Introduction 4 Patricia LeBlanc 41 2005 winners 7 Edward LeBreton III 42 2006 winners: Andrew Lee 43 Marguerite Adams 9 Wayne Lee 44 Nan Alessandra 10 Jon Leyens Jr. 45 Thomas Beron 11 Kelly Longwell 46 Carmelite Bertaut 12 John Manard Jr. 47 Kim Boyle 13 Robert Manard 48 Elwood Cahill Jr. 14 Joseph Marino III 49 Kathryn Caraway 16 Robert McCalla 50 2006 James Carroll 18 Corinne Morrison 52 Charlie Cerise 20 Thomas O’Brien 53 Shaun Clarke 22 Paul Pastorek 54 Published by the NOPG LLC Philip deV. Claverie 25 Lawrence Ponoroff 55 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 1440, Metairie, La. 70005 CONTENTS Miles Clements 26 Fredrick Preis Jr. 56 504-834-9292; Fax: 504-837-2258. Frank J. D’Amico Jr. 27 Richard Richter 57 Nancy Scott Degan 28 Howard Shapiro 58 Publisher and president: D. Mark Singletary John Duck 29 Jack Stolier 59 Associate Publisher: Lisa Blossman Val Exnicios 30 Noel E. Vargas Jr. 60 Editor: Terry O’Connor Associate editors: Tommy Santora and Greg LaRose George Frilot III 31 Nelson Wagar III 61 Art director: Alex Borges John Galloway 32 Kenneth Weiss 62 Production manager: Julie Bernard Covert Geary 33 David Willenzik 63 Advertising coordinator: Erica Adams, Liz Baldini, Cassie Foreman, Coco Judd Russ Herman 34 John Wilson 64 John Houghtaling 36 Phillip Wittmann 65 Grady Hurley 37 Scott Wolfe Jr. 66 James Irwin 39 Robert Worley Jr. 67 Steven Lane 40 Congratulations to Nelson W.“Chip”Wagar, III Managing Partner Winner of the 2006 Leadership in Law Award Nelson W.“Chip”Wagar, III is one of New Orleans’ most experienced trial lawyers. His practice is concentrated mainly on maritime, products liability, professional liability and general casualty litigation. Chip was recognized in “Who’s Who in American Law” in 1994. His peers in the local bar gave him an “AV”rating in Martindale-Hubbell’s annual survey of attorneys; a rating he has maintained for nearly two decades. Chopin, Wagar, Richard & Kutcher, LLP 3850 North Causeway Blvd., Ste 900 Metairie, LA 70002 • 504.830.3838 Telephone: (504) 569-2030 Telephone: (228) 875-3266 Telecopier: (504) 569-2999 Telecopier: (228) 875-8337 www.chopin.com May 1, 2006 3 In Louisiana We Trust F irst Bank and Trust is one of the largest independent banks in Louisiana. We’re based in New Introducing... Orleans with branches around the city and in Baton Rouge. For the Leadership in Law recipients almost 25 years, businesses have put their trust in First Bank and Trust. Now we’re putting our trust By Tommy Santora rest assured they have many well-estab- in Louisiana. From mom and pop ONLINE BANKING Associate Editor lished role models to learn from in the neighborhood restaurants, to New BANKING BY PHONE New Orleans legal arena. And Ponoroff is one of them. Orleans institutions like Brennan’s, LOANS & LINES OF CREDIT Lawrence Ponoroff, dean of Tulane New Orleans CityBusiness recog- HOME MORTGAGES First Bank and Trust is helping University Law School, has a nized 50 of New Orleans’ lead- Louisiana businesses reopen their CHECKING message for his 2006 graduates. ers in law based on professional doors. To find out more about CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS “We want to impress on stu- and community achievements. SAVINGS & CDS dents the public service obliga- CityBusiness received more commercial lending, visit a branch or tions that are naturally attendant than 100 nominations in its sec- fbtonline.com. to the privileges one enjoys as ond year of producing this spe- being the member of a profession. cial publication. POYDRAS 504-584-5900 “The message we give them is that The 2006 Leadership in Law list fea- METAIRIE RD. 504-586-2720 it’s our hope and expectation of them tures five second-time winners, includ- ALGIERS 504-586-2640 that they will become leaders not just in ing Kim Boyle, Russ Herman, John ELMWOOD 504-586-2700 their profession, but in their communi- Houghtaling, Steven Lane and Wayne KENNER 504-589-2600 ties as well.” Lee. MANHATTAN 504-586-2620 While Ponoroff hopes his students The 2006 class is a special group BATON ROUGE 225-925-3014 will carry the torch in fulfilling legal because the Leadership in Law judges at MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER www.fbtonline.com and community achievements, he can CityBusiness took into serious considera- The best private “Dining Rooms” with Legendary Cuisine and elegant French Quarter Setting. Dinner: Monday,Thursday, Friday and Saturday Open for Jazz Brunch on Sunday's from 11:00 to 2:00. Dinner available on closed days for Groups of 50 or more Lunch available for Groups of 50 or more Corporate Dining Accounts Available for client entertainment. Since 1840 713 St.Louis Street: New Orleans, La. Reservations 504-581-4422 4 New Orleans CityBusiness tion the efforts of lawyers post-Hurricane • Corinne Morrison, the first female Katrina and what they are doing to step managing partner at Chaffe McCall, vol- up and help New Orleans rebuild. unteers at a legal help desk at the Jewish • Robert Worley Jr., partner in the Community Center. labor and employment section at Jones • Nan Alessandra, partner at Phelps Walker, is the president of the Habitat for Dunbar, helped revive the Delta Festival Humanity New Orleans chapter. Worley Ballet this week at Loyola. said the organization has increased its • Miles Clements, founding partner goal from 15 houses a year to 250 and a of Frilot Partridge, is organizing a bene- four-year goal of 1,000 to help combat fit for high school volleyball players the housing problem in the city. whose fall season was interrupted by • George Frilot III, senior partner at Hurricane Katrina. Frilot Partridge, led the efforts to donate • Lane has helped represent and given $10,000 to the Habitat for Humanity, pro bono legal advice to members of the and his firm was also honored by the New Orleans fire and police depart- Jefferson Parish school system with a ments. “Good Citizen Award” for its contribu- The list of post-Katrina efforts among tions of school supplies to students who all 50 of these lawyers continues into this lost everything. publication. • Thomas Beron, a shareholder at They are impressive efforts because Liskow and Lewis and Colonel in the while they have given back to the com- Louisiana National Guard, witnessed munity, they are busy reestablishing the hurricane firsthand, working in the their legal practices and rebuilding their Ninth Ward when the Industrial Canal homes. Several lawyers lost their homes levee broke. He was one of the first peo- and offices and had to be displaced for as ple rescuing victims and put his law long as seven months after Katrina. career on hiatus for four months. Other lawyers have stepped to the • Fred Preis, a member at political forefront on recovery boards or McGlinchey Stafford, is chairman of the lobbying for legislative changes to make New Orleans Chamber of Commerce lives better for the people they represent. and works with businesses reopening Many times, lawyers are judged by and reestablishing themselves in the wins and losses in the courtroom. These New Orleans area while trying to find attorneys also fit that bill, arguing cases housing for employees who want to in front of the United States circuit come back and work in the city. courts, Supreme Court and more than • John Houghtaling, managing partner 30 combined state courts other than at Gauthier, Houghtaling and Williams, Louisiana. will put on the seventh annual French CityBusiness thanks each of them for Quarter Classic car show in November their professional and civic efforts and with proceeds going to Katrina victims. the differences they make in New Houghtaling also expects to have secured Orleans. more than $30 million in lawsuits paid to Congratulations to the 50 recipients Katrina victims. of CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law.• PROFESSIONAL SHORTHAND REPORTERS, INC. Proud to be a part of the New Orleans legal community since 1990 Board Certified Court Reporters Full-Service Copy & Scanning Center Video Services Offices in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport 504-529-5255 or 1-800-536-5255 [email protected] www.psrdocs.com Locally owned and operated by working Court Reporters May 1, 2006 5 CongratulationsCongratulations 2006EDITORIAL CALENDAR No.2 CorinneCorinne MorrisonMorrison Business Newspaper in theNation The in its class by the Alliance of Area Business Publications awarded in 2004 Source for Local Business News! MAY JUNE 1 Small Business Health Care List: SBA Lenders 5 List: HMOs/PPOs & Point of Service Plans 8 Dining & Catering List: Independent Caterers 12 Real Estate List: Largest Office Buildings 15 Banking/Financial Services List: Banks/S & L Directors 19 Public Companies 22 Law Firms List: Public Companies List: Law Firms 29 Office Technology 26 Insurance/Investments List: Wireless Telephone Retailers List: Life Insurance Agencies JULY AUGUST Education Real Estate 3 7 List: Commercial Leasing Companies List: Four-Year Colleges Construction 10 Banking/Financial Services 14 Law Firms/Legal Affairs List: Credit Unions List: Highest Paid Executives in State Government Dining & Catering Office Technology/ 17 List: French Quarter Hotels 21 Telecommunications from all of us at Chaffe McCall Tourism List: Computer Hardware Retailers Oil & Gas Accounting 28 on your selection as one of the List: Engineering Firms 24 List: Highest Paid Public Company Executives N.O. East Business Report Book of Lists 31 Health Care Top 50 Lawyers List: Diagnostic Imaging Centers SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 4 Banking/Financial Services 2 Holiday Party Planning in New Orleans. List: Savings & Loans List: Largest Hotels 9 Real Estate 11 Dining & Catering List: Commercial Property Managers As the first female Managing Partner of any major law firm in New List: Seafood Suppliers 16 Health Care Orleans, you have demonstrated your leadership skills with trial teams, 18 Insurance/Investments List: Women Owned Businesses List: General Contractors practice groups and our firm’s administrative duties.