Susan J. Burkenstock

Brett Venn is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on business and commercial disputes. Brett represents energy clients in litigation concerning energy infrastructure, including pipelines and LNG facilities. He currently represents energy companies in tort actions, challenges to contracts, actions enforcing right of way and servitude agreements, and appeals of severance tax assessments. He has also represented energy-industry clients in contract disputes, shareholder dispute...

Irving J. Warshauer joined the Gainsburgh Benjamin law firm as an associate in 1980, and he became a partner of the firm in 1984. Prior to joining this firm, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana and a Trial Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice, from whom he received a Special Commendation in 1979. He served on the Federal Public Defender Panel for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1981 – 2002. Irvin...

Maureen Brennan Gershanik practices primarily in the areas of corporate law and governance, securities law, and mergers and acquisitions. Maureen has an active business transactional and advisory practice. She works with clients on public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, acquisition transactions, restructuring transactions, business separations, new business formations, and other transactions. She also advises a range of public companies and private businesses and counsels...

Darryl primarily practices in areas of toxic tort and environmental law, representing defendants in asbestos litigation in Louisiana and other states. He also practices general insurance defense, particularly first party claims for disability and life insurance benefits. Darryl has successfully obtained multiple defense jury verdicts in favor of Monsanto, including a six week jury trial involving six plaintiffs claiming asbestos related disease from working in a paper mill, and a trial of nei...

T. Jay Seale, III was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1947 and has lived in Hammond, Louisiana for most of his adult life. He earned his Juris Doctor from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law School in 1973 and began practicing law in Hammond later that year. After practicing as a solo attorney for two years, he began developing what is now Seale & Ross, A Professional Law Corporation, with offices in Hammond, Baton Rouge, and Madisonville. Mr. Seale’s practice includes Commercial Liti...

Ashley Heilprin practices in the areas of civil trial and commercial litigation. She regularly appears in Louisiana’s courts. Her commercial litigation experience includes state and federal matters in the following areas: business torts; construction on behalf of engineers, architects, contractors and developer clients; professional liability including lawyers, insurance broker and agent clients; First Amendment and defamation; breach of contract; breach of warranty; unfair trade practi...

Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants since 2012 Practice Concentration & Experience Summary: Mr. Mollere is able to combine the legal experience and acumen acquired from working in a large firm, the insight acquired in positions in business, and the discipline acquired in the military to provide full solutions to his clients' cases. Since he began practicing in 1999, Mr. Mollere has handled a wide range of civil litigati...

David K. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Admiralty and Maritime Law. David K. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized David K. Smith since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David K. Smith is held by other lawyers.

Scott Sternberg serves as Managing Partner of Sternberg, Naccari & White in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he helps guide the firm’s operations and works closely with individuals, businesses, and media organizations on complex legal matters. Scott maintains a national litigation practice with a focus on Commercial Litigation and First Amendment Law. He represents businesses of all sizes in a wide range of disputes, including personal injury, real estate, partnership, and contract mat...

Mr. Masinter's practice focuses on contentious, complex litigation while concentrating primarily in the areas of business litigation, and securities litigation and arbitration. He also handles cases involving corporate disputes, breach of contract claims and unfair trade practices. Mr. Masinter is Chair of the firm's Litigation Section and Co-Chair of the Securities Practice Group. He joined Stone Pigman in 1990.