Michael E. Guarisco

Bert M. Cass Jr., is a jury trial litigator concentrating in the defense of bodily injury and death cases particularly in marine and offshore litigation claims. His practice focuses on representing vessel owners, oil and gas producers, exploration and drilling companies, facility operators, distributors, and offshore service contractors and their insurers against personal injury, wrongful death and survival claims. He is also experienced in energy-related claims, including interpretation of i...

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...

John Werner is the Managing Partner of Fishman Haygood. John works in the firm’s Business Section, primarily on financings, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, and general corporate advice. In private equity, John represents Black Bay Energy Capital, Jefferson Capital Partners, and Enhanced Capital Partners in their investments in various portfolio companies. He also represents numerous private equity funded portfolio companies in their ongoing corporate nee...

Christopher Wappel is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He focuses on commercial lending and finance. Christopher has practiced law since 1999. He represents borrowers, agents, and lenders in structuring, negotiating, and documenting senior and subordinated, secured and unsecured, and bilateral and syndicated credit facilities, including acquisition, asset-based, oil and gas, real estate, receivables, vessel, and working capital financings. Christopher also has significant experience...

Phil Claverie, Jr. practices in the areas of business and finance and real estate, advising clients on matters related to banking, commercial transactions, real estate, leasing and probate. He represents a number of financial institutions in loan transactions involving real estate acquisitions and construction, vessel acquisitions and construction and working capital. He also represents a number of real estate developers and business owners in connection with development projects, land acquis...

John B. Esnard III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. John B., 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 John B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew’s experience and practice primarily includes the representation of shipyards, vessel owners and operators and contractors as well as other businesses in maritime, construction and commercial disputes. This experience includes the defense of Jones Act, Longshore Harbor and Worker’s Compensation Act, and maritime personal injury claims, as well as maritime contractual disputes and maritime property damage matters. Matthew’s experience also includes the defense of insur...

Kelly Duncan is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group. He serves currently as co-chair of the firm’s Gaming Industry Team and served on Jones Walker’s board of directors from 2006 to 2014. Kelly has 40 years of experience handling admiralty, maritime, and international and customs law matters, including domestic and international matters relating to marine acquisitions, financings, vessel construction, regulatory issues, maritime lien enforcement and foreclosures, contracts of ...

Michelle M. Roy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Michelle M., 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 Michelle M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Bradley represents health care providers and other professionals in court, on appeal and before regulatory agencies. His practice consists principally of the defense of medical malpractice actions in the Louisiana state and federal courts. He also has an extensive appellate practice. Through 2023, Bill has tried at least 42 jury trials and 37 bench trials.