James E. Lapeze

Andy Lee is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the corporate compliance group. He maintains an active national appellate and trial practice focused on business and commercial disputes. Andy founded and serves as head of the firm’s privacy and data security team and holds the CIPP/US designation from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Andy also chairs the firm’s Innovation Committee and co-leads the Technology Industry Team. Litigation. ...

Will Baldwin is co-leader of the firm’s Maritime Industry Group and leader of the firm’s maritime transactional team, where he focuses on maritime transactions and marine finance. Will also serves as co-chair of the firm’s offshore wind initiative. Will advises and represents clients on a wide range of complex marine transactional matters, including financings, ship mortgages, the purchase and sale of marine assets, Jones Act compliance, and governmental approval for maritim...

Fishman Haygood partner Lance McCardle practices in the areas of securities arbitration and litigation, environmental law, and general commercial litigation. Lance regularly represents investors (both individuals and institutions) in claims against their brokers, investment advisors, and/or investment banks in court or in arbitration proceedings administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). He also represents several landowners in claims against oil and ga...

Jay Sever is a partner in the Insurance and Reinsurance group of Phelps Dunbar. He is the Regional Practice Coordinator for the firm's insurance practice group and is also head of the insurance and reinsurance practice group in the New Orleans office. He serves as local, regional and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving a wide variety of insurance coverage issues, including matters arising ...

Steven I. Klein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Franchise Law, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Steven I., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on ...

Mr. Miller joined Blue Williams as an associate in the Metairie office in 2014. He was named partner in 2016. His practice consists primarily of medical malpractice defense, governmental and municipal liability, and general casualty litigation. Mr. Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University in 2006. He graduated cum laude from Paul M. Hebert Law School of Law at LSU in 2009 earning his Juris Doctorate and Graduate Diploma in Civil Law. During his t...

Monica Vela-Vick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Monica, 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 Monica is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rebecca Wilmore joined Blue Williams in 2017 and is a partner in the Metairie office. Her practice focuses primarily on medical malpractice defense and healthcare law. Ms. Wilmore earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, minoring in political science and graduating cum laude in 2001. She obtained her Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 2004 from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, where she served as a member of the Moo...

Bob Holden is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and is co-team leader of the firm’s environmental litigation team. He counsels clients on environmental regulatory compliance, enforcement actions, and related commercial litigation. With his deep understanding of the law and decades of experience in the field, Bob assists clients in developing practical, compliance-oriented solutions to environmental and related legal challenges. Bob represents businesses in the energy, chemicals...

Miles Clements is a recognized trial attorney having tried 100 cases to judgment. He practices at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court as well as in specialized jurisdictions throughout the country. His reputation spans from the marine and energy sector to defending the business and commercial needs of privately held and publicly traded companies. Miles is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the highest distinction of trial lawyers in the United States...