Melanie Derefinko

Robert K. Denny is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Robert K., 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 Robert K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Susan Santa Cruz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Susan, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard Cortizas is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the Jones Walker board of directors. He focuses on transactional matters, representing clients in complex land use and zoning matters, public finance, and economic development projects. Richard has extensive experience representing corporate clients, developers and individuals before local planning commissions, boards of zoning adjustments, and governing authorities of political subdivisions throughout the state. Ri...

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.

Nan Alessandra represents employers in both the public and private sectors in the defense of discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims for age, gender, disability, race, religion, national origin, and other protected categories. Her litigation experience includes the defense of EEOC and other administrative charges filed through the various federal and state court agencies, as well as defense of legal claims filed at both the judicial level, as well as through the arbitration process....

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...

Kevin McGlone is a native of Metairie, Louisiana. He is a 1999 cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. He then attended Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans and graduated magna cum laude with a Juris Doctor in 2002. While at Loyola, Mr. McGlone served as Editor-in-Chief of the Loyola Law Review. Following graduation from law school, Mr. McGlone served as law clerk from 2002-2003 to the Honorable ...

Kent Morrison practices in all areas of marine and energy law, including tort defense, monitoring and insurance coverage analysis. He has handled cases involving cargo disputes, collisions, personal injuries, deaths, collisions, allisions, wake/wave wash, groundings, products liability, property damage, indemnity and insurance coverage disputes, representing maritime employers, vessel owners, longshore employers, energy companies, dock and terminal owners and their underwriters. He also provi...

David Rieveschl concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law. His practice includes structuring public and private sales of equity and debt instruments and advising clients on compliance with federal and state securities laws. David regularly counsels established and emerging companies on issues affecting legal structure, intellectual property rights and venture capital financing, with particular focus on technology, life sciences, natural ...

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...