M. Claire "Claire" Durio

Stephen Brooks joined Pugh Accardo as a Special Partner. He has been practicing law since 1994 in Louisiana. He is an experienced insurance casualty and workers’ compensation defense attorney. He is trial counsel for multiple insurance companies, risk retention groups, self-insurers’ funds, insurance agencies and agents and corporate employers involved in litigation throughout the Southeast Region of the United States. Mr. Brooks has also been extensively employed by the insurance...

Tod Everage is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Tod, 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 Tod is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Howard Sinor has extensive trial and appellate experience spanning more than three decades. He has handled hundreds of cases at all levels of the federal and state judicial systems, up to and including the United States and Louisiana Supreme Courts. He is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution including arbitration, mediation, and summary trials. Howard's experience in the practice of commercial litigation is broad and deep, and includes class action, multi-district, and other com...

Howard L. Murphy joined Deutsch Kerrigan in 1980, after spending seven years as a broadcast journalist working as a news reporter for television stations in New Orleans, Louisiana and San Antonio, Texas. The skills he developed as a news reporter he has brought to the courtroom. Mr. Murphy engages in a diversified practice that includes the routine representation of clients in the areas of commercial transportation, casualty litigation, products liability with an emphasis on oil and gas equip...

Ms. Doucette joined Ogletree Deakins in 2009. She practices primarily in the area of employment litigation and represents management in claims arising under Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, as well as other federal and state employment laws. She also regularly represents employers in various state and federal administrative proceedings. Ms. Doucette has significant experience with litigating employment matters in a variety of business sectors such as construction, insurance, banking, hospitality, ...

Mr. McReynolds is a passionate writer of state and federal appeal briefs. He is experienced in alternative dispute resolution methods and is certified by the American Arbitration Association as an arbitrator and mediator.In his professional liability practice, Mr. McReynolds defends architects, engineers, lawyers and insurance agents against coverage disputes, malpractice, and construction claims. He also has an active products liability practice.

Céleste focuses on several insurance coverage practice areas including third-party insurance coverage, general liability, environmental and toxic tort liability coverage, and marine insurance coverage. Céleste represents insurers in connection with insurance coverage and bad faith disputes involving a variety of matters including environmental and latent injury claims, business torts, and labor- and employment-related claims. In addition, she has significant experience represent...

Mr. Whittaker is Chair of the firm's Business Section. He represents clients in a wide variety of transactions, including buying, selling and merging companies; private placements of securities; venture capital and private equity transactions; joint ventures; roll-ups, spin-offs and split-ups; and all phases of real estate acquisitions, development and financing. Mr. Whittaker joined Stone Pigman in 1984.

Scott Zander is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group, where he focuses his practice on tax-exempt and taxable finance structures for governmental, non-profit, and corporate clients. In addition to serving as bond counsel in municipal and corporate debt offerings, Scott represents borrowers, developers, underwriters, and trustees in various corporate, project, and structured financings. He also advises clients on economic development projects in Louisiana. In particular, Scott has extensi...

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...