Charles E. Lavis, Jr.

Scott Jenkins is a partner in and leader of the Maritime Practice Group and co-leader of the Maritime Industry Team. He advises clients on a broad range of maritime transactions, compliance, and litigation. Scott advises clients on coastwise trade, security, citizenship, manning, and vessel documentation issues; contracts; service agreements; charter agreements; disputes arising from commercial, construction, insurance coverage, and indemnity issues; personal injury and casualty litigation; a...

Etienne Balart is a partner in the Maritime and Litigation practice groups, in the Construction Industry Team, and co-leads the firm's Latin America working group. He provides transactional and litigation counsel to clients in the energy and maritime industries. Etienne helps clients identify and quantify financial, compliance, and other risks associated with disputes and litigated matters, negotiate, and, where necessary, bring to trial commercial and other disputes. Relying upon this deep e...

Tim was first inspired to become an attorney while watching Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird. When Atticus commanded a courtroom against all odds in a seemingly impossible case, it ignited Tim's desire to be challenged by interesting things and to do work that is socially valuable. Every day Tim gets to do just that, as he shows up to work to face fresh challenges that allow him to provide his clients with his best efforts. A considerate friend and genuine professional, Tim has a strong...

Stephen W. Rider is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Stephen W., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Harry Rosenberg practices in the area of commercial litigation, concentrating in the areas of business torts, trial practice, civil rights, and white collar criminal law. Mr. Rosenberg is the regional practice coordinator of the firm’s commercial litigation practice. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar in 1974, Mr. Rosenberg served as a judicial clerk to The Honorable Jack M. Gordon, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. He also served as the United States Attorney for t...

Susan Santa Cruz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Susan, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marty McLeod practices in the area of marine and energy and business litigation law. He represents U.S. and foreign vessel owners as well as offshore energy companies in a variety of marine and energy matters, including regulatory issues, business counseling, bankruptcy, and property, loss of use, pollution and commercial disputes. Marty serves as the practice coordinator of Phelps Dunbar's New Orleans admiralty group and is a current member of the firm's Operations Committee. Prior to enteri...

Francis “Rasch” H. Brown is an experienced trial lawyer who advises clients throughout the United States on tort litigation and commercial disputes, with an emphasis on product liability defense. In the products liability field, he has tried more than 35 cases to conclusion obtaining defense verdicts in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas. Rasch is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Highly regarded for his ability to communicate scie...

Robert J. Dressel practices in the areas of complex and commercial litigation, securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, and appellate litigation in state and federal court. Bobby’s pro bono work includes helping state and local prison inmates to resolve their outstanding legal issues before being released from prison. Bobby received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. While in law sc...

Stewart focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; marine finance and vessel documentation; asset-based finance; litigation, corporate and commercial law; and oil and gas. Stewart has been practicing law in New Orleans for more than 38 years. He is a 1974 graduate of Kenyon College, magna cum laude , where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated top in his class in 1977 from Tulane Law School where he was elected to the Order of the Coif...