Donald R. "Don" Abaunza

Stevan C. Dittman, born Hampshire, Illinois, December 7, 1949; admitted to bar, 1985, Louisiana; also admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana. Preparatory education, University of Wisconsin (B.A., 1971); University of Michigan (M.A., 1973; Ph.D. Candidate 1976); legal education, Tulane University of Louisiana (J.D., 1985). Honor Societies: Phi Kappa Phi; Order of the Coif. Edi...

Carrie Tournillon practices Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Regulatory Law , and Utilities Law , with a focus on oil, natural gas, pipeline, and utility-related matters. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, she represents businesses navigating complex federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks. Carrie is listed among Chambers Band 1 Louisiana Energy & Natural Resources: Utilities lawyers and currently serves as a Councilmember and Past Chair of the Public Utilities Section of the...

Michael A. Balascio is an experienced litigator representing clients in securities litigation and arbitration, high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith cases, and complex commercial litigation. He has first-chair trial experience and has successfully litigated matters in federal and state appellate courts. In his securities practice, Michael counsels investment management companies and brokers in litigated matters and FINRA proceedings in a variety of significant disputes involving securi...

M. H. Gertler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. M. H., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which M. H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Curt Hearn is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. Curt served as co-leader of the Corporate Practice Group for more than 20 years, stepping down at the end of 2022. Drawing on his extensive experience and knowledge of what works — and what doesn’t — he works with firm clients to solve their most challenging, complex business and legal challenges. Curt advises private equity and venture capital firms, as well as publicly traded and privately held companies, working wit...

Carl Hellmers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Carl, 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 Carl is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lou Grossman represents clients in serious, high-stakes disputes arising in the energy and petrochemical industries. His practice includes work for major domestic and international energy companies, as well as Fortune 5 to Fortune 500 corporations, national middle-market and fast-growth enterprises, and Louisiana-based privately held oil and gas businesses. Lou is based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and practices with Kean Miller . Lou’s energy industry experience includes litigating, tryi...

Hirschel Abbott concentrates his practice in estate planning, closely held businesses and entity selection, fiduciary litigation, charitable planning, and tax-exempt organizations. He currently serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Tax, Trusts and Estates Practice Group. As a Board-Certified Tax Law Specialist and a Certified Public Accountant, Hirschel counsels businesses and other high net worth individuals and families on matters related to property, tax, and estate planning. He also ad...

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...

Jim Swanson represents state and local governments, corporations, and individuals in cases involving municipal finance, derivatives, CDOs, Ponzi schemes, corporate tax, coastal land loss, industrial and environmental accidents, and a range of other subject areas. Jim’s efforts are recorded in over 100 reported decisions. Jim is particularly known for his securities practice and has obtained multimillion-dollar judgments for his clients in jury and bench trials and commercial arbitration...