James Gonczi

Richard Cozad is a partner in SBSB Eastham’s New Orleans office with more than 45 years of experience in private law practice. A member of the firm since August 2018, he has focused his years of practice primarily on admiralty, marine insurance and environmental law. Richard received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University before going on to earn his law degree from Tulane University. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Nauman Scott, former Chief ...

The founding member of the firm, Larry Pugh has been practicing law in New Orleans since 1986. A skilled trial lawyer, he has defended businesses and individuals in complex civil matters and class actions. He is trial counsel for clients involved in nationwide litigation and has tried cases in multiple jurisdictions, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Tennessee. He is a leading litigator in the areas of asbestos litigation, other toxic tort litigation, products liability and environm...

Steve has practiced in the commercial litigation and bankruptcy areas for 40 years. His practice centers around the oil and gas and maritime industries. He has represented oil field service providers, vessel providers, aviation interests, geopositioning companies, shipyards and lease interest owners in bankruptcy matters in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Delaware. Steve has also represented pipeline interests and property owners in environmental litigation. Since 2013, he has taught Inter...

Kerry Miller is a partner in Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section. Kerry has the distinction of trying both the longest civil and criminal trials in the history of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. As jury trials resumed following pandemic related delays, Kerry tried the first civil jury trial in federal court in Louisiana and in Miami-Dade County in state court. Since June 2021, Kerry has tried several jury trials and participated in a large arbitr...

David Patrón serves as the Regional Practice Coordinator of the firm’s New Orleans Litigation Group where he manages one of the firm’s largest practice groups. With over twenty years of legal experience, David Patrón has established a solid reputation as a talented litigator who successfully represents businesses at all phases of litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Gulf South and beyond. Whether winning at trial or negotiating favorable settlements,...

Marjorie A. McKeithen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Marjorie A., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marjorie A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marshall Redmon practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. For more than twenty years, he has focused on insurance coverage, professional liability defense, bad faith counseling, and related litigation. As a young lawyer Mr. Redmon completed a secondment to a Lloyd’s non-marine syndicate, during which period he provided in-house advices to several London market insurers. His experience includes litigating a variety of non-marine matters, with an emphasis on professional liabili...

Kelsey believes effective communication is key to successful client advocacy. She assesses client-specific goals and strategic business considerations to develop tailored case strategies—whether through settlement or trial. Her practice focuses on insurance defense, insurance coverage, and workers’ compensation, representing insurance carriers and private businesses in civil litigation in state and federal court. A native of New Orleans, Kelsey is active in the community and leads...

Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tod advises Fortune 500 corporations, established energy companies, and emerging alternative energy enterprises on the transactional, regulatory, and litigation issues they encounter in daily operations. His practice includes Admiralty and Maritime Law, as well as offshore, midstream, and environmental matters arising under federal statutes such as the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, Natural Gas Act, NEPA, Deepwater Port Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act,...

Mr. Force practices in the areas of commercial litigation, admiralty, and complex insurance defense and coverage law and has represented clients at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Force is admitted to practice in Louisiana, Texas, and California and has practiced with law firms in each of those states. Mr. Force is an active member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, having served on its Board of Directors and as Chair of the MLA's Practice and Procedure and Young L...