Deil J. LaLande

Pauline Hardin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on criminal litigation as well as business, commercial, and labor disputes. Pauline has tried more than 150 jury trials across the spectrum of criminal and commercial litigation. She routinely handles bet-the-company and high-stakes matters, and also draws on her experience to help clients facing grand jury investigations by avoiding prosecution, or when facing criminal charges, by negotiating plea agreements or going t...

Kristi Post is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Kristi, 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 Kristi is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a degreed engineer, Keith J. Bergeron realizes that it gives his construction clients a sense of security to know they share similar backgrounds and that he understands their type of work. Receiving a lawsuit brought against you brings the stigma that something went wrong, but sometimes that is not a true statement. Keith investigates claims and defends his clients in all aspects of construction and construction surety law. He devotes special attention to architectural and engineering defe...

Michael R.C. Riess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Michael R.C., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael R.C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Terry McCay focuses his practice on business defense litigation, toxic tort litigation, employment law litigation, and Timber Law. Based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, he represents clients across a range of general civil litigation and defense matters, including cases involving alleged exposure to toxic substances, hearing loss claims, and property-related disputes. His work frequently involves matters connected to the forest products, pulp and paper, and chemical industries. Before attending l...

Suzette Marie Smith is a seasoned family law attorney with 36 years of experience guiding clients through divorce, child custody, support, spousal support, injunctions, and matrimonial agreements. A certified Family Law Specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, she is recognized as a Louisiana Family Law Super Lawyer and AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Discover more about Suzette’s practice here .

Raymond C. Lewis' practice centers primarily in the areas of complex commercial and business litigation, insurance defense, and appellate work. He has successfully litigated complex commercial disputes for local and national clients involving multi-million dollar claims for breach of contract, product liability, oil and gas disputes, and transportation casualty. Ray also maintains a regular appellate practice. In his appellate practice, Ray has handled numerous appeals before the Louisiana Su...

T. Jay Seale, III was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1947 and has lived in Hammond, Louisiana for most of his adult life. He earned his Juris Doctor from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law School in 1973 and began practicing law in Hammond later that year. After practicing as a solo attorney for two years, he began developing what is now Seale & Ross, A Professional Law Corporation, with offices in Hammond, Baton Rouge, and Madisonville. Mr. Seale’s practice includes Commercial Liti...

John R. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Tax Law. John R., who practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Sher is a business lawyer whose practice is concentrated in commercial real estate and business and finance law. He also practices in the areas of: commercial litigation, creditors' rights, workouts and foreclosures, commercial bankruptcy, disaster recovery, arbitration and mediation, secured finance and asset based lending. Along with his practice, Mr. Sher is actively involved with many professional and trade organizations, including the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, where he...