Paul D. Cordes, Jr.

An attorney with Jones Walker for more than 40 years, David Edwards is a partner in the Tax Practice Group who focuses on estate planning and administration. David advises individual clients on wealth transfer at minimum tax cost, in addition to providing traditional estate planning counsel in areas of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. He also advises clients on marriage contracts and other aspects of property obligations stemming from marriage. David’s practice includes the admini...

Nathan G. Huntwork is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law and Utilities Law. Nathan G. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Nathan G. Huntwork since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Nathan G. Huntwork is held by other lawyers.

Mr. Lee is Chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. For the last 15 years, his practice has included a concentration in insurance and insurance class action lawsuits. He has experience in handling coverage issues, bad faith claims, mold claims, regulatory issues and class action claims with a myriad of substantial issues. Mr. Lee joined Stone Pigman, and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar, in 1974.

Noel Darce has more than four decades of experience in utility, regulatory, and energy law. He advises clients on a wide range of energy matters, including regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act, and related regulations of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. His practice also encompasses legal and strategic issues involving regional transmission organization participation, utility mergers and acquisitions, generation expansion, utility bankrup...

Jay Adams is a partner in the Tax Practice Group and leader of the state and local tax team. Through partnering with his clients, Jay has developed a broad knowledge of the energy, manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and retail industries that allows him to provide comprehensive and cost-effective advice in those areas. For more than 25 years, Jay has represented clients in matters involving virtually every type of state and local tax and in numerous jurisdictions. He has successfully ...

Lee Adler practices primarily in the areas of general business relationships and finance. He has an extensive transactional-based practice representing clients in a wide variety of fields. Finance transactions include real estate finance, vessel finance, accounts receivable-based finance and equipment and inventory finance, representing both borrowers and lenders. Prior to joining Phelps in 1992, Mr. Adler was an attorney at a large multi-practice firm in New York.

Lauren Mastio is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the board of directors. She handles all aspects of litigation, with a focus on the energy and construction industries. Lauren advises and represents oil and gas industry clients on matters concerning property contamination and restoration; downhole issues; land loss and subsidence; the rights and obligations of parties to joint operating agreements, oil, gas, and mineral leases, surface leases, oil and gas asset purch...

Richard Cortizas is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the Jones Walker board of directors. He focuses on transactional matters, representing clients in complex land use and zoning matters, public finance, and economic development projects. Richard has extensive experience representing corporate clients, developers and individuals before local planning commissions, boards of zoning adjustments, and governing authorities of political subdivisions throughout the state. Ri...

David J. Topping is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Environmental Law. David J. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized David J. Topping since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David J. Topping is held by other lawyers.

Concentrating primarily in the areas of medical malpractice and legal malpractice defense, Karen P. Holland has over twenty years of experience representing a cross-section of healthcare professionals, including individual health care providers, hospitals, long term care facilities, clinics, same day surgery centers, and their various insurers .Ms. Holland’s defense methods include a thorough, determined and vigorous defense of the medical professional throughout the pre-litigation medi...