Michael Cerniglia

John W. Martinez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. John W., 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 John W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Amy L. Maccherone is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Amy L., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Benjamin P. Bucy has significant experience in complex litigation and has focused his practice on representing whistleblowers in qui tam cases under federal and state False Claims Acts. Ben has been involved in all phases of False Claims Act (FCA) cases, including case development, drafting FCA complaints, assisting the Government in sealed FCA investigations, litigating FCA cases and has secured millions of dollars in False Claims Act settlements. Most of Ben’s FCA experience has invol...

Melissa Lessell partners with her clients faced with professional liability and complex commercial litigation matters. She helps professionals navigate through disciplinary actions, ethics investigations, malpractice, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims and lawsuits. Forming partnerships with her clients, Melissa Lessell tirelessly defends them in professional liability and complex commercial litigation matters. She helps professionals navigate through disciplinary actions, license...

Pauline Hardin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on criminal litigation as well as business, commercial, and labor disputes. Pauline has tried more than 150 jury trials across the spectrum of criminal and commercial litigation. She routinely handles bet-the-company and high-stakes matters, and also draws on her experience to help clients facing grand jury investigations by avoiding prosecution, or when facing criminal charges, by negotiating plea agreements or going t...

Britton Seal is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and co-leader of the mergers and acquisitions and private equity team. With broad knowledge of corporate and securities law, Britt represents clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; private equity transactions; business entity formation, counseling, and capitalization; joint ventures; and public and private company securities compliance. He has worked with a wide range of US and non-US individuals and public...

Mr. Flint is a Shareholder in the New Orleans office with a practice that includes both commercial and civil litigation within the maritime and energy fields. His maritime industry experience includes the representation of drilling and service companies, blue and brown water vessel owners, charterers, and insurers. Particularly related to his maritime practice, Mr. Flint has developed a specialty with DBA cases defending burn pit and PTSD claims. His longevity in the practice area and concern...

Pat Vance is a partner in and leader of the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on business litigation, debtors' and creditors’ rights litigation, and business bankruptcy. Pat has the distinction of being one of the few lawyers who is both a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is also a life member of the American Law Institute and a member of the National Bankruptcy Conference. As a trial attorney, Pat has handled mor...

Martha Young Curtis is a member (partner) of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. Ms. Curtis was one of the founding members of Sher Garner law firm when it opened its doors in January, 1999. It has since grown into one of the top New Orleans law firms with over 40 attorneys and more than 80 employees. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree,summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her Juris doctorate, summa cum laude, from Tulane Law School where she served as Senior ...

Robert J. David was born in New Roads, Louisiana on August 10, 1943. He graduated from St. Joseph's High School and attended LSU and SLU, earning a B.A. degree in 1966. IN 1969 he received his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School, where he served on the Loyola Law Review. Representing patients and their families in medical malpractice cases is the principal focus of Robert’s practice. He has been named to Woodward/White’s "The Best Lawyers in America," for twenty consecutive...