James A. Prather

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...

Brittany Wolf-Freedman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Brittany, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brittany is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Whitaker is a member of Kean Miller ’s labor and employment law group in New Orleans, Louisiana. His practice focuses on representing employers and management in a wide range of labor and employment matters, including the defense of employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. He regularly advises employers on compliance with state and federal employment laws, drafts employment contracts, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, and assists with the developmen...

Nicholas Wehlen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Securities. Nicholas, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Colin Cambre practices in the area of admiralty law. He specializes in the areas of maritime personal injury defense and litigation, Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act claims, and maritime collision and property damage defense and litigation. He has experience conducting shipboard investigations for vessel collisions, personal injury and cargo damage. Colin has represented clients in state and federal courts in all aspects of litigation. He has handled numerous...

Cherie Dessauer Nobles focuses her practice on bankruptcy and debtor-creditor rights, representing a broad range of clients—from large, complex companies to smaller businesses—in chapter 11 and chapter 7 proceedings and out-of-court restructurings. She has experience advising debtors, trustees, unsecured creditors’ committees, and individual creditors in complex commercial bankruptcies and related workout matters. As part of the firm’s bankruptcy team, Cherie has had s...

Madeleine Fischer is special counsel in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on insurance coverage and claims handling disputes. Madeleine has represented clients in litigation for almost 40 years and has extensive trial experience in state and federal courts. She has represented a variety of policyholders and insurance companies in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. Besides insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, her practice also extends to appellate practice, class act...

Mike Phillips serves as Chair of Kean Miller ’s Energy and Environmental Litigation practice group and represents clients in complex, high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts, including trials and appeals. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, his practice focuses on matters involving single- and multi-plaintiff claims, class actions, multi-district litigation, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants . While his work frequently involves the energy sector, he als...

Gary Hemphill practices in the areas of admiralty litigation. His practice involves matters in personal injury, cargo, oil and energy, finance and FD&D. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Hemphill was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

Harry Rosenberg practices in the area of commercial litigation, concentrating in the areas of business torts, trial practice, civil rights, and white collar criminal law. Mr. Rosenberg is the regional practice coordinator of the firm’s commercial litigation practice. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar in 1974, Mr. Rosenberg served as a judicial clerk to The Honorable Jack M. Gordon, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. He also served as the United States Attorney for t...