Somer G. Brown

Michael K. Leachman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Trademark Law. Michael K., who practices law in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Valerie E. Fontenot is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Valerie E., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Valerie E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Frank P. Tranchina, Jr., is a partner in the law firm of Tranchina & Mansfield, L.L.C. He received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1979. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and is also licensed in the State of California. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past chairman of the Family Law sections of the Louisiana State and Jefferson Bar Associations as well as co-chair of the board ce...

David Cannella is a shareholder in the Louisiana offices of Baron & Budd. As part of the Mesothelioma Litigation Group, he serves asbestos victims across the gulf state. After graduating from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1999, Mr. Cannella served as a law clerk to the Honorable Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. Following his service to Chief Justice Calogero, Mr. Cannella served as Assistant District Attorney for Orle...

Avery Pardee is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She is a career defense attorney and represents clients in white collar criminal matters, internal and government investigations, and commercial litigation. Avery has significant experience defending and advising individuals as well as publicly traded companies, private businesses, and other entities with respect to internal investigations, government and grand jury investigations, criminal prosecutions, parallel proceedings, regulat...

Adam is a member of the Public Finance, Tax Incentives and Credit Markets Group and has extensive experience in public, private, and public-private finance transactions and economic development matters across sectors and transaction roles.

David focuses on marine insurance coverage; marine finance and vessel documentation; bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; and international and cross-border law. He represents clients that own, operate, charter, or employ vessels, and helps them understand and manage their risks in the United States, Gulf of Mexico, and worldwide offshore maritime oilfield and alternative-energy markets. Originally from Bethesda, Maryland, David attended Tulane Unive...

Forrest Guedry is an attorney in the Casualty and Mass Tort Litigation group at Kean Miller , based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His practice centers on the defense of complex civil matters, including catastrophic industrial accidents, premises liability claims, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, automobile and trucking accidents, commercial contract disputes, eviction proceedings, and workers’ compensation claims. He represents a broad range of clients, including national r...

Ben Woodruff is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group, a member of the Finance team, and chair of the firm’s Mentoring and Training Committee. Ben represents borrowers and leading financial institutions with the arrangement and syndication of senior credit facilities, including acquisition, bridge, refinancings, and other corporate finance transactions. He also has significant experience with cash flow and asset-based lending, debtor-in-possession financing, loan restructurings and ...

Jim Stuckey practices in the areas of commercial finance, real estate, business, project financing, and leasing. His commercial experience includes complex loan transactions in real estate, construction, project finance, oil and gas, line of credit and asset based loans, as well as leveraged lease and utility securitization financings, and real estate and commercial transactions. His lending practice includes representing lenders and borrowers in oil and gas loans, real estate and constructio...