James E. Lapeze

Asher Friend is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the firm's M&A and private equity and corporate and securities and executive compensation teams. Asher focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities, and general corporate law. Asher has developed significant experience in the hospitality, healthcare, energy, and technology industries, including representing clients in myriad acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and...

Chris Friend is a partner in the Litigation Practice group. He represents oil and gas and chemical companies in commercial and class action disputes, regulatory investigations, and law-enforcement actions. Chris represents upstream and midstream oil and gas companies, chemical companies, service providers, and contractors across the country in all aspects of regulation and litigation, including property damage, accidents, and insurance claims, toxic tort and bodily injury claims, environmenta...

Sarah Dicharry is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Energy Law. Sarah practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Sarah Dicharry 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 Sarah Dicharry is held by other lawyers.

Luke Falgoust is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the finance team. Luke’s practice focuses on the representation of borrowers, financial institutions, private equity firms, and sponsors in connection with capital markets transactions, including secured and unsecured syndicated credit facilities, bilateral loan facilities, cash flow and asset-based finance transactions, acquisition and working capital facilities, note offerings, vessel construction and permanent...

Frank Barry is an experienced maritime and energy litigator with successes involving maritime property damage, marine insurance indemnity and coverage claims. Frank also has achieved successful outcomes in insurance broker E&O claims, and in oil and gas claims such as Legacy Oil, on shore blowouts, and operating agreement litigation. With over 30 years of experience, his reported cases include seminal Louisiana caselaw on gas balancing and preferential rights in mineral law (Fina Oil &...

Steve Herman has more than 30 years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial, class action, and professional liability matters, and is often called on to provide expert testimony in these areas. His recent work includes submitting a series of declarations in support of class counsel’s successful fee petition in the multi-billion-dollar Aqueous Film-Forming Foam MDL settlements; serving as a special master to review litigation expenses and allocate awards t...

Brad Belsome handles matters involving transportation law, specifically within the Rail Industry. He has represented a Class I Carrier in actions brought in the State and Federal courts of Louisiana, as well as before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Court of Federal Claims, Office of Administrative Law Judges, OSHA, including: claims prosecuted pursuant to the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), 45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq. (1908), the Federal Rail Safety Act (FRS...

David Israel is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law and Employment Law - Management. David practices law in Metairie, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized David Israel since 2024. 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 Israel is held by other lawyers.

Ben Woodruff is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group, a member of the Finance team, and chair of the firm’s Mentoring and Training Committee. Ben represents borrowers and leading financial institutions with the arrangement and syndication of senior credit facilities, including acquisition, bridge, refinancings, and other corporate finance transactions. He also has significant experience with cash flow and asset-based lending, debtor-in-possession financing, loan restructurings and ...

Joe Lowenthal is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He has extensive experience in the fields of healthcare, insurance coverage, contracts, and environmental and toxic torts. Joe provides broad-based advice and focused litigation counsel for a variety of clients. Leader of the firm’s healthcare team, his representative matters include litigation on behalf of a managed service organization in multiple federal and state district courts across the United States, with responsibilit...