Catherine Barrett "Barrett" Rice

Mr. Whittaker is Chair of the firm's Business Section. He represents clients in a wide variety of transactions, including buying, selling and merging companies; private placements of securities; venture capital and private equity transactions; joint ventures; roll-ups, spin-offs and split-ups; and all phases of real estate acquisitions, development and financing. Mr. Whittaker joined Stone Pigman in 1984.

Joseph Lassalle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Joseph, who practices law in Metairie, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Louis L. Gertler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Louis L., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Louis L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Fishman Haygood partner Lance McCardle practices in the areas of securities arbitration and litigation, environmental law, and general commercial litigation. Lance regularly represents investors (both individuals and institutions) in claims against their brokers, investment advisors, and/or investment banks in court or in arbitration proceedings administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). He also represents several landowners in claims against oil and ga...

Miriam Wogan Henry is a partner in the Tax Practice Group and a member of the firm’s board of directors. She focuses on estate planning, including family wealth transfer plans, charitable planning, and business succession planning, along with advising clients regarding fiduciary litigation and transfer tax controversy matters. Miriam advises on trust and estate planning matters such as drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and marital property agreements. Advising clients in conne...

Stephen Hall practices in the areas of insurance coverage law, environmental insurance litigation, asbestos and toxic tort litigation, and has gained considerable experience litigating coverage issues throughout the United States on behalf of the London insurance market and various domestic insurers, since joining the firm in 1983. The types of liabilities over which Mr. Hall has litigated disputed coverage issues include: environmental, asbestos, broker errors and omissions, aviation, and bu...

Emily Lippold Gummer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Emily Lippold, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emily Lippold is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

State and federal court litigator, trial advocate, and appellate advisor, Chuck Talley has more than four decades of experience representing clients in complex disputes. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Chuck practices with Kean Miller and focuses on resolving matters involving Admiralty and Maritime Law, Oil and Gas Law, insurance coverage, and general business litigation. His work includes handling cases at every stage of litigation, from initial strategy and motion practice through trial a...

Chris Wootten is Director in the Affordable Housing and Community Development practice in the New Orleans Office. His practice focuses on commercial finance, government incentives, public private partnerships and real estate development. Chris commonly represents commercial lenders, SBA licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), Community Development Entities (CDEs), tax credit investors, non-profit corporations, business owners and developers. Chris has extensive experience closin...

Ruddy Ramelli is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. Ruddy has been practicing tax law for more than 30 years and is a board-certified tax specialist as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He focuses his practice on federal and state income tax issues and the tax structuring and consequences of mergers, acquisitions, and related transactions. Ruddy regularly represents corporations, partnerships, individuals, and other for-profit entities, and has in-depth experience in...