Brian Ballay

Thear J. Lemoine is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Thear J. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Thear J. Lemoine since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Thear J. Lemoine is held by other lawyers.

Meghan Smith is co-team leader of the firm's environmental litigation team and a member of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources and Construction industry teams. She focuses her practice on environmental/toxic tort, construction and energy litigation and arbitration, as well as regulatory compliance. Meghan's blend of litigation and regulatory-compliance experience, as well as her focus on environmental, construction, and energy-related matters, has positioned her as a go-to lawye...

Bret LeBreton is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and a member of the insurance coverage team. He has practiced in all facets of maritime, energy, and marine and non-marine insurance law. Bret has represented assureds, underwriters, and other industry participants in a broad range of disputes involving hull, cargo, builder's risk, P&I, MEL, CGL, control of well, and excess and umbrella policies. He has given opinions regarding coverage, prepared reservations of rights, and advised...

George J. Fowler, III, is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group, where he focuses on litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. George Fowler is an internationally recognized trial lawyer known for his successful record trying hundreds of cases to juries and judges, including numerous high-profile matters, complex litigation, and cases of national concern. George has written and lectured extensively on private international law and world trade and is active in promoting trade and inv...

Brent Barriere has over 40 years of experience litigating commercial cases. He represents clients in a wide variety of commercial disputes, including bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, securities litigation, breach of contract, business valuation disputes, director and officer claims, error and omission claims, and class actions. Brent has developed a national practice representing trustees and receivers in complex litigation. His work includes serving as receiver’s counsel in Secu...

David Groome represents corporate clients, insurance companies and their insureds in litigation matters involving professional liability, product liability, property loss, and personal injury. When faced with pending litigation, David’s clients look to his industry specific knowledge to help reach an end result quickly and efficiently. For more intransigent matters, he focuses on quickly understanding the industry specific issues pertinent to the pending litigation and providing his cli...

Katherine Karam is a partner in the firm’s insurance and reinsurance practice. For over two decades, she has served as local, regional (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas), and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. She counsels clients, resolves coverage disputes and manages litigation involving insurance issues under state laws in all regions of the United Stat...

Frank Barry is an experienced maritime and energy litigator with successes involving maritime property damage, marine insurance indemnity and coverage claims. Frank also has achieved successful outcomes in insurance broker E&O claims, and in oil and gas claims such as Legacy Oil, on shore blowouts, and operating agreement litigation. With over 30 years of experience, his reported cases include seminal Louisiana caselaw on gas balancing and preferential rights in mineral law (Fina Oil &...

Asher Friend is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the firm's M&A and private equity and corporate and securities and executive compensation teams. Asher focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities, and general corporate law. Asher has developed significant experience in the hospitality, healthcare, energy, and technology industries, including representing clients in myriad acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and...

Carrie Tournillon practices Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law , and Utilities Law , with a focus on oil, natural gas, pipeline, and utility-related matters. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, she represents businesses navigating complex federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks. Carrie is listed among Chambers Band 1 Louisiana Energy & Natural Resources: Utilities lawyers and currently serves as a Councilmember and Past Chair of the Public Utilities Section of the...