Michael R.C. Riess

Joseph Lassalle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Joseph, who practices law in Metairie, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

David F. Waguespack is a partner in the Firm, practicing in bankruptcy, commercial litigation, creditor’s rights, and gaming law. He has represented lenders, debtors, creditor committees, and other parties in complex Chapter 11 reorganizations and related litigation and has served as a Chapter 11 trustee. Mr. Waguespack regularly represents investors acquiring property in and out of bankruptcy. He has handled litigation relating to liens, real estate, construction, shareholder’s r...

Ms. Gillen is a partner in the Metairie office and has been with the firm since 2013. Her practice consists primarily of environmental and toxic tort litigation and commercial litigation. Ms. Gillen graduated from Tulane University in 2010, where she received her BA degree in sociology, cum laude . In 2013, she was awarded a JD, magna cum laude , from Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was also recognized as a William L. Crowe, Sr. Scholar for graduating in the to...

Mr. Holmes has more than 25 years of experience as a business lawyer, representing clients in arbitration and litigation as well as handling transactional matters. He also represents franchisors with respect to disclosure, relationship and termination issues. Mr. Holmes also helps clients in the matters of business organization, contracts, directors’ and officers’ liability, bankruptcy and intellectual property as well as trusts and estates. Mr. Holmes is an Eagle Scout and remain...

As a degreed engineer, Keith J. Bergeron realizes that it gives his construction clients a sense of security to know they share similar backgrounds and that he understands their type of work. Receiving a lawsuit brought against you brings the stigma that something went wrong, but sometimes that is not a true statement. Keith investigates claims and defends his clients in all aspects of construction and construction surety law. He devotes special attention to architectural and engineering defe...

Ms. Johnson is active in the defense of complex environmental, toxic tort, chemical exposure, carbon monoxide, insurance coverage, medical monitoring, naturally occurring radioactive material (“NORM”) occupational injury cases, oyster, oil spill, pesticide, personal injury, property damage, and class action litigation. She also has an active mediation and appellate practice in the same areas. Ms. Johnson has particular abilities in defending premises owners, employers and their executive offi...

Kelly Simoneaux is a partner and co-leads the Corporate Practice Group. She focuses on the corporate, tax, and securities aspects of executive compensation. Kelly has extensive experience counseling public and private clients on a variety of compensation-related matters, including: advising boards and management on equity-based and other incentive plans and arrangements (annual bonus plans, stock option and restricted stock plans, phantom equity plans, and employee stock purchase plans), exec...

Richard Tyler is a partner on the Construction Team. He regularly serves as lead counsel in complex, high-stakes construction disputes. Rich joined Jones Walker in 1982 and is a former practice leader of the firm’s Construction Practice Group. Widely acknowledged as one of the nation’s top construction attorneys, over the past decade Rich has served as lead counsel in disputes involving more than $500 million in aggregate claim value across the country. He has received top ratings...

Benjamin B. Saunders is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Railroad Law. Benjamin B., who practices law in Mandeville, Louisiana, has been recognized since 1997. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.