Lloyd N. "Sonny" Shields

Mark Mallery is the Managing Shareholder of the firm’s office in New Orleans, where he has practiced labor and employment law for over twenty-five years. A problem-solver for employers, Mark has acted as lead counsel on complex disputes, including Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower claims before the Office of Administrative Law Judges; pattern and practice and class based claims prosecuted by the EEOC; collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act; and class-based discrimination claim...

Senior Counsel Will Bland, III, one of the founding members of the firm, has more than 49 years of experience as a litigator. Will’s practice focuses on maritime personal injury defense, maritime collision and property damage insurance coverage, contractual indemnity, longshore matters, transportation defense, and general litigation. His clients have included both Fortune 500 and local one-boat companies, and he regularly represents vessel operators, shipyards, both brown water and offs...

Jay Adams is a partner in the Tax Practice Group and leader of the state and local tax team. Through partnering with his clients, Jay has developed a broad knowledge of the energy, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and retail industries that allows him to provide comprehensive and cost-effective advice in those areas. For more than 25 years, Jay has represented clients in matters involving virtually every type of state and local tax and in numerous jurisdictions. He has successfully ...

Stan Millan is special counsel and a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He divides his practice between transactional, compliance, and dispute-resolution matters involving environmental issues and government contracts. LEED® AP-certified by the US Green Building Council, Stan focuses his practice on environmental law, administrative law, and government contracts law, extending to the entire panoply of air, water, and waste regulation. He provides compliance counseling and defense be...

Raymond G. Areaux is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Technology Law. Raymond G., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Raymond G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Benjamin B. Saunders is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Railroad Law. Benjamin B., who practices law in Mandeville, Louisiana, has been recognized since 1997. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert J. Dressel practices in the areas of complex and commercial litigation, securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, and appellate litigation in state and federal court. Bobby’s pro bono work includes helping state and local prison inmates to resolve their outstanding legal issues before being released from prison. Bobby received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. While in law sc...

Curt Hearn is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. Curt served as co-leader of the Corporate Practice Group for more than 20 years, stepping down at the end of 2022. Drawing on his extensive experience and knowledge of what works — and what doesn’t — he works with firm clients to solve their most challenging, complex business and legal challenges. Curt advises private equity and venture capital firms, as well as publicly traded and privately held companies, working wit...

Heather LaSalle Alexis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Heather LaSalle, 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 Heather LaSalle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sid Lewis is a partner and leader of the Labor & Employment Practice Group, where he consults and advises management and human resources personnel with respect to employment and labor laws. Sid advises clients throughout the United States in all industries, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and service industries. A majority of his work involves general advice to employers on a variety of employment situations, including discipline, terminations, applications, leav...