Kristen Lewis Hayes

Richard E. Sarver is a founding member of the law firm of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C., a New Orleans litigation firm ranked among the top litigation firms in Louisiana. Rick has extensive jury trial experience, including trials in thirteen different states. He has served as lead trial attorney in more than 100 jury trials, including complex multidistrict litigation. Many of his trials have been in bet-the-company litigation, where he repeatedly has succeeded before j...

Mr. Cahill is a member of the Firm's Business Group whose practice is concentrated in commercial real estate, business and finance law, as well as creditors' rights, workouts and foreclosures and commercial bankruptcy. Mr. Cahill is actively involved with many professional, civic, charitable and trade organizations, including the Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association (having recently served two terms as a Supervisory Council Member of the Section's Gove...

Ken Najder is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He represents public and private companies regarding a variety of corporate and securities law matters. Ken concentrates his practice on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions, joint ventures, and corporate governance. Ken’s securities law practice includes counseling public companies regarding their disclosure obligations, private placements for venture-stage companies, and public debt offerings...

Senior Counsel Georges Legrand is one of the founding members of MBLB. He has more than 44 years of experience as a litigator. As a leader of the firm’s Admiralty and Maritime law practice, he has been part of forging a team of attorneys who have developed a depth of expertise that rivals larger firms. His practice focuses on defense of maritime personal injury and property damage claims on the river and offshore, as well as insurance, transportation, and contractual matters. His experi...

Bill Harrison's practice is litigation-oriented in the areas of toxic tort, personal injury and insurance defense, including general aviation, litigation, premises liability, automotive and products liability. His defense clients include local and national automotive, aviation, and insurance companies. In addition to his law degree, Bill holds a degree in Respiratory Therapy, which includes instructing at The Charity School of Nursing, Tulane Medical School's Paramedic Program, LSU Medical Sc...

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...

Terry Knister has more than 30 years of litigation experience in both bench and jury trials and also on appeal. His practice is concentrated on toxic tort and environmental litigation with an emphasis on class action and mass tort cases. He has served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases involving allegations of personal injury, property devaluation/damage, and remediation as a result of chemical exposure and/or contamination. These matters typically include thousands of plaintiffs seeking...

Nan Alessandra represents employers in both the public and private sectors in the defense of discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims for age, gender, disability, race, religion, national origin, and other protected categories. Her litigation experience includes the defense of EEOC and other administrative charges filed through the various federal and state court agencies, as well as defense of legal claims filed at both the judicial level, as well as through the arbitration process....

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.

Daria Burgess Diaz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Daria Burgess, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daria Burgess is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.