to continuing steering it family firm allows her flexibility to take in the right direction, building her firm cases she finds interesting while still and “becoming the best attorney I can helping people. be.” “Not once have I not been complete- — Leslie Quinn New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 23 FIRM ASSOCIATED A.J. Krouse III A.J. Krouse is a founding member of Recently he defended insurers in bad Frilot LLC. His practice focuses are mass faith lawsuits as well as multiple class torts, class actions and general civil litiga- actions arising out of a crude oil pipeline tion. He is also an arbitrator and medi- spill in Louisiana. ates civil cases. A few years ago, he was One of his most memorable cases, he named Master Mediator by AAA. said, was defending a man for his life in “My work is never the same, and I like the early 1990s. that,” he said. “I was in trial two weeks ago “I was court appointed for a guy who in federal court and then civil district court was an arsonist,” he said. “My argument before that. In the arbitration and media- was he was not competent to consent tion fi eld, I do construction, employment - to give a confession. The judge threw it varies. I listen to evidence, apply the law out his confession and found him not and render the award. The key is being fair guilty by reason of insanity. When you’re and impartial.” defending someone for their life, it’s a Krouse has been an attorney since 1984 humbling experience and you want to do and with Frilot since 1995 when it was the best job you can.” founded. The fi rm specializes in maritime Krouse is active with the American law, commercial litigation, environmental Health Lawyers’ Association as a medi- and products liability. Before Frilot, he ator/arbitrator in health care disputes. was a partner at Lemle & Kelleher. He is also a member and trainer for the “I became an attorney because I American Arbitration Association, and aspired to be like my grandfather,” he a member of the College of Commercial said. “He was a lawyer for the justice Arbitrators. He contributes on arbitration department in Washington, DC.” issues and assists with continuing legal The 61-year-old attorney cut his teeth education. on maritime law in the early 1980s. He In his free time, he enjoys bike riding, represented refi nery owners on matters gardening, golfi ng and hanging out with such as explosions, scaffolding collapses his four children. and major injuries. — Kerry Duff

Atleadership Frilot LLC, one of our core strengths is the power to lead. Frilot LLC takes pleasure in announcing that Soaring Leadership

Leaders rise to the top in innovation and community involvement. At Chaﬀe McCall we proudly recognize attorneys who are passionate about achieving high-ﬂying results and committed to piloting clients to new heights.

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ADMIRALTY & MARITIME - COMMERCIAL LITIGATION NEW ORLEANS |BATON ROUGE | HOUSTON | LAKE CHARLES ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL - INSURANCE COVERAGE - LABOR & EMPLOYMENT www.chaffe.com MASS TORT & CLASS ACTIONS - MEDICAL MALPRACTICE & HEALTHCARE @Chaffe McCall 2017. All rights reserved. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. The material provided herin is for information use only and is not intended to be legal advice PRODUCTS LIABILITY - TRUCKING - TRANSACTIONAL 24 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED William Langenstein III William Langenstein III never everyone wins and feels they have accom- believed in putting all his eggs in one bas- plished their goals.” ket, so he became a CPA and an attorney. Langenstein also does startup ventures. He worked as a CPA for six years in He has been general counsel for Geocent, the tax department of Touche Ross & a local technology company with offices Company (now Deloitte & Touche) around the country, since 2008 when it while attending law school. When he launched. He also serves on their board. graduated, he joined the firm Hammett, “I’m proud of Geocent,” he said. “I’ve Leake & Hammett (now Leake & watched them grow from the ground up. Andersson) and did tax work in their Bringing value to your clients and seeing business section. After six years, he and their success is truly rewarding.” fellow partners formed McCloskey, The 63-year-old attorney has served Langenstein & Stoller. The small firm on the advisory board of Iberia Bank for grew and transitioned over 25 years, and 16 years and the New Orleans Board then in 2012 he joined Chaffe McCall. of Trade for 23 years. He has been on The board certified tax attorney is the board of the Louisiana Children’s a partner at the firm and works in the Museum since 1991, and is currently one business section. His legal focus is estate of the chairpersons for the 60th anniver- planning, real estate, commercial lend- sary celebration of WYES-TV. He was ing, corporate law, venture capital work, the station’s chairman of the board after transactional and tax law. He is also a Hurricane Katrina, and he and his wife licensed title insurance agent. continue to be staunch supporters. “I enjoy structuring transactions,” When he isn’t working or spending he said. “It’s rewarding and interesting. time with family, he enjoys hunting and My goal is to achieve in equity and debt fishing. financing transactions a result where — Kerry Duff

FIRM ASSOCIATED Rose McCabe LeBreton Rose McCabe LeBreton, a commer- Avenue, three residential condominium cial real estate attorney, specializes in developments in New Orleans and an ener- complex title resolution, title insurance gy hub on the Atchafalaya River. She also defense and commercial real estate devel- has expertise in riverfront development and opment at Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, represents a major university and two port Rankin & Hubbard. authorities on a variety of issues. She joined the firm in 2011 to build In recent years, the commercial real a real estate section and consolidate the estate expert also has been involved in existing real estate practice. determining wetlands ownership. “The move had its challenges,” said LeBreton became an attorney because LeBreton, a shareholder. “While the firm her grandfather, father and mother’s had significant real estate work, it was not brothers were lawyers. Her grandfather known for that area of law, so I had to create lived with them while she was growing the infrastructure for a transactional real up and was a well-known litigator in New estate practice such as starting an in-house York. He was also the youngest elected title agency, LAWLA Title LLC.” district attorney in the country. Her real estate team includes three law “My grandfather was 24 when he was associates and a paralegal concentrating elected and he was the DA for 14 years,” on transactional real estate law. Other she said. “He was quite a presence and members of the firm provide litigation influenced me greatly, mostly because and bankruptcy expertise for her litiga- he encouraged his daughters and grand- tion practice. daughters to pursue a career, which was She also leads development projects from quite unusual for his generation.” the acquisition of the property through the She is actively involved with opening of its intended use, whether it is new Commercial Real Estate Women, a pro- construction or adaptive re-use. fessional organization she helped start Some of her current development locally in 2002 to make real estate profes- projects include a new parking garage at sionals better at their jobs. the corner of Poydras Street and Loyola — Kerry Duff New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 25 FIRM ASSOCIATED Georges Legrand A native of New Orleans, Georges He advises aspiring lawyers to pay Legrand graduated from the University attention to detail and do what’s neces- of New Orleans and Loyola Law sary to produce a great work product. School. He briefly considered medical In his opinion, if you do those things school, but decided law school was a everything else takes care of itself. He better fit. An attorney since 1979, his also urges them to be timely and commu- specialty is maritime law. nicate with clients. Legrand is a member in Mouledoux, “I don’t know how you make a living Bland, Legrand & Brackett. He points if you’re not timely in responding to your out that marine work is very diversified customers,” he said. and he enjoys its different aspects. Outside the office, he loves the food One of his recent memorable cases scene in New Orleans and hopes to be a involved an “embarrassment of nav- food writer when he finishes practicing. igation” case (equivalent to running He also loves to travel and spend time someone off the road, only it involves a with his family. river). His client was expecting a poor He believes in being a steward of the result, but they prevailed and the client community, and he and his wife are was thrilled. active in their church and various com- Legrand feels very satisfied when a munity organizations. Legrand founded corporate client appreciates his work, a marine seminar for the Offshore Marine but he doesn’t mince words when Services Association, made up of boat asked about his proudest accomplish- operators in the Gulf. It educates them ment. in the nuances of marine litigation to help “My proudest accomplishment is them mitigate issues or avoid ending up hopefully being a good father and hus- in court. band. That probably means more to me “Knowledge is power,” he said. “If than anything.” he said. His biggest chal- you’re going to end up in court, get the lenge is managing his time to allow him to best result.” do that. — Leslie Quinn

FIRM ASSOCIATED Luis Llamas Born and raised in southern Florida, Llamas has handled cases involving unfair Luis Llamas said the stimulating environ- trade practices, products liability and ment of law and politics was a constant in marine casualties, among other areas. But his childhood. perhaps his most time-consuming pursuit “I grew up in a household that followed is representing Latin American interests politics very closely,” he said. “It is just part in the U.S., and U.S. interests in Latin of our culture, particularly with presiden- America. tial elections. These were the things that “That means anything from helping the entire family could get together on and with the immigrations process, helping to share.” set up businesses and moving assets from But with relatives who also practiced one country to another,” he said. Llamas also advises clients regarding “I grew up in a U.S. trade policies with Cuba, helping them navigate the recent opening up of dip- household that followed lomatic relations with that country. politics very closely.” “There is nothing typical about our relations with Cuba,” said Llamos, noting — Luis Llamas, attorney that despite the loosening of restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba and recent law, Llamas said he knew early on he was death of Fidel Castro, “human rights vio- going to become an attorney. lations are still very much a real thing there. “The Cuban American mentality is that There has been very little real change in you either become a doctor or a lawyer,” Cuba on that score.” Llamas said with a laugh. “It’s the tradition- In his few free hours, Llamas enjoys al immigrant mentality, ‘We worked our fishing, either in New Orleans or south tails off for you to succeed, so you are not Florida. going to do something like become a musi- “When I was growing up, I was out fish- cian or an artist.’” ing practically every day,” he said. PHOTO COURTESY LUIS LLAMAS Joining Fowler Rodriguez in 2010, — Garry Boulard 26 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Kelly Longwell As a child visiting her grandfather’s make sure the deal actually happens,” law office, Kelly Longwell became Longwell said. inspired to follow his career path. Longwell also enjoys giving back to “I decided to work in the legal indus- her community. She is a former presi- try in third or fourth grade and wanted to dent for the YMCA of the Greater New practice securities law,” said Longwell, Orleans and currently a board member director of Coats Rose. “I always knew emeritus of the Louisiana Association of that I wanted to be some sort of trans- Affordable Housing Providers, a trade actional lawyer. My grandfather rarely group for affordable housing. went to court due to his practice being Her proudest accomplishments have focused on land work and real estate. I been helping the community through knew I never wanted to spend my days in advocating for tax legislation and policies. a courtroom.” “It has been wonderful to create Upon her graduation from New York affordable housing across the southern University School of Law, Longwell Gulf and to work on projects that you accepted a position at Elkins PLC, a bou- know have provided a huge community tique firm that handled predominantly benefit and help making it sustainable,” tax credit and real estate projects. After Longwell said. “Last year, I spent a lot years of developing as a tax credit lawyer, of time going to Baton Rouge during the the Baton Rouge native landed a position legislative session helping to get proper- at Coats Rose where she has been able to ty tax legislation completed. Currently, combine her passion for real estate and we are working on a qualified allocation tax credit for the past 11 years. plan - a governing document explaining “I appreciate the transactional real the allocation of low-income housing tax estate aspect of law. At Coats Rose, we credits.” create fabulous projects on a shoestring In the next five years, she said she budget. I enjoy coming into a project hopes to “survive tax reform and still at an early stage and working through have tax credits to work with.” the problems and helping the developer — Morgan Yates

FIRM ASSOCIATED Joanne Mantis People could say Joanne Mantis was both Greece and Louisiana. Practicing born into the practice of maritime law. in Greece for 15 years, her biggest chal- Descended from a Greek shipping family, lenge was moving back to New Orleans she was exposed to the industry at an in 2011 and starting from scratch in the early age. legal community. “Boarding ships when I was 13 years Throwing herself into volunteer work old, I would hear my father talking to helped her assimilate. This year, she captains and solving problems regarding co-chaired the Mad Hatter event bene- issues on the ships, and I thought this fiting the New Orleans Opera Women’s might be what I want to do,” she said. Guild, and last year she chaired a highly She attended Tulane University for successful annual fundraiser at her son’s undergraduate studies and law school school. and finished with a certificate in mari- When not working, she likes to trav- time law. She decided on King, Krebs el. Her family returns to Greece every and & Jurgens because they had a great summer, and she loves to scuba dive reputation in this area. there and in places like Honduras and the “My father was thrilled,” she said. Caymans. “(My parents) always pushed us to set Being multi-lingual has been an asset, high goals and achieve them, and 25 and Mantis advises aspiring lawyers to years ago it was an accomplishment for learn another language to assist them in women to attend law school.” the increasingly global nature of law, par- Her focus has led her into some mem- ticularly in a port city like New Orleans. orable cases. Mantis represented two Mantis says she is back to stay in the parishes in the BP oil spill case and says city. Proud of her Greek heritage, she it was very challenging to work toward someday sees herself taking an active role a fair resolution, given the political and in her father’s company, spending time emotional climate. with family and expanding her volunteer One of her proudest accomplish- work. ments is being admitted to the bar in — Leslie Quinn New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 27 FIRM ASSOCIATED Conrad Meyer Conrad Meyer is a practicing pliance matters. health care attorney at Chehardy “I thrive in ever-changing environ- Sherman. Prior to entering the health ments, and with changes in health care right care legal world, he wanted to become a now there are many questions about the doctor, so he earned a master’s of health Affordable Care Act and how it affects my administration from Tulane University. hospital and physician clients,” he said. He then went into hospital adminis- One of his recent cases involved defend- tration, and soon thereafter decided to ing a local hospital after a patient fell off an attend law school. operating table and claimed he couldn’t lift, “I realized I didn’t want to go to med- bend or stoop as a result of the fall. Meyer ical school, and thought health care law put the plaintiff under surveillance for three was where I needed to be,” he said. “So years, including the morning of trial. During I taught high school at Chapelle High that time, the plaintiff was videoed lifting a School and John Curtis Christian School king-size mattress over his head and carry- while attending law school at Loyola ing heavy bags. University at night. I love being an attor- “What was really interesting was on ney and I go to work every day excited the morning of trial, the plaintiff claimed about new challenges. I wanted to work he had a closed head injury, seizures and in this field, and I’m blessed to be in the couldn’t drive,” he said. “Yet the surveil- right place with the right credentials.” lance showed that he drove with a child After law school, he worked in the to the trial. The judge ruled in our favor health care section of Jones Walker for (defendants) and made the plaintiff pay our seven years and Chaffe McCall for about costs. It was a nice win when things work five years. your way, which is not always the case.” He joined Chehardy Sherman in 2012 He loves New Orleans and helps as a partner in the health care practice promote the city where he was born group. He dedicates half his practice and raised by serving as a member of to medical malpractice defense and the the Allstate Sugar Bowl Committee. other half to health care regulatory/com- — Kerry Duff

FIRM ASSOCIATED Kerry Miller Kerry Miller knows a thing or two Miller’s career spans more than two about going the long haul in high-pro- decades, and he has extensive experience file cases. A shareholder with Baker in commercial litigation, energy, envi- Donelson, Miller holds the distinction of ronmental, product liability and mass trying both the longest civil and criminal tort and class-action matters. Among trials in the history of the New Orleans his other high-profile work, he was a Federal District Court. Earlier this year, lead attorney on litigation involving the he tried a six-week criminal trial involving importation of Chinese drywall into the a 10-defendant, 47-count racketeering United States. indictment. He was appointed to repre- Miller said he fell into a career in law, sent one of the defendants in a case that’s deciding to attend law school because it been billed as the city’s most violent her- looked liked something he would enjoy. oin distribution. His client was charged “I thought it was interesting, challeng- with five murders. ing and actually kind of fun,” he said. “I And in 2013, he was a lead attorney had no family members who were law- for litigation stemming from the BP oil yers, so it was all new to me.” spill, representing drilling contractor After law school, he took a clerkship Transocean. The complex case involved for Judge James L. Dennis of the U.S. multiple parties and claims. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. “We used to say it was like playing While clerking for Dennis, he gained 3-D chess because of the many moving some of his early experience with mass parts and pieces,” Miller said. torts and class-action suits. Miller joined And because the case had so many Baker Donelson about two years ago. moving parts, Miller had to worry about “I’m lucky because I get to work on the repercussions of everything he did. lots of interesting cases, meet lots of inter- “It really forced you to think through esting people and work with a lot of good your actions,” he said. “You’re always lawyers both in town and around the dealing with the law of unintended con- country,” he said. sequences.” — Autumn Cafiero Giusti 28 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED Douglas Moore Douglas Moore had a “sweet gig” in Like many young lawyers, he said, he the Florida Keys, wearing Birkenstock “probably over-prepared, and over- sandals to work as a commercial real fought every possible question.” estate appraiser. He worked with a lot of He “eviscerated” the plaintiff’s hus- lawyers, whom he held in high esteem. band during cross-examination. But “I quickly realized that these guys aren’t any smarter than I am,” he said. “You have to be able At age 27, he was ready for a career change. For a Catholic who enjoyed vis- see and hear yourself iting New Orleans, and whose future the way people see and wife’s family is from Chauvin, Loyola University School of Law was a good fi t. hear you.” “We decided to make New Orleans — Douglas Moore, attorney our home,” said Moore, a member of Irwin Fritchie Urquhart & Moore. Despite his background, real estate Moore said the relevance of some of has not been part of his legal practice. his questions was not apparent to the He discovered in law school that his judge, who declared a mistrial. skills are best suited for the courtroom, His client ultimately prevailed at the new where he primarily does pharmaceu- trial, and Moore learned a painful lesson tical and medical device litigation about the importance of self-perception. defense. He has worked for “virtually “You have to be able see and hear your- every pharmaceutical manufacturer in self the way people see and hear you,” he some capacity,” and frequently defends said. “You should never have a jury or clients in Medicaid fraud cases brought judge stopping to think, ‘Why is this per- by the attorney general. son asking this question?’ Because as soon His fi rst solo jury trial, involving a as they stop and begin to think about those serious automobile accident injury, things, you’ve lost them.” was memorable for the wrong reasons. — David Jacobs

Congratulations to DOUGLAS J. MOORE MEMBER for being named to CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law Class of 2017

400 Poydras Street,Suite 2700 | New Orleans, LA | 504.310.2100 400 Convention Street, Suite 1001 | Baton Rouge, LA | 225.615.7150 www.irwinllc.com

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 29 FIRM ASSOCIATED Michael O’Brien Michael O’Brien went to Iowa State fatal explosion and fire on the West Delta University on a football scholarship, earn- 32 offshore oil platform in 2012, he was on ing a political science degree and lettering site the next day to investigate. He spent twice as a defensive back who played pri- much of the next several years working on marily on special teams. the complex litigation that ensued. “There were a lot of good lawyers “You’re matching wits involved in that,” he said. “You’re matching wits and basically crossing sabers with and basically crossing multiple opposing counsel. It’s really good to test yourself.” sabers with multiple O’Brien said his mentor taught him to opposing counsel. make sure he knows his case better than anybody else, including the partner who It’s really good to test assigned him the case. He said that law yourself.” school, while valuable, can’t really teach you how to practice law. — Michael O’Brien, attorney “They can teach you where to find the law, but they can’t necessarily teach you Much like in football, teamwork and how it’s applied,” he said. “They can’t dedication are necessary to be successful teach you how to be professional, and how as an attorney, according to O’Brien, a to earn the respect of your peers. Like any- New Orleans native and partner at Kean thing in life, you’ve got to work through Miller. that.” “When you’re a lawyer, you’re relying In his free time, O’Brien remains con- on a judge or the jury to make the ultimate nected to football by officiating local high decision,” he said. “Football-wise, [offi- school games and serving on the board cials are] the judge.” of the Greater New Orleans Football O’Brien is part of Kean Miller’s admi- Officials Association. ralty and maritime practice group. After a — David Jacobs

FIRM ASSOCIATED J. Douglas Rhorer While attorneys often wait until later in brought him to trial and got a money judg- their careers to do pro bono work and com- ment. It was not only a great trial experience munity service, Doug Rhorer has already for me early in my career, but more impor- made an impact in that capacity in just his tantly it helped the client rebuild her life first six years of practice. after the emotional and mental strain that An associate since 2011 with Gordon, was put on her,” Rhorer said. Arata, Montgomery, Barnett, McCollam, Rhorer practices in oil and gas, con- Duplantis & Eagan LLC, Rhorer is a recip- struction and general commercial litigation. ient of the Pro Bono Century Award (more He represents exploration and produc- than 100 hours of pro bono service) from tion companies and natural gas pipeline both the Louisiana State Bar Association companies in legacy litigation and other and The Pro Bono Project in New Orleans. environmental matters. In his construction He has long volunteered for The Pro Bono practice, he advises owners, contractors, Project since graduating from Loyola Law architects and project managers on a wide School in 2011. He serves on the board of range of legal issues, including lien laws, directors for the Federal Bar Association, change order disputes, acceleration claims Younger Lawyers Division, and he pro- and delay claims. He regularly drafts and vides free legal assistance at The Rebuild reviews construction contracts and solicita- Center at St. Joseph and at the Ozanam Inn. tion documents for both private and public “Community service was instilled in me works projects. by my family from an early age, and we Over the last few years, Rhorer has all have a duty, as attorneys, to give back provided legal representation and consul- through our practice,” Rhorer said. tation to several public entities, including In 2015, he spent more than 100 hours the Louisiana Department of Education, on a breach of contract construction case in Recovery School District, in connection with which he retrieved money for a homeowner its $1.8 billion New Orleans School Facilities that she had paid to a contractor who took Master Plan to rebuild and refurbish 80 sites the money and left the state. damaged by Hurricane Katrina. “We tracked him down to Texas, — Tommy Santora 30 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED James T. Rogers III James T. Rogers III clerked at to how a wire rope works on a derrick Adams and Reese during law school barge.” and joined the firm’s maritime team He is also involved in two or three after graduation. Fast forward 25 years, pro bono cases at any given time. He and the 50-year-old is now a partner enjoys taking legal matters such as adop- in the firm and executive committee tions that affect someone’s personal life. member. “When someone has constructively His legal practice evolved over the been a child’s mother or father for a years and now includes transaction long time and I handle the paperwork work and commercial litigation. He and filings for them, you can tell what is licensed to practice in Louisiana, a relief it is, and that’s meaningful,” Colorado and Texas. he said. “It’s a good thing to do and it Some of his most meaningful and keeps me balanced.” rewarding cases, he said, are resolving His most humbling experience as contentious business disputes and clos- an attorney was being voted by the ing complex transactions. partnership to serve on the firm’s “I started in the maritime arena executive committee for a three-year in 1992 because that’s where all the term. The executive committee is the big hitters were at the time,” he said. policymaking body for the regional “Over the years, after I cut my teeth firm, which has 17 offices in seven in litigation, my practice evolved to states. more transactional work and business Outside the office, he coaches his litigation to keep things spiced up and son’s baseball and basketball teams new. I really enjoy this type of work and has coached his daughter’s soccer because I help folks get out of diffi- teams. cult situations or resolve a problem for He is also active in the firm’s HUGS them. I also get to learn and become program, which raises money for local a quasi-expert on different subjects – nonprofits and schools. from how sweet potatoes are canned — Kerry Duff

FIRM ASSOCIATED Kelly Titus Scalise Kelly Scalise remembers want- Her specialty has led her to co-found ing to be a lawyer as far back as sixth an admiralty law section in the New grade. Fascinated by civics and history Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar courses, she took part in a Boy Scout Association, the largest chapter in Explorer program for future lawyers the country. She serves as president. and knew that was what she wanted to Scalise advises young lawyers to get do. involved in such organizations and the Born and raised in New Orleans, she community. She volunteers in school headed to LSU for undergraduate stud- civics classes and says lawyers should ies and law school. After a clerkship remember the power they have to legal- at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, ly change history. she found the perfect fit at Liskow and “You may never know - you may Lewis in 2001, specializing in admiral- make a connection with the young stu- ty and maritime law. dent and change their path,” she said. The city’s proximity to the Gulf Her free time is taken up with her makes her knowledge of maritime law three children and travel. Reading is a invaluable. A recent memorable case passion, as is finding time to indulge allowed her to successfully represent her love of music. a small local shipbuilding company, She sees her future continuing at whose owner had invested his life sav- Liskow and Lewis, helping the firm ings in it. grow and participating in its mentoring Practicing law for a commercial program for younger lawyers. firm can have its challenges, includ- “I was fortunate to have that sort of ing economic downturns, and she said guidance,” she said. “I definitely want she’s been around long enough to be to return that.” involved in riding it out. — Leslie Quinn

New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 31 FIRM ASSOCIATED Matthew Sherman When life hands you lemons, make In 2012, Sherman accepted a posi- lemonade. Matthew Sherman, business tion at the Chehardy Sherman Williams and commercial litigation attorney at law firm as a personal injury business Chehardy Sherman Williams, took this litigator. to heart and used a life-changing inci- Sherman also serves as a mem- dent to develop a fl ourishing career. ber of the Metairie Park Country Day As a Southern Methodist University Alumni Board, the East Jefferson graduate, Sherman wanted to pursue an General Hospital Foundation’s athletic career focusing in sports man- Annual Golf Classic Committee, the agement or coaching an athletic team. Audubon Institute’s Scales & Ales But his involvement in a tragic accident Host Committee and the Greater New that resulted in injuries and a high-pro- Orleans Sports Foundation. He is the fi le lawsuit prompted a different path. chairman and founding board member Sherman enrolled in Loyola of the Foundation Preparatory Charter University College of Law in 2006, School in New Orleans. the same law school his father, David Sherman also works on pro bono Sherman, one of the founding partners of cases and hopes to strengthen his prac- Chehardy Sherman Williams, attended. tice through continuous growth and “My dad persuaded me to attend law involvement in the community. school to provide me with a safety net “One aspect that sets me apart from just in case my sports career did not other lawyers is that I have been on both work out as expected,” Sherman said. sides of a lawsuit: the litigator and client. “However, I decided I wanted to actu- Being involved in a lawsuit at an early ally practice law and not just apply it to a age and being a client in this case, I have career in sports management.” the ability to view law from a client’s After earning his law degree, perspective. I have been on a litigation Sherman was employed by the district roller coaster, I know the highs and lows attorney’s offi ce in Jefferson Parish and of law,” Sherman said. assigned to the family violence unit. — Morgan Yates PHOTO COURTESY MATTHEW SHERMAN

CongratulationsCongratulations

Congratulations

Conrad Meyer Matthew A. Sherman Conrad Meyer Matthew A. Sherman

Conrad Meyer & Matthew A. Sherman Leadership in Law Class of 2017 Additional congratulations to Lawrence E. Chehardy, ‘16 David R. Sherman, ‘09 and James M. Williams, ‘09 indu ctees into the CityBusiness Leadership in Law Hall of Fame H. Bruce Shreves for being named to the CityBusiness Leadership in Law Metairie, LA Office Hammond, LA Office One Galleria Boulevard, 111 North Oak St., Class of 2017 Suite 1100 Suite 200 Founded in New Orleans in 1979 by a small group of talented attorneys, SPS&R is Metairie, LA 70001 Hammond, LA 70401 committed to providing efficient quality legal services. The firm has steadily grown to a full (504) 833-5600 ph (985) 269-7220 ph service firm of nearly 40 attorneys. We advise and provide litigation support to a variety of clients, ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 companies in virtually all areas of civil law. (504) 833-8080 fax (985) 269-7224 fax 2017

Lawrence E. Chehardy, 1100 Poydras Street, 30th Floor | New Orleans, LA 70163 Managing Partner www.chehardy.com (504) 569-2030 | www.spsr-law.com

32 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED H. Bruce Shreves Bruce Shreves wasn’t raised in While enjoying these successes, he Louisiana, but has been here so long he acknowledges it has been somewhat regards himself as a native. challenging to adjust to the welcome Originally from South Dakota, he but ever-changing technology in the attended Georgetown Law School practice of law. At age 73, he remem- in Washington D.C., married a New bers practicing without computers, a Orleans girl and moved to the city in thing that younger lawyers can’t imag- 1973. During law school, he worked at ine. the U. S. Justice Department and upon He advises aspiring lawyers to graduation spent four years in the U.S. remember that opposing counsel is not Army JAG Corps handling court-mar- the enemy, and to not lose sight of the tial cases. people behind the arguments. Once in New Orleans, he settled in “People that are not civil and not with a private law firm specializing in professional - not a good reputation to construction law. He still practices that have,” he said. specialty today as a partner at Simon, Most people at Shreves’ age would Peragine, Smith & Redfearn and has be slowing down, but he still loves co-authored a book on the subject that practicing law. His children and grand- is still being updated and reprinted. children keep him busy outside the An aspect of law he has developed office, and he and his wife love to trav- and expanded on is the practice of el and do volunteer work with their mediating cases among various parties church and neighborhood. He sees to help them settle and avoid a costly himself continuing to practice as long trial. He’s very proud of being able to as he is enjoying it and stays in good develop that practice, as well as being health. active in arbitration cases. He’s been “I don’t have anything to retire to named Arbitrator of the Year, Mediator right now that I enjoy more than what of the Year and rated one of the top 10 I’m doing,” he said. lawyers in Louisiana. — Leslie Quinn

FIRM ASSOCIATED Mike Stag Mike Stag will always remember the lion in jury verdicts for his clients. Along date: May 22, 2001, when a Louisiana jury with retired partner Stuart Smith, Stag ordered Exxon Mobil to pay $1.06 billion helped pioneer the field of Technologically to retired Judge Joseph Grefer for radioac- Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive tive contamination of his land. Material (TENORM or NORM) litigation. Stag was a member of the plaintiffs’ team Stag helped start the law firm of Smith that secured such a noteworthy verdict that Stag in 2002, seven years after he began his “sent a signal to businesses throughout career as an associate and partner at Sacks Louisiana, which suffers from one of the & Smith. In addition to his environmental highest rates of toxic pollution in the U.S., law practice, he has used his MBA from that environmental degradation comes at Loyola University to run a successful law a very high cost,” wrote Lawyers Weekly firm for the last 15 years. USA when featuring the case, Grefer et. al. In the community, Stag is a board mem- vs. Alpha Technical, et. al., as the country’s ber and chair of the supervisory committee No. 2 Top Jury Verdict of 2001. for Xplore Federal Credit Union. He also “It was such a great feeling and will has worked pro bono on preservation issues always stand out as a memorable case for clients. “I like the aspect of helping peo- because it was quite a team effort and a lot of ple when they reach out to you and need hard work of about six months of pre-trial, problems solved. That’s a very rewarding and then six weeks for the trial itself,” said feeling,” Stag said. Mike Stag, managing partner of Smith Stag. Stag was born in Japan and moved to the Stag has more than 20 years of experi- United States with his parents at the age of ence in the practice areas of environmental two. He is fascinated by Japanese culture pollution, mineral royalty disputes, toxic and Western philosophy, he said. He also and radioactive materials exposure, defec- has a hobby and passion for reading biog- tive drugs and medical devices, and per- raphies on world leaders and historical fig- sonal injury and wrongful death. He has ures, such as Napoleon, Thomas Jefferson recovered awards of more than $300 mil- and Winston Churchill. lion in settlements and in excess of $1 bil- — Tommy Santora New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 33 FIRM ASSOCIATED Susan Talley Susan Talley’s entry into real ing with folks on a transaction, that they estate law resulted from a twist of fate. come away with a better impression of just “I knew I didn’t want to litigate. Because how talented, smart and hard-working the of my family background – my father was a people of New Orleans are,” she said. small business owner – I knew I wanted to This year, Talley took the opportunity to work on the transactional side of things,” become the fi rst woman to chair the Anglo- said Talley, a member at Stone Pigman American Real Property Institute. Half of Walther Wittman LLC. the institute’s members is from the U.S., Talley joined Stone Pigman in 1981 after and the other half is from the U.K. law school thinking that she wanted to be a Talley is also a founding member of New corporate and securities lawyer. But within Orleans Commercial Real Estate Women, just a few weeks at the fi rm, she was tapped a member of the Board of Governors of the to work on a major shopping center project American College of Real Estate Lawyers, by developer Jim Wilson. a vice president of the Louisiana State Law Since then, Talley has spent her entire Institute and a past chairwoman of the career at Stone Pigman, working on proj- American Bar Association Real Property, ects including office towers, mixed-use Trust and Estate Law section. developments and large industrial projects, Among her community endeavors, Talley as well as other shopping centers. She has has chaired the advisory board for WWNO also represented the New Orleans Saints and is a member of its development and and Pelicans in their lease negotiations. marketing committee. She also serves as vice Talley’s clients span not just the U.S., chancellor for real estate for the Episcopal but also the globe. She works with Asian Diocese of Louisiana and is a member of the and European clients, as well as clients and Professional Advisory to Council to the LSU lawyers on both coasts. She believes that Foundation and of the Louisiana Chapter of it’s her duty to help people overcome any the International Women’s Forum. preconceived notions that they might have Talley enjoys travel, playing the piano about New Orleans. and cooking. “I hope that by the time I’m done work- — Autumn Cafi ero Giusti

Congratulations to Michael Stag for being named to the CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law Class of 2017

Nationally Recognized Litigators Over $1 Billion in Verdicts for Clients

Ashley Liuzza Stephen Wussow Michael Stag Merritt Cunningham Matthew Rogenes

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34 Leadership in Law FIRM ASSOCIATED April Watson Throughout each day, through her law In 2015, Watson was elected partner practice and community service, attorney at her firm. She practices primarily in the April Watson has one goal in mind: “Make areas of general litigation, including suc- a difference for the better for every person cessions and trust litigation, state tax liti- I meet and represent.” gation, construction and products liability In 2014 and 2015, Watson, a partner defense. She serves as outside counsel for at Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, the Department of Revenue for the state of was recognized for accomplishing that Louisiana. goal. Two of her more memorable cases In 2014, Watson received the occurred four years ago. Watson repre- President’s Volunteer Service Award sented a young child, helping her gain from former President Barack Obama for financial security after her father was the her number of service hours volunteering victim in a wrongful death case. Two years for children’s causes. She served for 10 ago, Watson represented an elderly cou- years on the board of directors for Court ple to help them recover retirement sav- Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) ings embezzled by their adult son. “I value of New Orleans, including as president. cases that give me an opportunity to make She also serves on the Louisiana Bar a difference in the quality of life of the per- Association’s Children’s Law Committee son I am representing,” she said. and volunteered at various events at Giving back to her profession, Watson Lusher Charter School for her children, served for many years on the board of Jacob, 11, and Ava, 9. directors and as community outreach “I was raised by a single parent with coordinator for the Association for a high school education (mother, Dixie Women Attorneys. Brodigan), and she always worked hard, Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, two to three jobs at a time, and she was my Watson loves the outdoors. Her child- role model and inspiration. I told myself hood home was a log cabin on the Deshka that when I was an adult, I would give River, only accessible by airboat. back to help kids at risk,” Watson said. — Tommy Santora

FIRM ASSOCIATED Adam Zuckerman Adam Zuckerman knew from age 12 the third-party defendant, alleging that it that he wanted to be a lawyer. He was was responsible for the sinkhole due to salt fascinated with the U.S. Constitution and cavern mismanagement. liked to debate issues with friends any time Zuckerman is also representing defen- he had the chance. dants in the oil and gas industry in a law- These days, Zuckerman is a share- suit brought by various parishes alleging holder with Baker Donelson, where he coastal erosion damages caused by the oil represents clients in a variety of complex and gas industry. and commercial litigation matters, with a Since graduating law school in 1998, focus on the oil and gas industry. Among Zuckerman has been a member of the St. his accomplishments, he has successfully Thomas More American Inn of Court, defended an oil and gas exploration and an organization that focuses on profes- production company against clams that sionalism and ethics in the practice of law, exposure to naturally occurring radioac- and on mentoring younger attorneys. He tive materials caused the plaintiff’s cancer. served on the organization’s executive He also represented a natural gas pipe- committee, and as president and treasurer. line company in state and federal expropri- Zuckerman is also a member of the ation proceedings to help enable the con- Louisiana Mineral Law Institute Advisory struction of multiple natural gas pipelines Council, which brings in lecturers each throughout Louisiana. year to discuss various topics within that Oil and gas was an easy specialty for area. He has also served as a board mem- Zuckerman to step into because of ber for New Orleans nonprofit ricRACK Louisiana’s large role in the industry. Inc., which repurposes clothing and teach- In 2013, Zuckerman represented es costuming skills and sewing classes to a third-party defendant in a class-action young people in the city. suit accusing a brine cavern operator of Outside the courtroom, Zuckerman causing a sinkhole in the swamplands of enjoys sailing and has participated in a few Bayou Corne, about 30 miles northwest races around Lake Pontchartrain. of Thibodaux. The cavern operator sued — Autumn Cafiero Giusti New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 35 IN HOUSE COUNSEL Susan Broussard Susan Broussard is chief counsel for the was very challenging,” she said. “Each commercial banking sector of Capital One. business has its own culture and believes She has been with the bank for 26 it’s the right culture, so we had to take the years. She handles commercial banking best of all four to make one. It’s not an easy issues such as deposits, loans, derivatives task when you’re dealing with geographi- and private banking. She also spearheads cally diverse populations.” eight commercial banking attorneys in a Broussard has been an attorney for wide graphic footprint that includes New 31 years. Before she joined the bank, she Orleans; McClean, Virginia; Bethesda, spent five years at McGlinchey Stafford Maryland; Long Island, New York City focusing on business, real estate and and Richmond, Virginia. finance law. “I work for one bank, but see a lot of She has been actively involved in the different customers in different industries,” Pro Bono Project throughout her career. she said. “I have to know how the compa- She volunteers her legal services at divorce nies work to know their issues and how to clinics and for Children in Need of Care. service them. Every day has a new and dif- “Attending adoption hearings for these ferent twist – new clients, new regulations children when they find their ‘permanent’ – and it tests your intellect and forces you family is the most satisfying and humbling to learn something new.” experience I’ve ever had as an attorney,” One of the biggest challenges of her she said. career, she said, was merging four finan- Broussard has been on the planning cial institutions with different cultures into committee for Edible Schoolyard for two one bank. She was working for Hibernia years and is a frequent volunteer at City National Bank when it was acquired by Park and Second Harvest Food Bank. Capital One. Capital One then acquired “As a mother, I am most interested in North Fork Bank in New York City fol- community service that benefits children, lowed by Chevy Chase Bank in the as they are both our future and the most Washington Metropolitan area. vulnerable,” she said. “Merging all four into one company — Kerry Duff

IN HOUSE COUNSEL Chelsea Brener Cusimano As in-house counsel for the St. Her most memorable case so far Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office, Chelsea occurred during her tenure at the U. S. Cusimano has a unique perspective on Attorney’s office. It involved the success- the law. As the only attorney among hun- ful civil rights litigation of a case between dreds of law enforcement personnel, she Assumption Parish High School and an finds it interesting to work with such a African-American baseball player who wide range of people and the legal issues had endured a racially hostile atmosphere that face the department daily. during his years there. She came to this position from more Cusimano is active in the community traditional roles in the legal private sector. and is proud of her work with Hogs for Cusimano is a fourth generation attorney a Cause, the event that raises money for whose grandfather participated in the JFK/ pediatric brain cancer. She also works Clay Shaw trials in the 1960s. A gradu- with Pedi-smiles, an NFL program that ate of Loyola Law School, she left to get provides dental care in underprivileged her master’s degree in national security at schools. She loves to hang out with her George Washington University. In 2012, friends and dogs and travel to exotic loca- she returned to Louisiana for good, and tions such as the Galapagos Islands. She gained legal experience with work in the also likes to write comedy and is working Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s office, on a collection of short stories. the U. S. Attorney’s office and in private Her biggest challenge is being able to practice with her mother’s firm. turn off the mental pictures of horrific Over the years, she has done work on crimes she deals with as part of her work. legislative issues such as the Broadway Cusimano advises aspiring lawyers South tax credit bill and employment and to resist pressures to compromise their civils rights litigation. But she missed the moral compass in pursuit of a win. criminal law aspect, and so she accepted the “You’ll never get it back,” she said. St. Tammany Parish in-house position. — Leslie Quinn 36 Leadership in Law IN HOUSE COUNSEL Karen Freese In many ways, Karen Freese’s deci- plant belonging to Perryville Energy sion to become a lawyer was almost Partners. biological: Her father, the late Franklin “That was the beginning of a series Hayne, was a general civil practitioner of several big generating purchases,” in New Orleans for decades. she said. “This was all very new, there “As a child I used to love to go to wasn’t a vibrant wholesale generating work with him, watching him dictate, market before like there is today.” handle meetings and things like that,” Freese moved on to a series of pur- she said. “When I got old enough I did chase power agreements for Entergy. court running for him, which was also “It was so inspiring to be a part of very exciting.” something that was transforming our After graduating from Louisiana energy fleet and bringing us lower costs State University, Freese also fol- for our customers,” she said. lowed in her father’s footsteps by An attorney who loves to delve into joining Stone Pigman, the same firm every nuance and detail of public utility where Hayne had decades earlier law, Freese describes her focus area as clerked. “a mix of economic theory, anti-trust Focusing on public utility regula- work, public policy and law.” tion and commercial litigation, Freese “I joke that it’s nerd law. But I also subsequently signed on with Entergy find it endlessly interesting,” she said. Services, Inc., in late 2003 just as the In her few free hours, Freese has company was modernizing its genera- volunteered for the New Orleans Pro tor fleet. Bono Project as well as the Homeless “I was assigned to the very first Experience Legal Protection program, acquisition of a new generator,” Freese which provides notarial services to the said, referring to the $170 million homeless. purchase of a 718-megawatt power — Garry Boulard

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New Orleans CityBusiness • May 26, 2017 37 IN HOUSE COUNSEL Megan Guy Megan Guy always wanted to be a than a specific issue,” she said. “I don’t lawyer, going back to her work on the have a big win in court. It’s more about case of “Three Little Pigs v. Big Bad small wins every day.” Wolf” in elementary school. “It’s sort of like putting together the pieces of a puzzle,” she said of the legal “You really have to profession. “You get the different pieces really step in their shoes from the different people, and put that together to create the picture that wasn’t and listen to them and clear before.” understand where Guy said she was happy in her former career as a defense attorney, but they’re coming from was ready for a new challenge. So she left Adams and Reese and earned an to really be the best MBA from Tulane University, adding advocate.” business acumen to her lawyer’s tool- box. — Megan Guy, attorney Now, as in-house counsel for commercial insurance broker Gillis Ellis & Guy said the daily pressures of prac- Baker, she helps the firm’s clients pro- ticing law sometimes can overshadow tect themselves from potential problems the big picture. It’s important, she said, that might lead to litigation, instead of to understand what clients are trying to defending them after something goes accomplish, even when it doesn’t seem awry. When a client’s business changes, relevant to a case or a legal issue. Guy helps them understand how the “You really have to really step in their change affects their overall risk. shoes and listen to them and understand “It’s gratifying to be able to go down where they’re coming from to really be the road with someone for the long term the best advocate,” she said. and look at a broader picture, rather — David Jacobs

IN HOUSE COUNSEL Sarah Vandergriff Sarah Vandergriff said her fight to pro- teachers and students, and if you move tect charter school funding is personal. funding for these specialized charter schools “I was given the opportunity to attend to the state’s general allocation like our uni- the best schools and receive a high level versities, then the very existence of schools of education, and therefore that motivates like the alternative, international and mili- me to work hard to ensure that we have tary charter schools in the New Orleans area a system for all families to have access to is significantly threatened,” she said. high quality education options for their chil- Vandergriff joined LAPCS in 2011 follow- dren across our state,” said Vandergriff, ing a two-year stint as an associate in commer- legal and policy director for the Louisiana cial litigation at Phelps Dunbar, and also a two- Association of Public Charter Schools. year stint teaching religion at her alma mater, A current lawsuit, Iberville Parish School Academy of The Sacred Heart. In addition Board v. Louisiana State Board of Elementary to advocating for LAPCS, Vandergriff assists and Secondary Education, could cut state-au- charter school members with state and federal thorized, Type 2, charter schools out of $80 legal updates, employment law and human million in Minimum Foundation Program resources best practices training programs and funding, and approximately 23,000 students working with outside counsel on legal matters. and 40 charter schools would be negatively In the community, Vandergriff is impacted. Type 2 charter schools would then a member of the National World War II have to petition the state Legislature every year Museum’s Young Benefactors Steering for funds that are not guaranteed. Committee and Louisiana Philharmonic Vandergriff is helping lead the charter Orchestra’s Prelude Board for Young school fight to the Louisiana Supreme Professionals. She was a competitive swim- Court, which is expected to decide the case mer and athlete through college, and she later this year. remains active in triathlons, half marathons “The significance of K-12 MFP fund- and Ironman competitions. She is a volun- ing is that it’s protected from budget cuts, teer for Youth Run NOLA, an after-school unlike funding for higher ed institutions. running program for children. MFP funding provides stability for K-12 — Tommy Santora 38 Leadership in Law 2017