Richard G. Passler

Céleste focuses on several insurance coverage practice areas including third-party insurance coverage, general liability, environmental and toxic tort liability coverage, and marine insurance coverage. Céleste represents insurers in connection with insurance coverage and bad faith disputes involving a variety of matters including environmental and latent injury claims, business torts, and labor- and employment-related claims. In addition, she has significant experience represent...

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...

Ricky is a native of New Orleans. He graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University in 1999, earning a B.B.A. in economics and a minor in history. While at Loyola, he was a four-year letterman on the Wolfpack baseball team. He received his J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law in 2002. While at Columbia, he was twice named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Ricky has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Product Liability Lit...

Michael S. Blackwell is Of Counsel with Riess LeMieux, L.L.C.. Michael represents a variety of clients, ranging from general contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, insurers, and sureties in construction and labor issues, to companies involved in sales, acquisitions, corporate governance matters, commercial disputes, and other challenges arising in the commercial arena. He has engaged in significant contract negotiation, corporate formation, structuring, and governance matters, sales...

Deirdre C. McGlinchey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Deirdre C., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Deirdre C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

From our New Orleans office, Benjamin focuses on several practice areas including bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions; litigation; and asset-based finance. After graduating from Louisiana State University in 2002, Benjamin earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School in 2005. During law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Alma Chasez, United States District Court for the ...

Scott Willis is a partner in Fishman Haygood's Business Section. He practices primarily in the areas of commercial transactions, negotiated acquisitions, banking and commercial real estate acquisitions, development, and financing. Scott is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (“ACREL”) and previously served on its Board of Governors, is a member of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (“ACMA”) and serves on its Board of Regents, and is a past C...

Thomas J. Smith represents clients in complex civil litigation with a focus on insurance defense, personal injury, and construction matters. He brings strategic insight to each case, guiding clients through litigation with precision and responsiveness from pre-suit through appeal. See how Tommy protects client interests in high-stakes matters: gallowaylawfirm.com

Michael C. Drew is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Construction Law. Michael C., 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 Michael C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gerald E. Meunier was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 20, 1948, and admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1974. He received his college education at Georgetown University and graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in 1970. Mr. Meunier attended Georgetown University Law Center while working in the United States Senate as an assistant to the Secretary for the Majority. He was a contributing Editor of the Georgetown Law Journal and received his J.D. in 1974. He also served in the D.C. Natio...