Phillip M. Smith

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...

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.

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.

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...

Mr. Stevens was born in Opelousas, Louisiana and served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps. He earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Louisiana State University Law School in 1979 and served as Law Clerk to the Honorable John M. Shaw, United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana until 1981. He is admitted to practice in all federal and state courts in Louisiana, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and is duly admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counselor of the Suprem...

Bob Duplantis has dedicated his entire career to the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining the firm in 1982 and establishing its Lafayette office, Bob spent more than a decade serving in-house oil company legal departments, including six years as a lobbyist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Bob’s law practice focuses on Louisiana oil and gas regulation and “meat-and-potato” legal issues. He routinely argues contract disputes affecting the oil and gas industry, including lease inte...

Kyle P. Polozola is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Kyle P., who practices law in Lafayette, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kyle P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Sam Masur’s practice is concentrated in the areas of oil and gas litigation, general commercial litigation, oil and gas titles, oil and gas and oil field service company acquisitions and divestitures, and general business acquisitions and divestitures. In both Louisiana state and federal courts, Sam litigates oil and gas and general business contract disputes involving oil and gas leases, overriding royalty interest agreements, joint operating agreements, and distribution agreements and...

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...