Philip S. Brooks, Jr.

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 .

Fishman Haygood’s Jason Burge represents victims of financial misconduct in single plaintiff, mass action, and class action cases against banks, loan servicers, stockbrokers, and investment firms. Jason is also an Appellate Practice Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. With a background in economics, Jason can distill complex financial transactions into terms that judges, arbitrators, and jurors can understand; Chambers and Partners has described him as ...

Kelsey believes effective communication is key to successful client advocacy. She assesses client-specific goals and strategic business considerations to develop tailored case strategies—whether through settlement or trial. Her practice focuses on insurance defense, insurance coverage, and workers’ compensation, representing insurance carriers and private businesses in civil litigation in state and federal court. A native of New Orleans, Kelsey is active in the community and leads...

Mike Butterworth practices in the areas of admiralty and tort litigation and alternative dispute resolution, which includes collision, repair yard, machinery, cargo, pollution and longshoreman personal injury litigation at the trial and appellate level as well as mediation where appropriate. He is a registered civil mediator with the Louisiana State Bar Association. In addition to litigation, he teaches in the maritime law program at Tulane University Law School.

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...

Benjamin P. Bucy has significant experience in complex litigation and has focused his practice on representing whistleblowers in qui tam cases under federal and state False Claims Acts. Ben has been involved in all phases of False Claims Act (FCA) cases, including case development, drafting FCA complaints, assisting the Government in sealed FCA investigations, litigating FCA cases and has secured millions of dollars in False Claims Act settlements. Most of Ben’s FCA experience has invol...

Michelle Anderson represents employers in all aspects of employment law in both state and federal courts, and before administrative agencies. Her practice focuses on representing employers against claims of unlawful discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, violations of leave and disability laws, and wage and hour related issues. Michelle also litigates and advises employers on issues arising out of employee defection, including the prosecution and defense of claims involving non-com...

Leading Maritime Injury Advocate Ian Taylor is a trusted advocate for individuals injured at sea, recognized for his skill in complex maritime, products liability, and civil litigation cases. As a member of Lewis, Kullman, Sterbcow & Abramson, LLC, he was appointed by a federal judge to the Executive Committee overseeing litigation from the 2021 SEACOR POWER maritime disaster and has played a key role in securing multi-million-dollar recoveries for clients in the BP oil spill and other ma...

Monette Davis concentrates her practice on insurance defense and commercial litigation matters. Monette dedicates time to the legal community by serving in leadership positions with the American Bar Association and the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society where she mentors minority young lawyers and law students. She is also responsible for planning award-winning training programs to help law students navigate their journey through law school and then becoming a lawyer. Monette...

Charles R. Talley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Oil and Gas Law. Charles R., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.