Eric Derbes

Amanda Russo Schenck obtained her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications from Louisiana State University in 2003 and her law degree from Loyola University of New Orleans School of Law in 2006. While at Loyola, Amanda was the Vice-president of the Student Bar Association, a Student Practitioner in the Family Law Section of the Loyola Law Clinic, and a teaching assistant in the Research and Writing Lab. Amanda was also the Case Note and Comment Editor of the Loyola Law and Technology Annua...

Calling on over 35 years of experience, Mr. Stout's practice includes insurance defense and general litigation in the areas of products liability and toxic torts. Mr. Stout mainly defends clients in toxic tort cases involving long-term latent disease, personal injury, and death claims involving silicosis or asbestosis and also has experience with asbestos property damage and building abatement claims. Mr. Stout also defends clients in products liability and maritime personal injury claims def...

Matthew’s experience and practice primarily includes the representation of shipyards, vessel owners and operators and contractors as well as other businesses in maritime, construction and commercial disputes. This experience includes the defense of Jones Act, Longshore Harbor and Worker’s Compensation Act, and maritime personal injury claims, as well as maritime contractual disputes and maritime property damage matters. Matthew’s experience also includes the defense of insur...

Robert K. Denny is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Robert K., 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 Robert K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Lindsey H. Chopin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Employment Law - Management. Lindsey H., 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 Lindsey H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Trey is a founding member of the firm and practices in the New Orleans office in the litigation section. He maintains an active civil litigation focus, where his principal areas of practice are products liability, complex toxic tort and occupational exposure, and insurance litigation matters. He also has experience in medical malpractice, professional liability and commercial litigation. His experience includes both trial and appellate court experience in the Louisiana state and the Federal c...

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...

Chris Wootten is Director in the Affordable Housing and Community Development practice in the New Orleans Office. His practice focuses on commercial finance, government incentives, public private partnerships and real estate development. Chris commonly represents commercial lenders, SBA licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), Community Development Entities (CDEs), tax credit investors, non-profit corporations, business owners and developers. Chris has extensive experience closin...

Grady Hurley is a partner in and co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team and co-chair of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Industry Team. Since 1979, he has focused on maritime, oilfield, and energy litigation. Grady has broad-ranging dispute resolution and transactional experience at the intersection of energy and maritime law, including in areas such as offshore energy exploration, production, and distribution, where a range of complex ...