Leon H. Rittenberg III

James D. Rhorer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Oil and Gas Law. James D., 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 James D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

David Marcello has served Of Counsel to Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. since 2002. He is a 1968 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and holds a 1971 J.D. degree from Tulane Law School, where he was an assistant editor of the Law Review and member of the Order of the Coif. Mr. Marcello was recognized in 2013 by Best Lawyers for his work in the practice areas of Municipal Law, Administrative /Regulatory Law, and Land Use & Zoning Law. Mr. Marcello’s exp...

Keith Grady is Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property and Technology Litigation practice. With over 29 years of experience in government and private law practice, clients turn to Keith for both ongoing counsel and immediate litigation needs. He takes a strategic approach to developing, enforcing and defending clients' intellectual property and furthering their business interests. Clients have said Keith has "a rational, common sense approach to IP litigation matters. He is willing to do what...

Mr. Force practices in the areas of commercial litigation, admiralty, and complex insurance defense and coverage law and has represented clients at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Force is admitted to practice in Louisiana, Texas, and California and has practiced with law firms in each of those states. Mr. Force is an active member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, having served on its Board of Directors and as Chair of the MLA's Practice and Procedure and Young L...

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...

Blair Schilling is a partner in Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section, where she represents clients in a wide range of commercial matters in federal and state court, with a concentration in environmental law. Blair’s environmental practice spans coastal erosion and restoration, land contamination, land use, clean water, asset retirement, brownfield site cleanup and redevelopment, regulatory and permitting matters, and expropriation issues. In doing this work, Blair represents state...

Cherie Dessauer Nobles is special counsel in Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section. She works in the firm’s bankruptcy practice group and concentrates on debtor and creditor rights. Cherie has experience in representing large, complex companies and small companies in bankruptcy. Her experience includes representation of debtors, trustees, unsecured creditors’ committees, and creditors in commercial bankruptcy and workout business cases in chapter 11 and chapter 7 bankruptcy p...

Bert M. Cass Jr., is a jury trial litigator concentrating in the defense of bodily injury and death cases particularly in marine and offshore litigation claims. His practice focuses on representing vessel owners, oil and gas producers, exploration and drilling companies, facility operators, distributors, and offshore service contractors and their insurers against personal injury, wrongful death and survival claims. He is also experienced in energy-related claims, including interpretation of i...

Melissa Harris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Melissa, 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 Melissa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.