James Gonczi

Joe Lavigne is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group and an experienced litigator in trade secret and non-compete disputes. As a lead attorney on Jones Walker’s trade secret and non-compete team, Joe focuses his practice on prosecuting and defending claims of employee misconduct involving trade secret violations, unfair trade practices, non-compete violations, invasion of privacy, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act issues, theft, and related disputes. He also advises clients ...

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...

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 &...

Mr. Lee is Chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. For the last 15 years, his practice has included a concentration in insurance and insurance class action lawsuits. He has experience in handling coverage issues, bad faith claims, mold claims, regulatory issues and class action claims with a myriad of substantial issues. Mr. Lee joined Stone Pigman, and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar, in 1974.

Richard Bertram is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group. Richard has more than 30 years of experience in admiralty and maritime law. He handles a wide range of domestic and international admiralty and maritime matters, including transactions, litigation, arbitration, appellate, regulatory, and administrative law, marine casualty investigations, regulatory compliance, and marine pollution and environmental matters.

Christopher M. Hannan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Insurance Law. Christopher M., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ingrid Laurendine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - Insurance and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Ingrid, who practices law in Mandeville, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ingrid is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Katherine “Kathy” Conklin advises employers nationwide on employment law compliance and employee benefits matters. In her employment law practice, Kathy counsels employers on compliance with ERISA, FMLA, FLSA, ADA, ADEA, and other workplace laws, from handbook design to termination considerations. Kathy enjoys developing solutions for clients who struggle with troubled employees, and frequently drafts severance agreements under the Older Workers Benefits Protection Act (OWBPA). A ...

Vic’s legal and executive management experience centers on governmental innovation, real estate development, environmental stewardship, and construction. He provides clients with legal advice informed by results-oriented leadership in the public sector and private industry, and by a strong scientific and technical background.

Justin Lemaire concentrates his practice on business litigation. He assists clients with a wide variety of business issues, including state and local tax disputes, products liability litigation, oil and gas litigation, public bid law cases and government procurement cases. His experience ranges from defending independent oil and gas companies in legacy oilfield site lawsuits to representing a large chemical corporation in a multimillion dollar arbitration over a chemical distribution agreemen...