Donald R. "Don" Abaunza

Member Mike Parks has more than 25 years of experience in trucking, transportation and automobile defense, general casualty and insurance defense, premises liability, products liability, and maritime litigation. As supported by the peer honors he has received, including Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Rating, inclusion in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers, Mike has developed a reputation as a highly skilled trial attorney in transportation and insurance defense li...

Daria Burgess Diaz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Daria Burgess, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daria Burgess is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Werner is the Managing Partner of Fishman Haygood. John works in the firm’s Business Section, primarily on financings, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and general corporate advice. In private equity, John represents Black Bay Energy Capital, Jefferson Capital Partners, and Enhanced Capital Partners in their investments in various portfolio companies. He also represents numerous private equity funded portfolio companies in their ongoing corporate nee...

Personal Background Born in Mobile, Alabama on April 7, 1963, Jeff Mitchell graduated from Louisiana State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He attended Louisiana State University, The Paul M. Hebert, School of Law (pictured above) from which he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1989. During law school, Mr. Mitchell was awarded the Outstanding Oral Advocate award by Mr. F. Lee Bailey during the F. Lee Bailey National Moot Court Competition. Mr....

Scott O’Connor’s practice focuses on oil and gas and complex commercial litigation. He has litigated and arbitrated numerous disputes involving onshore and offshore operating agreements, royalty claims, gas balancing agreements, oil and gas purchase contracts, farmout agreements, preferential purchase rights, and purchase and sale agreements. He has defended national and state class actions involving oil and gas pricing practices including antitrust litigation, and has represented...

Howard Shapiro is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation - ERISA and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Howard, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Howard is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ed Harold is the regional managing partner in the New Orleans office and chair of the firm's Retail Industry Practice Group. His practice is primarily devoted to employment litigation in both state and federal courts in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and counseling employers to avoid litigation. Throughout his career, he has spent significant time and attention assisting employers in managing employee attendance and leave issues. As a result of this work, in 1999, Ed testified before the...

Tim Scott is a partner in the firm's New Orleans office. His practice emphasizes employment litigation, particularly the defense of harassment and discrimination claims. Tim has successfully handled a number of jury trials as well as cases before the courts of appeals. Tim also advises employers on a day-to-day basis on issues relating to compliance with the various state and federal laws applicable to employers. Finally, Tim handles traditional labor law matters before the National Labor Rel...

Ault's practice is focused on bankruptcy, restructuring and commercial litigation. He represents clients in commercial contract disputes, defense of lien rights, acquisitions and financial litigation matters.

Rebekka Veith is a partner in Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section. Her diverse practice includes appellate work, class actions/mass actions/MDLs, fraudulent transfer and specialized bankruptcy litigation, and insurance coverage cases. Rebekka is known by her clients for being diligent and for her ability to resolve issues cordially but without concession. She currently represents a Louisiana law firm in protecting its interests in hurricane cases acquired from an out-of-state law firm ...