Jeanette S. Riggins

Brian Schaps provides legal guidance to contractors, engineers, architects, and surveyors and represents these clients in all manners and stages of construction litigation. Brian provides attentive, diligent, and cost-effective representation to help his clients manage risks, evaluate potential liability and exposure, and achieve favorable resolutions to construction-related disputes. Brian consults with clients regarding front-end issues related to contracts and risks, assists clients in man...

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. ...

Matthew J. Fantaci is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Matthew J., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Cannella is a shareholder in the Louisiana offices of Baron & Budd. As part of the Mesothelioma Litigation Group, he serves asbestos victims across the gulf state. After graduating from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1999, Mr. Cannella served as a law clerk to the Honorable Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Following his service to Chief Justice Calogero, Mr. Cannella served as Assistant District Attorney for Orle...

Michael Botnick is a member with more than 40 years of experience in commercial litigation and is a certified mediator. His practice encompasses transactions, real estate, contracts, and corporate law, as well as trusts and estates. In the last 28 years, Michael has dedicated a hefty portion of his time practicing construction law and handling litigation cases involving disputes, an area in which he has been recognized in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business . Chambers USA sta...

Steven W. Usdin is a founding member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C. His practice is concentrated in commercial litigation, including insurance coverage, contracts, class actions and complex litigation, oil and gas litigation and intellectual property. Throughout his career, his diverse representations have included, among many other cases, representing large public companies in shareholder litigation, a shipbuilder in a multi-million dollar contract dispute, and insu...

Fishman Haygood co-founding partner Louis Fishman is counsel to the firm and a member of our Business Section. His transactional practice includes corporation law, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He also counsels clients on resolving disputes within family and other closely held businesses. Louis was a founder and has served since 1988 on the planning committee of Tulane’s Corporate Law Institute, and as a member of the Advisory Board of Editors for the Tulane Law Review since...

Pablo Gonzalez guides clients through the complex, evolving issues involving insurance coverage for cybersecurity events. In addition to litigation and mediation, he conducts working reviews of policy language and develops innovative, cost-effective systems to help insurers, reinsurers and syndicates monitor claims. Pablo leads the firm’s cyber coverage and monitoring team as well as the New Orleans insurance and reinsurance practice. He is a frequent speaker and writer on cyber insuran...

David Whitmore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David, 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 David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...