Patrick M. Wartelle

Selected to the 2016 Louisiana Super Lawyer list in the Environmental Litigation, Energy and Natural Resources Law, and Business Litigation practice areas (other years recognized: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) 2014 Baton Rouge Area Environmental Lawyer of the Year; 2016 Lafayette Area Environmental Lawyer of the Year Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law, Litigation - Environmental, Natural Resources Law and Oil & Gas Law Practice Concentration & E...

A Lafayette native, Jimmy earned his Juris Doctorate from Louisiana State University Law School in 1986. During law school, he authored an article entitled “Native Born Acadians and the Equality Ideal” 46 LA. Law Rev. 1151 (1986). He is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts in Louisiana, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice in Texas. He is currently Treasurer of the Francophone Section of the Lo...

Andrew Quackenbos is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law. Andrew, who practices law in Lafayette, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Suzette Marie Smith is a seasoned family law attorney with 36 years of experience guiding clients through divorce, child custody, support, spousal support, injunctions, and matrimonial agreements. A certified Family Law Specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, she is recognized as a Louisiana Family Law Super Lawyer and AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Discover more about Suzette’s practice here .

Successfully reorganized or liquidated numerous businesses in the health care, construction, real estate, agricultural, marine and retail industries. Represented a large timber and land company in fraudulent conveyance litigation with the litigation trust of a major railroad tie manufacturer regarding the sale of a local plant which was settled favorably. Represented the board of trustees of a local college successfully in litigation surrounding the election of the college president . Represe...

Jerry Schiff practices in the areas of mediation and bankruptcy/ debtor-creditor law. He joined Gordon Arata in 2006 after serving over a decade as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Louisiana. While he principally presided over cases in the Lafayette, Opelousas and Lake Charles Divisions of the Western District, he occasionally sat in the Shreveport and Alexandria Divisions, as well as the Eastern and Middle Districts of Louisiana. It was in the latter District where he presid...

Gary Russo is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He practices in areas involving oil and gas, commercial and environmental, and insurance fraud and coverage. Gary is an accomplished litigator who represents clients in a broad range of commercial, multi-district, mass tort, and class action disputes. He has extensive trial experience, having organized, handled, and argued cases before judges and juries in state, federal district, and appellate courts in more than half of the US states...

Army joined the Firm in March 2011, bringing the knowledge and experience he earned over the course of his successful entrepreneurial career. His practice focuses on creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, and commercial transactional work for corporate, oil, gas and energy clients in Louisiana and Texas. Army is also one of only seven Sub-Chapter V bankruptcy trustees selected by the Department of Justice’s United States Trustee Program to serve in the State of Louisiana. Army is a skille...

Now in his third decade of practice, Kyle Polozola offers substantial experience advising participants in Louisiana’s energy industry. Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, Kyle’s practice at Kean Miller spans litigation, appeals, and transactional matters, with a particular focus on Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law , and Oil and Gas Law. He regularly assists clients with practical, business-oriented legal solutions that are clearly communicated, cost-conscious, and aligned wi...

Dorrell J. Brister is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Dorrell J., who practices law in Alexandria, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dorrell J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.