Philip K. "Kirk" Jones, Jr.

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.

Stephen Brooks joined Pugh Accardo as a Special Partner. He has been practicing law since 1994 in Louisiana. He is an experienced insurance casualty and workers’ compensation defense attorney. He is trial counsel for multiple insurance companies, risk retention groups, self-insurers’ funds, insurance agencies and agents and corporate employers involved in litigation throughout the Southeast Region of the United States. Mr. Brooks has also been extensively employed by the insurance...

Kelly Theard is a construction lawyer representing general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, program managers and material suppliers in a variety of construction related litigation including construction defect, design and professional liability, and third-party injury claims. She also assists her clients in contract negotiations and pre-claim disputes. Ms. Theard currently serves as the firm's Managing Partner as well as Head of the Construction Practice Group. While Ms. Th...

Brandon T. Darden is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Oil and Gas Law. Brandon T. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Brandon T. Darden since 2023. 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 Brandon T. Darden is held by other lawyers.

Ashley B. Robinson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Ashley B. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Ashley B. Robinson since 2025. 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 Ashley B. Robinson is held by other lawyers.

Ned Bergin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He represents utilities and publicly held companies in a broad range of disputes. Ned has a robust commercial litigation practice focused on utility regulation, complex and class action litigation, contract litigation, energy litigation, state constitutional and home rule law and antitrust matters. He represents publicly held entities in these areas, including large nationwide telecommunications providers and energy production and coge...

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...

Matthew J. Fantaci is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of CleanTech Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Matthew J. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Matthew J. Fantaci since 2019. 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 Matthew J. Fantaci is held by oth...

Peter S. Title practices in real estate, bankruptcy and commercial law. He is a graduate of Columbia University and of the Tulane University School of Law. At Tulane, he served on the Board of Editors of the Tulane Law Review, where he was Articles Editor in 1974-75, and received the Rittenberg-Weinstein Award for excellence in legal writing. He is a member of the Order of the Coif and of the Federal, American, Louisiana State and New Orleans Bar Associations. He has served as chairman of Tru...

Brent Barriere has over 40 years of experience litigating commercial cases. He represents clients in a wide variety of commercial disputes, including bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, securities litigation, breach of contract, business valuation disputes, director and officer claims, error and omission claims, and class actions. Brent has developed a national practice representing trustees and receivers in complex litigation. His work includes serving as receiver’s counsel in Secu...