Walter Woodruff

Christopher M. Hannan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law and Insurance Law. Christopher M., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

GLEN R. GALBRAITH was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1965 and has lived in south Louisiana for most of his life. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Louisiana State University. Before entering the legal profession, Glen worked in industry as a manager, computer programmer/analyst, and engineer, experience that continues to inform his practical approach to legal matters. Glen earned his Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and...

Partner H.S. Bartlett III (“Tad”) heads up Fishman Haygood’s Appellate Group and practices more broadly in the firm’s Litigation Section. He is an Appellate Practice Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, and serves as a member of the LBLS Appellate Practice Advisory Commission. Tad first practiced under the Louisiana student practice rule in 1999 as a member of the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic before graduating magna cum laude and Ord...

Richard Cortizas is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the Jones Walker board of directors. He focuses on transactional matters, representing clients in complex land use and zoning matters, public finance, and economic development projects. Richard has extensive experience representing corporate clients, developers and individuals before local planning commissions, boards of zoning adjustments, and governing authorities of political subdivisions throughout the state. Ri...

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...

Chris Caplinger is a partner at Kean Miller in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he represents clients in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy. His practice includes bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights, as well as marine insurance coverage and oil and gas matters. Chris represents debtors, creditors, and creditor committees in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization cases, creditors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 ...

Pat Veters is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group. He concentrates on OSHA compliance and litigation. Pat has extensive experience representing clients in a wide array of industries in governmental investigations and administrative proceedings brought before the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety Health Act (MSHA). Drawing on his decades of experience defending clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, Pat and t...

David Whitmore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Admiralty and Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David, 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 David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andy Mendez concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, complex litigation, family law, and bankruptcy. He has represented individuals, privately-held companies, and publicly-traded corporations in a wide variety of disputes as plaintiffs, defendants, debtors, and creditors. Andy began his career at the main office of a multi-national law firm before joining Stone Pigman. He has substantial experience defending product liability and toxic tort personal injury claims, incl...

Hirschel Abbott concentrates his practice in estate planning, closely held businesses and entity selection, fiduciary litigation, charitable planning, and tax-exempt organizations. He currently serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Tax, Trusts and Estates Practice Group. As a Board-Certified Tax Law Specialist and a Certified Public Accountant, Hirschel counsels businesses and other high net worth individuals and families on matters related to property, tax, and estate planning. He also ad...