John R. "J. R." Whaley

John Blackman is a partner in the Tax Practice Group. He focuses on employee benefit plans, estate planning, and individual, corporate, and pass-through entity income tax planning. John has drafted qualified plans, employment agreements, and deferred compensation plans; has advised and represented clients on tax and ERISA matters, including Internal Revenue Code Section 409A; and has frequently represented clients in matters involving ERISA litigation. He works with clients to draft complex w...

Walt Green focuses his practice on cybersecurity, white collar criminal defense and governmental investigations, and litigation. He is a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitrator dedicated to serving the securities industry and investing public. Walt was the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana and the Executive Director for the National Center For Disaster Fraud from 2013-2017. He retired from the United States Department of Justice with over 20 years of feder...

Michael K. Leachman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Trademark Law. Michael K., who practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matt Kern is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on public finance transactions. Matt serves as bond counsel to various local governmental issuers, including municipalities, special districts, port districts, and other political subdivisions. He also serves frequently as bond counsel to state-level issuers, including the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority, the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, the Louisiana Correction...

Alan Harrell practices environmental law and litigation, with an emphasis on toxic tort litigation and class actions. He also counsels clients on environmental regulatory matters. Working at the intersection of substantive environmental law, science, and litigation, Mr. Harrell regularly works with a variety of expert witnesses in areas ranging from hydrogeology to vapor intrusion. Mr. Harrell’s practice includes representing chemical manufacturing facilities and environmental insurers ...

Alston Johnson practices in the area of litigation, particularly at the appellate level and with particular emphasis in the areas of tort litigation, insurance coverage and litigation, and administrative law. He has extensive experience in legislative and regulatory and governmental matters and has represented numerous public entities in both counseling and litigation capacities. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar in 1984, Mr. Johnson was a member of the full-time law faculty at the Hebert Law Ce...

Practicing law since 1979, Nancy C. Dougherty is experienced in several practice areas, including higher education law, non-profit and charitable foundation work, governmental law, real estate transactions, museum law, and healthcare. Ms. Dougherty is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, ranked by Best Lawyers in America, and is a former "Influential Women in Business" honoree by Baton Rouge Business Report for both her professional accomplishments and her contributions to the community...

Charles A. Schutte, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate. Charles A., who practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andy St. Romain is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and maintains an active practice advising clients on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial real estate matters. Andy handles matters related to oil and gas leasing and infrastructure, mixed-use, and other retail development. He regularly drafts and negotiates purchase, lease, development, and financing agreements, conducts title examinations for issuance of owner and loan title insurance policies, and has been involve...

Charles Landry is a partner and member of Fishman Haygood’s Business Section. Charles concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate finance, land use and zoning. He has represented numerous parties in a wide range of real estate transactions, which include residential developments (including Traditional Neighborhood Developments), office buildings, shopping malls and centers, hotels and medical facilities, golf course communities, and industrial developm...