Gerard J. Gaudet

David K. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Admiralty and Maritime Law. David K. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized David K. Smith since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David K. Smith is held by other lawyers.

Charles Seemann’s practice emphasizes ERISA and employment law, but also encompasses a variety of commercial matters. His practice includes the defense of ERISA plans and plan fiduciaries at both public and private companies, multi-employer plans and plan fiduciaries, and financial institutions providing services to ERISA plans. In addition to ERISA matters, Charles has recent and substantial experience in wide range of matters, including stock-option and executive-compensation disputes...

Milele St. Julien is a Special Partner at Pugh Accardo. Her practice primarily focuses on toxic tort litigation, premises liability, product liability, collections and sequestrations, and general civil litigation. Milele began her legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lloyd J. Medley, Jr. (retired) of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Subsequently, she concentrated her practice in the areas of toxic tort, environmental litigation, premises liability, and prod...

Dorothy H. Wimberly is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Dorothy H. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Dorothy H. Wimberly since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which D...

Ashley Heilprin practices in the areas of civil trial and commercial litigation. She regularly appears in Louisiana’s courts. Her commercial litigation experience includes state and federal matters in the following areas: business torts; construction on behalf of engineers, architects, contractors and developer clients; professional liability including lawyers, insurance broker and agent clients; First Amendment and defamation; breach of contract; breach of warranty; unfair trade practi...

Frederic Theodore 'Ted' Le Clercq acts as a “problem solver” for his clients faced with labor & employment law, professional liability defense, civil rights litigation, and constitutional law claims. His experience includes developing a national coordinating counsel program for a Fortune 200 national retailer. He currently serves as that client's national coordinating counsel for high-value personal injury claims. Ted is also a frequent speaker for a variety of professional gr...

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...

Jeff Tillery is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and co-leader of the maritime litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution team. He helps maritime and marine industry clients prevent and resolve a broad range of disputes. For more than 35 years, Jeff has advised and represented clients in maritime personal injury and collision matters, commercial litigation, longshore matters, and marine insurance coverage disputes, and has tried, as lead counsel, complex marine multi-party casual...

Miriam Wogan Henry is a partner in the Tax Practice Group and a member of the firm’s board of directors. She focuses on estate planning, including family wealth transfer plans, charitable planning, and business succession planning, along with advising clients regarding fiduciary litigation and transfer tax controversy matters. Miriam advises on trust and estate planning matters such as drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and marital property agreements. Advising clients in conne...

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.