Laura Walker Plunkett

Mr. Best is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and he returned home to South Louisiana in 2005. Mr. Best worked for a healthcare boutique firm in New Orleans for almost nine years before joining Blue Williams. Mr. Best has first and second chaired numerous bench and jury trials in Louisiana, as well as Georgia, and he has participated in numerous medical review panel proceedings and arbitration hearings in various jurisdictions. Mr. Best has extensive experience in healthcare regulatory and ...

Mike Magner is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. An acclaimed former federal prosecutor, he delivers practical advice and offers a steady hand to clients facing a wide range of commercial disputes, internal investigations, and white collar criminal matters. Mike is a preeminent, highly respected trial attorney and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Drawing on his more than 40 years of experience handling complex criminal and civil matters — including nearly 50 ju...

Bret LeBreton is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and a member of the insurance coverage team. He has practiced in all facets of maritime, energy, and marine and non-marine insurance law. Bret has represented assureds, underwriters, and other industry participants in a broad range of disputes involving hull, cargo, builder's risk, P&I, MEL, CGL, control of well, and excess and umbrella policies. He has given opinions regarding coverage, prepared reservations of rights, and advised...

Gary Hemphill practices in the areas of admiralty litigation. His practice involves matters in personal injury, cargo, oil and energy, finance and FD&D. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Hemphill was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

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 ...

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...

Michael A. Balascio is an experienced litigator representing clients in securities litigation and arbitration, high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith cases, and complex commercial litigation. He has first-chair trial experience and has successfully litigated matters in federal and state appellate courts. In his securities practice, Michael counsels investment management companies and brokers in litigated matters and FINRA proceedings in a variety of significant disputes involving securi...

John Jerry Glas is the Chair of the Civil Litigation Department at Deutsch Kerrigan and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has tried 114 civil or criminal trials, including 76 jury trials and 38 judge trials. Jerry has been admitted pro hac vice in 11 different states and had success on both sides of the aisle. In 2021, as lead trial counsel for the plaintiff (Lindale Pipeline, LLC), Jerry obtained a $26 million verdict in Houston. In 2012, as lead trial counsel for the def...

Tom Casey is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice covering matters in both court and arbitration. Tom maintains a broad business and commercial litigation practice, handling disputes in court and arbitration. He has represented a variety of clients in the manufacturing, insurance, financial, and healthcare industries. Tom has also handled well over 50 class action cases in multiple states on issues such as products liability, contrac...

Trey is a founding member of the firm and practices in the New Orleans office in the litigation section. He maintains an active civil litigation focus, where his principal areas of practice are products liability, complex toxic tort and occupational exposure, and insurance litigation matters. He also has experience in medical malpractice, professional liability and commercial litigation. His experience includes both trial and appellate court experience in the Louisiana state and the Federal c...