Peter E. Sperling

John “Trip” McCormick protects clients’ legal interests while supporting their business growth. He focuses on commercial and construction litigation, aggressively defending contractual claims, pursuing unpaid debts, and helping clients manage risk and resolve conflicts. Trip represents architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers in state and federal courts and arbitrations involving public works, commercial projects, and catastrophic structural failures. His practice a...

Ashley advises businesses, financial institutions, and individuals concerning bankruptcies, class actions, contracts, construction, environmental issues, fidelity, surety and financial institution bonds, insurance, professional malpractice, real estate, corporate, and estate matters. She also mediates and arbitrates business disputes. Ashley currently serves as a member of the AAA Construction Panel, AAA Commercial Panel and FINRA Panel as an arbitrator and mediator. After Hurricane Katrina, ...

Jay Sever is a partner in the Insurance and Reinsurance group of Phelps Dunbar. He is the Regional Practice Coordinator for the firm's insurance practice group and is also head of the insurance and reinsurance practice group in the New Orleans office. He serves as local, regional and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving a wide variety of insurance coverage issues, including matters arising ...

Pamela G. Michiels is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Pamela G., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pamela G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Doug Kleeman practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving a variety of first- and third-party insurance coverage issues. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Doug practiced in the areas of insurance coverage and litigation at Bienvenu, Foster, Ryan & O’Bannon, LLC in New Orleans.

Clients value Keith Grady’s practical, forward-looking counsel and extensive experience in Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Litigation - Patent matters. Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Keith is a shareholder at Kean Miller and has served as first chair through all phases of intellectual property litigation. His experience includes representing clients in hundreds of cases nationwide, handling preliminary injunction hearings, claim construction proceedings,...

William H. Patrick, III concentrates his practice in corporate bankruptcy, corporate workouts, and financial restructuring, representing debtors, committees, trustees, equity investors, and other parties in interest. Billy has played major roles in the restructuring of casinos, utility companies, restaurant and fast food chains, hotels, television broadcast companies, orthodontic management companies, and resolving claims arising from asbestos, breast implants, nuclear radiation, and other ha...

Monica Vela-Vick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Monica, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Monica is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Bullock Chairs the firm's Intellectual Property Practice Group. In addition to litigating commercial matters, he renders arbitration and mediation services and has experience in litigating products liability claims. Mr. Bullock joined Stone Pigman in 1978.