David S. Bland

Demarcus Gordon is a partner in the Oil and Gas/Energy and Environmental Litigation sections and specializes in litigation involving the oil and gas industry. He has experience representing clients in cases involving premises liability and personal injury, particularly in cases involving chemical exposures such as asbestos, benzene, or naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Mr. Gordon also defends oil and gas exploration and production companies in legacy litigation by landowners a...

Christopher Wappel is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on commercial lending and finance. Christopher has practiced law since 1999. He represents borrowers, agents, and lenders in structuring, negotiating, and documenting senior and subordinated, secured and unsecured, and bilateral and syndicated credit facilities, including acquisition, asset-based, oil and gas, real estate, receivables, vessel, and working capital financings. Christopher also has significant experience...

Lauren Mastio is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the board of directors. She handles all aspects of litigation, with a focus on the energy and construction industries. Lauren advises and represents oil and gas industry clients on matters concerning property contamination and restoration; downhole issues; land loss and subsidence; the rights and obligations of parties to joint operating agreements, oil, gas, and mineral leases, surface leases, oil and gas asset purch...

Mary Ellen Roy practices in the area of commercial litigation. She represents media and advertising companies in pre-publication and pre-broadcast review, defamation defense, privacy law, courtroom access, public records and open meetings, reporter’s privilege, negligent misrepresentation, and other First Amendment issues. She also handles intellectual property law matters, including copyright and trademark counseling, litigation, registration, prosecution and proceedings before the U.S...

Luke Falgoust is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the finance team. Luke’s practice focuses on the representation of borrowers, financial institutions, private equity firms, and sponsors in connection with capital markets transactions, including secured and unsecured syndicated credit facilities, bilateral loan facilities, cash flow and asset-based finance transactions, acquisition and working capital facilities, note offerings, vessel construction and permanent...

Melissa Lessell partners with her clients faced with professional liability and complex commercial litigation matters. She helps professionals navigate through disciplinary actions, ethics investigations, malpractice, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims and lawsuits. Forming partnerships with her clients, Melissa Lessell tirelessly defends them in professional liability and complex commercial litigation matters. She helps professionals navigate through disciplinary actions, license...

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

Monette Davis concentrates her practice on insurance defense and commercial litigation matters. Monette dedicates time to the legal community by serving in leadership positions with the American Bar Association and the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society where she mentors minority young lawyers and law students. She is also responsible for planning award-winning training programs to help law students navigate their journey through law school and then becoming a lawyer. Monette...

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...

Tyler Marquette is a partner in Fishman Haygood's Business Section. He has considerable experience leading all legal aspects of commercial real estate, including development, construction, acquisitions and sales, financing, and leasing. He represents commercial real estate developers, landlords, tenants, investors, lenders, buyers, and sellers. Tyler also practices banking, finance, and corporate law. Tyler routinely represents the regional real estate developer, investor, and asset manager, ...