Megan C. Riess

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.

William H. Patrick, III concentrates his practice in corporate bankruptcy, corporate workouts, and financial restructuring, representing debtors, committees, trustees, equity investors, and other parties in interest. Billy has played major roles in the restructuring of casinos, utility companies, restaurant and fast food chains, hotels, television broadcast companies, orthodontic management companies, and resolving claims arising from asbestos, breast implants, nuclear radiation, and other ha...

Jonathan Forester is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Jonathan, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Julia Haynes Terry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Transactions / UCC Law and Real Estate Law. Julia Haynes, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julia Haynes is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kathleen Charvet brings more than 25 years’ experience counseling and advocating for employer and contractor clients across admiralty, maritime law, Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation, and Defense Base Act matters. She has represented vessel owners, railroads, stevedoring companies, military employers, and insurers in complex litigation and regulatory matters nationwide. Kathleen’s collaborative approach involves expert witnesses, mediators, and courts to secure op...

Mr. Montgomery is a commercial real estate and transactional attorney that represents clients in complex commercial real estate transactions throughout Louisiana and collaborates with co-counsel on transactions outside of Louisiana. He often prepares and helps clients negotiate purchase agreements for commercial sales and acquisitions and often works with common law state lenders who require advice and assistance with Louisiana law as it pertains to and affects contracts related to their tran...

Chris Friend is a partner in the Litigation Practice group. He represents oil and gas and chemical companies in commercial and class action disputes, regulatory investigations, and law-enforcement actions. Chris represents upstream and midstream oil and gas companies, chemical companies, service providers, and contractors across the country in all aspects of regulation and litigation, including property damage, accidents, and insurance claims, toxic tort and bodily injury claims, environmenta...

Mithun B. Kamath is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Securities. Mithun B., 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 Mithun B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Douglas S. Draper practices primarily in the creditor and debtor rights area. His practice involves an equal mix of litigation and business negotiation. The creditor and debtor rights work involves representation of bondholders, creditors’ committees and debtors in large commercial and business cases. Has represented clients in successful reorganizations of hotels, grocery chains, apartment complexes, office buildings, oil companies, shipyards, clothing stores, an oil refinery, and fast...

Scott Willis is a partner in Fishman Haygood's Business Section. He practices primarily in the areas of commercial transactions, negotiated acquisitions, banking and commercial real estate acquisitions, development, and financing. Scott is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (“ACREL”) and previously served on its Board of Governors, is a member of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (“ACMA”) and serves on its Board of Regents, and is a past C...