Melissa M. Shirley

Blane Clark has more than four decades of experience negotiating, documenting, and closing complex business, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and oil and gas transactions. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he works with clients on corporate structuring and restructuring and advises on the legal considerations that arise in the day-to-day management and growth of a business. His practice includes Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, with a focus on helping organizations navigate t...

A member of the Taylor Porter Executive Committee, Partner Brett P. Furr is engaged primarily in a real estate and commercial litigation practice. In the last several years, his work has been related to commercial bank workout and litigation, including foreclosures, bankruptcies, defense of lender liability suits, and oil and gas cases and related matters. Mr. Furr is the former chairman of the Banking Law Section of the National Lawyers Association. On behalf of the Louisiana Bankers Associa...

A. Edward Hardin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. A. Edward practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized A. Edward Hardin since 2027. 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 A. Edward Hardin is held by other lawyers.

Attorney Kenneth H. Hooks III manages one of the firms catastrophic injury sections. Kenny focuses his practice on providing excellent representation to the few clients chosen by the section's rigorous case selection. Kenny has practiced personal injury and maritime law for 30 years focusing on prosecuting horrific injury claims as a result of crashes, explosion burns, work place injuries and deaths, hospital errors and very large commercial claims all on a pure contingency basis. Mr. Hooks h...

Practicing law since 2004, Taylor Porter Partner Eddie Hughes serves as the Chair of the Oil/Gas/Regulated Industry practice, and as a member of the Firm's Executive Committee. Eddie's primary areas of practice include Commercial Litigation, Oil and Gas Litigation and Transactions, Toxic Tort Litigation, and Insurance Defense and Casualty Litigation. He brings his unique experience as a former independent petroleum landman to counsel clients on both transactional and litigation matters involv...

Randy Young has devoted decades of practice to energy and utility regulation, with additional experience in river pilotage regulation and environmental toxic tort litigation. He is recognized by Chambers USA as a “Band 1” attorney in Energy & Natural Resources and holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Randy is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America , including selection as a “Lawyer of the Year,” and has been named to the Baton Rouge Business Report &rsqu...

Marc S. Whitfield is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Marc S. practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Marc S. Whitfield since 2024. 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 Marc S. Whitfield is held by other lawyers.

Charles McCowan is a founding member of Kean Miller and has more than 55 years of experience representing local, regional, national, and international petrochemical, industrial, healthcare, and corporate clients. Based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his practice focuses on defending complex litigation matters in state and federal courts. Mr. McCowan regularly represents defendants in Mass Tort Litigation and Class Actions, as well as Personal Injury Litigation involving alleged toxic exposure, in...

Jennifer Jones Thomas is a health care law attorney at Kean Miller in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who advises healthcare organizations and their stakeholders on the legal and operational challenges involved in today’s healthcare environment. Her background includes a law degree, a Master of Health Science, and prior work within healthcare facilities, providing her with a practical understanding of how legal guidance intersects with healthcare operations. She is among a limited number of att...

Diane is a member of Butler Snow’s Finance, Real Estate and Restructuring Group. She focuses her practice on commercial transactions, including secured financings, real estate and leasing in the chemical, food, retail, healthcare, banking and telecommunications industry sectors.