Mark C. Surprenant

Member Dan Hoerner anchors the firm’s Lafayette, Louisiana office. He has been with Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett since it was founded in 1997 and practiced with the firm’s founders for five years prior to that. His practice is primarily litigation-based, with emphasis on admiralty and maritime law, general casualty and insurance defense, personal injury defense, property damage claims, employer and premises liability, and contract negotiations and disputes. He has succ...

David Patrón serves as the Regional Practice Coordinator of the firm’s New Orleans Litigation Group where he manages one of the firm’s largest practice groups. With over twenty years of legal experience, David Patrón has established a solid reputation as a talented litigator who successfully represents businesses at all phases of litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Gulf South and beyond. Whether winning at trial or negotiating favorable settlements,...

Ned Bergin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He represents utilities and publicly held companies in a broad range of disputes. Ned has a robust commercial litigation practice focused on utility regulation, complex and class action litigation, contract litigation, energy litigation, state constitutional and home rule law and antitrust matters. He represents publicly held entities in these areas, including large nationwide telecommunications providers and energy production and coge...

Stevan C. Dittman, born Hampshire, Illinois, December 7, 1949; admitted to bar, 1985, Louisiana; also admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana. Preparatory education, University of Wisconsin (B.A., 1971); University of Michigan (M.A., 1973; Ph.D. Candidate 1976); legal education, Tulane University of Louisiana (J.D., 1985). Honor Societies: Phi Kappa Phi; Order of the Coif. Edi...

McCann LeFeve is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. McCann practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized McCann LeFeve since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which McCann LeFeve is held by other lawyers.

John W. Joyce is an experienced litigator and trial attorney whose practice includes most types of sophisticated civil litigation. He represents insurance companies in coverage and claim-handling cases, broker-dealers and financial advisors in securities and employment disputes, and both businesses and individuals in contract, fraud, fiduciary liability, shareholder, restrictive covenant, and trade secret litigation. John has represented clients in more than twenty trials, evidentiary hearing...

Frank Accardo is a founding member of the firm. He has been engaged in trial and appellate product liability litigation for over 30 years. His primary practice responsibilities include serving as managing counsel for the defense of asbestos personal injury litigation pending nationwide. Mr. Accardo was a licensed engineer engaged in the design and construction of offshore oil and gas platforms before starting his legal career.

Fishman Haygood co-founding partner Louis Fishman is counsel to the firm. His transactional practice included corporation law, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. He also counseled clients on resolving disputes within family and other closely held businesses. Louis was a founder and has served since 1988 on the planning committee of Tulane’s Corporate Law Institute , and as a member of the Advisory Board of Editors for the Tulane Law Review since 1991. He has held several key post...

Lindsey H. Chopin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Employment Law - Management. Lindsey H. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Lindsey H. Chopin since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Lindsey H. Chopin is held by other lawyers.

Melissa Harris is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. Melissa practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Melissa Harris since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melissa Harris is held by other lawyers.