Ryan T. Christiansen

Kevin LaVie practices in the area of admiralty and tort. He has a very broad-based practice involving nearly all aspects of maritime law including personal injury and death claims; cargo damage claims; dock damage and collision claims; Limitation of Liability matters; charter party and related commercial disputes (including ship arrests and Rule B attachments); insurance coverage disputes; oilfield indemnity actions; pollution matters; and various Coast Guard and immigration matters. His prac...

Cove Geary is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group, where he counsels clients with respect to a broad range of disputes. Cove represents and advises clients in connection with energy litigation; life, health, and disability insurance, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation; aviation litigation; insurance coverage issues; commercial disputes; professional liability matters; and class action litigation. Cove leads the firm’s insurance coverage practice team. ...

Mr. Miller joined Blue Williams as an associate in the Metairie office in 2014. He was named partner in 2016. His practice consists primarily of medical malpractice defense, governmental and municipal liability, and general casualty litigation. Mr. Miller earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University in 2006. He graduated cum laude from Paul M. Hebert Law School of Law at LSU in 2009 earning his Juris Doctorate and Graduate Diploma in Civil Law. During his t...

Senior Counsel Will Bland, III, one of the founding members of the firm, has more than 49 years of experience as a litigator. Will’s practice focuses on maritime personal injury defense, maritime collision and property damage insurance coverage, contractual indemnity, longshore matters, transportation defense, and general litigation. His clients have included both Fortune 500 and local one-boat companies, and he regularly represents vessel operators, shipyards, both brown water and offs...

Kelly Ransom’s practice is focused on intellectual property litigation, energy and environmental litigation, and other high-stakes, complex litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Ransom defends a range of clients in patent infringement cases, including banks, a leading global payment and financial technology solutions provider, and some of the world’s largest technology companies. She was recognized as a top performing patent litigator in the U.S. by Patexia’...

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...

Keith Grady is Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property and Technology Litigation practice. With over 29 years of experience in government and private law practice, clients turn to Keith for both ongoing counsel and immediate litigation needs. He takes a strategic approach to developing, enforcing and defending clients' intellectual property and furthering their business interests. Clients have said Keith has "a rational, common sense approach to IP litigation matters. He is willing to do what...

Barbara Arras represents defendants in toxic tort litigation primarily involving pulmonary diseases allegedly caused by asbestos and other pulmonary irritants and hematopoietic diseases allegedly caused by benzene. She is responsible for the medical defense in each case. Specifically, she analyzes the facts to formulate a theory of defense and identifies the correct scientific discipline needed to advance that theory. She then identifies and retains the best expert in that discipline from her...

Mr. Best is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and he returned home to South Louisiana in 2005. Mr. Best worked for a healthcare boutique firm in New Orleans for almost nine years before joining Blue Williams. Mr. Best has first and second chaired numerous bench and jury trials in Louisiana, as well as Georgia, and he has participated in numerous medical review panel proceedings and arbitration hearings in various jurisdictions. Mr. Best has extensive experience in healthcare regulatory and ...

Steven I. Klein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Franchise Law, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Steven I., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on ...