Patrick Jody "Jody" Lavergne

Mr. Giambrone is a managing partner at Blue Williams and has been with the firm since 2001. His practice consists primarily of medical malpractice defense, automobile and trucking litigation, governmental and municipal liability, employment law, commercial litigation, and general casualty litigation. Mr. Giambrone graduated with honors from Catholic High School Baton Rouge in 1990. He thereafter attended Louisiana State University on an Alumni Association Top 100 Scholarship where he was a me...

Keith is a member of Butler Snow’s Constitutional and Civil Rights Litigation Group.

Mark Dodart is a partner in the litigation group of Phelps Dunbar who practices primarily in the areas of general litigation, insurance coverage and tort litigation. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving personal injury, products liability, class actions, toxic tort exposure, premises liability, and property damage. Mr. Dodart also serves as local, regional and national coverage counsel for domestic insurance companies in matters arising from bad faith, construction ...

Lee H. Ayres is principally a trial lawyer. He has extensive experience in civil litigation, including business and commercial disputes, oil and gas litigation, property disputes, natural resources litigation, products liability claims, professional malpractice defense, trucking defense, personal injury claims, fraud claims, insurance coverage, and insurance bad faith defense. Lee received his undergraduate and law degrees at Louisiana State University Law Center, where he was a member of the...

Tom Kiggans practices in the area of employment law, which he has done almost exclusively since 1984. He represents primarily employers in both litigation and counseling in all areas of labor and employment, including discrimination, ERISA, sexual harassment, employee defamation, and other employment‑related tort claims, employment contracts, OSHA, union matters, wage and hour, drug testing, and drafting and implementing employment policies. Mr. Kiggans represents employers in a wide variety ...

Bret LeBreton is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and a member of the insurance coverage team. He has practiced in all facets of maritime, energy, and marine and non-marine insurance law. Bret has represented assureds, underwriters, and other industry participants in a broad range of disputes involving hull, cargo, builder's risk, P&I, MEL, CGL, control of well, and excess and umbrella policies. He has given opinions regarding coverage, prepared reservations of rights, and advised...

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.

Michael K. Leachman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Trademark Law. Michael K., who practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tyler Marquette is a partner in Fishman Haygood's Business Section. He has considerable experience leading all legal aspects of commercial real estate, including development, construction, acquisitions and sales, financing, and leasing. He represents commercial real estate developers, landlords, tenants, investors, lenders, buyers, and sellers. Tyler also practices banking, finance, and corporate law. Tyler routinely represents the regional real estate developer, investor, and asset manager, ...

Douglas S. Draper practices primarily in the creditor and debtor rights area. His practice involves an equal mix of litigation and business negotiation. The creditor and debtor rights work involves representation of bondholders, creditors’ committees and debtors in large commercial and business cases. Has represented clients in successful reorganizations of hotels, grocery chains, apartment complexes, office buildings, oil companies, shipyards, clothing stores, an oil refinery, and fast...