Donald R. "Don" Abaunza

Bryan Reuter concentrates his practice in complex commercial and intellectual-property litigation, including their appeals. Mr. Reuter received his undergraduate degree, a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, from Tulane University, where he earned the Leon Scherck Award for the highest cumulative average in the School of Engineering. After graduation he undertook various positions with Shell Oil and Shell Chemical Companies, including Operations Manager, for several petroch...

Amy Scafidel is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and co-leads the finance team. Amy focuses her practice on commercial lending and financial transactions. Amy has significant experience representing borrowers and commercial banks in connection with a wide variety of commercial lending transactions, including structuring, negotiating, and documenting all types of senior, subordinated, secure, and unsecured syndicated financial and other lending transactions. She also has experience wi...

Mark Mintz is a restructuring partner in the firm’s New Orleans office and co-leads the firm’s bankruptcy & restructuring team. Mark is co-leader of Jones Walker’s bankruptcy and creditors’ rights team and represents clients in a wide range of creditor and debtor rights matters, with a particular focus on creditors’ committees. Among his notable engagements, Mark advised a client involved in the bankruptcy of a Houston-based oil exploration and production (E&...

David Korn practices in the area of labor and employment. He represents private employers, insurance companies and governmental entities in all facets of labor and employment law throughout the Gulf South, with particular emphasis in Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Korn serves as lead trial counsel in cases brought under federal and state employment law statutes. He has handled issues brought under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Stand...

Lee Adler practices primarily in the areas of general business relationships and finance. He has an extensive transactional-based practice representing clients in a wide variety of fields. Finance transactions include real estate finance, vessel finance, accounts receivable-based finance and equipment and inventory finance, representing both borrowers and lenders. Prior to joining Phelps in 1992, Mr. Adler was an attorney at a large multi-practice firm in New York.

Phil is a commercial litigator in state and federal courts. He takes pride in advising his clients on how to succeed at trial, on appeal, or how to avoid litigation altogether. Louis Armstrong, the greatest trumpet player of all time, said “never play anything the same way twice.” Phil has taken this advice to heart in his practice, advising unique clients facing distinct challenges with an individualized approach. Phil represents a diverse set of clients across a broad range of i...

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 .

Dan Pancamo is counsel in the business group in the New Orleans office. He has an electric public utility regulatory practice, representing clients in matters primarily before the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Mr. Pancamo also has a business and commercial transactional practice, representing clients in: (i) commercial real estate matters, including property development, finance, leasing, and acquisitions and sales for a range of projects, including office, retail, commercial and indus...

Tom Casey is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice covering matters in both court and arbitration. Tom maintains a broad business and commercial litigation practice, handling disputes in court and arbitration. He has represented a variety of clients in the manufacturing, insurance, financial, and healthcare industries. Tom has also handled well over 50 class action cases in multiple states on issues such as products liability, contrac...

David Israel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law and Employment Law - Management. David, who practices law in Metairie, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.