Best Lawyers in Louisiana, United States for Insurance Law
Practice Area Overview
Insurance policies sold to corporate policyholders protect against a wide variety of risks, including liability or loss resulting from: (i) allegedly defective products (including medical devices and pharmaceuticals), (ii) data breaches and other internet-related claims, (iii) mass torts, including exposure to harmful substances such as asbestos and silica, (iv) property damage and business interruption, (v) man-made and natural disasters, (vi) securities and business torts (often involving shareholder class actions and/or SEC investigations and enforcement actions), (vii) environmental damage, (viii) employment claims (including worker’s compensation and discrimination claims), (ix) professional liability, and (x) and crime/fraud. The major types of insurance policies purchased by corporate policyholders include general liability policies, directors and officers liability policies, fiduciary liability policies, employment practices liability policies, errors and omissions and professional liability policies, first-party property and business interruption policies, marine insurance, crime/fraud policies, workers compensation policies, environmental impairment policies, and a wide variety of specialty products (e.g., media policies, satellite launch and in-orbit insurance, product recall policies, cargo policies, product tampering policies, event cancellation coverage). Major markets for buying and selling insurance include the United States, London, Bermuda, and Europe.
Insurance programs sold to and purchased by corporate policyholders typically include several layers of insurance, with a primary insurance policy that often sits above a deductible (or self-insured retention) and with multiple layers of excess policies sitting above the primary policy. Large claims can often implicate coverage under dozens of policies sometimes spanning years or decades. In contrast, individual policyholders typically purchase life insurance, health insurance, disability and/or long-term care insurance, homeowners or renters insurance, automobile insurance, and sometimes specialty insurance, such as coverage for jewelry or works of art, travel insurance, etc.
Law firms provide clients with insurance coverage counseling and advice on a wide array of issues, ranging from assessments of coverage for particular losses and representation in coverage disputes to providing help with assembling a coverage portfolio and formulating favorable policy language when insurance is being purchased or renewed. Firms also advise clients regarding the insurance assets being transferred in corporate transactions, with tax planning in connection with insurance payments or recoveries, and with alternative underwriting programs, such as captive insurance entities.
Policyholders and insurers dealing with significant losses often call on outside coverage counsel for advice and assistance in pursuing coverage or responding to claims for coverage, as the case may be. In the event of a dispute over coverage for a particular claim, the insurer and insured may resort to litigation, arbitration, or mediation to resolve their differences. If the parties proceed to litigation, the case may proceed in either federal or state court, even though the substantive insurance law issues are decided as a matter of state law. Some insurance policies require the parties to resolve coverage disputes through either domestic or international arbitration. In recent years, an increasing number of large disputes have been resolved through international arbitration, often in London or Bermuda. In many cases, experienced coverage counsel can facilitate resolution of a coverage dispute without having to resort to the courts (or to arbitration). In other cases, settlement negotiations proceed on a parallel track while the litigation (or arbitration) moves forward.
Benedict Lenhart
Elliott Schulder
Deanna Wilcox
Covington & Burling
Corporate Law & Commercial Litigation Legal Guide 2025
View Legal GuideSelect a city from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Andrea Albert brings a keen attention to detail and an eye toward long-term strategy to every investigation. A member of Galloway’s Emergency Response Team, she assists clients from the time of an accident through investigation and litigation. Her practice focuses on defense litigation—from trial through appeal—and includes transportation and trucking (including cargo claims), insurance coverage, property damage, premises liability, contractual liability, and personal injury...
Michael A. Balascio is an experienced litigator representing clients in securities litigation and arbitration, high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith cases, and complex commercial litigation. He has first-chair trial experience and has successfully litigated matters in federal and state appellate courts. In his securities practice, Michael counsels investment management companies and brokers in litigated matters and FINRA proceedings in a variety of significant disputes involving securi...
Judy Barrasso is a founding member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, and includes complex commercial litigation matters and class actions involving complex commercial contracts, director and officer liability, securities fraud, and insurance coverage and bad faith claims. Judy has been ranked by Chambers USA as a top commercial litigator, by Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star, and by the Diversity Journal as among 20...
Doris has over 26 years of litigation experience across the Gulf South and leads Galloway’s employment law practice team. Employment law is her center of excellence, supported by a background in insurance coverage, professional liability, construction defect, workers’ compensation, premises liability, and general casualty. A former Assistant District Attorney in New Orleans, she litigates in state and federal courts in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas, as well as before ...
Benjamin P. Bucy has significant experience in complex litigation and has focused his practice on representing whistleblowers in qui tam cases under federal and state False Claims Acts. Ben has been involved in all phases of False Claims Act (FCA) cases, including case development, drafting FCA complaints, assisting the Government in sealed FCA investigations, litigating FCA cases and has secured millions of dollars in False Claims Act settlements. Most of Ben’s FCA experience has invol...
Martha Young Curtis is a member (partner) of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, L.L.C. Ms. Curtis was one of the founding members of Sher Garner law firm when it opened its doors in January, 1999. It has since grown into one of the top New Orleans law firms with over 40 attorneys and more than 80 employees. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree,summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her Juris doctorate, summa cum laude, from Tulane Law School where she served as Senior ...
Richard Dicharry practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. He began his career at Phelps Dunbar in 1978, practicing in admiralty litigation. After seven years of an active litigation practice, he refocused his practice on insurance coverage work for the London insurance market. Since 1985, Mr. Dicharry has counseled and represented insurers with regard to a variety of liabilities, with particular emphasis on energy, property and uncertain date of loss exposures.
Ginger Dodd practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. Her litigation experience encompasses a broad range of insurance coverage issues, with an emphasis on complex insurance coverage disputes including time element claims related to windstorm and flood catastrophes, environmental clean-up, chemical exposures and professional liability. In addition, she defends various clients against premises liability, product and professional liability claims.
Richard G. Duplantier, Jr. is a senior partner at Galloway, a respected trial lawyer, and accomplished business consultant known for his critical and innovative approach to litigation and case handling. He focuses his commercial litigation practice on products liability, construction, environmental, professional liability, and insurance defense and coverage, with extensive trial experience and a success rate of over eighty percent. Rick also represents entertainment industry clients in litiga...
Tom Easterly, who was named a Partner at Taylor Porter in 2011, regularly advises local and national clients, including some Fortune 500 companies, with simple and complex business litigation matters, as well as various commercial transactions. Tom concentrates a substantial portion of his practice on the preparation and trial of complex commercial disputes. His work involves construction, real estate, redhibition, insurance, arbitration, toxic tort, workers’ compensation, breach of con...
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...
Madeleine Fischer is special counsel in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on insurance coverage and claims handling disputes. Madeleine has represented clients in litigation for almost 40 years and has extensive trial experience in state and federal courts. She has represented a variety of policyholders and insurance companies in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. Besides insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, her practice also extends to appellate practice, class act...
Mr. Force practices in the areas of commercial litigation, admiralty, and complex insurance defense and coverage law and has represented clients at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Force is admitted to practice in Louisiana, Texas, and California and has practiced with law firms in each of those states. Mr. Force is an active member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, having served on its Board of Directors and as Chair of the MLA's Practice and Procedure and Young L...
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...
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. ...
John Jerry Glas is the Chair of the Civil Litigation Department at Deutsch Kerrigan and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has tried 114 civil or criminal trials, including 76 jury trials and 38 judge trials. Jerry has been admitted pro hac vice in 11 different states and had success on both sides of the aisle. In 2021, as lead trial counsel for the plaintiff (Lindale Pipeline, LLC), Jerry obtained a $26 million verdict in Houston. In 2012, as lead trial counsel for the def...
Pablo Gonzalez guides clients through the complex, evolving issues involving insurance coverage for cybersecurity events. In addition to litigation and mediation, he conducts working reviews of policy language and develops innovative, cost-effective systems to help insurers, reinsurers and syndicates monitor claims. Pablo leads the firm’s cyber coverage and monitoring team as well as the New Orleans insurance and reinsurance practice. He is a frequent speaker and writer on cyber insuran...
Stephen Hall practices in the areas of insurance coverage law, environmental insurance litigation, asbestos and toxic tort litigation, and has gained considerable experience litigating coverage issues throughout the United States on behalf of the London insurance market and various domestic insurers, since joining the firm in 1983. The types of liabilities over which Mr. Hall has litigated disputed coverage issues include: environmental, asbestos, broker errors and omissions, aviation, and bu...
For more than 25 years, Tim Hassinger has represented companies and insurers in personal injury, commercial, and insurance coverage litigation. He uses a targeted, strategic approach—from early case assessment to trial—to control and efficiently resolve litigation. Tim is AV-Preeminent rated, a Louisiana Super Lawyer®, and serves as Liaison Counsel in complex class actions. He teaches Admiralty at Loyola Law School and presents internationally on injury and contractual claims....
Bill Hines is managing partner of Jones Walker and a member of the Corporate Practice Group. Passionate about economic and cultural development in New Orleans, across Louisiana, and throughout the Gulf South, Bill has been a legal, business, and civic leader for more than 35 years. Since 2006, he has led Jones Walker through a period of significant growth. During this time, the firm’s client base has expanded to include leading regional, national, and international corporations, banks a...
Ms. Johnson is active in the defense of complex environmental, toxic tort, chemical exposure, carbon monoxide, insurance coverage, medical monitoring, naturally occurring radioactive material (“NORM”) occupational injury cases, oyster, oil spill, pesticide, personal injury, property damage, and class action litigation. She also has an active mediation and appellate practice in the same areas. Ms. Johnson has particular abilities in defending premises owners, employers and their executive offi...
John W. Joyce is an experienced litigator and trial attorney whose practice includes most types of sophisticated civil litigation. He represents insurance companies in coverage and claim-handling cases, broker-dealers and financial advisors in securities and employment disputes, and both businesses and individuals in contract, fraud, fiduciary liability, shareholder, restrictive covenant, and trade secret litigation. John has represented clients in more than twenty trials, evidentiary hearing...
Katherine Karam is a partner in the firm’s insurance and reinsurance practice. For over two decades, she has served as local, regional (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas), and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. She counsels clients, resolves coverage disputes and manages litigation involving insurance issues under state laws in all regions of the United Stat...
Errol J. King Jr. is a member of the Health Law Group in the Firm's Baton Rouge office. He focuses his practice primarily in the representation of managed care organizations, having been appointed in April 1996 by Louisiana's Commissioner of Insurance to serve as general counsel and an initial member of the Louisiana Managed Health Care Advisory Board, which advises the commissioner on managed care issues impacting the state of Louisiana. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America®...
Doug Kleeman practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving a variety of first- and third-party insurance coverage issues. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Doug practiced in the areas of insurance coverage and litigation at Bienvenu, Foster, Ryan & O’Bannon, LLC in New Orleans.
Bret LeBreton is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group and a member of the insurance coverage team. He has practiced in all facets of maritime, energy, and marine and non-marine insurance law. Bret has represented assureds, underwriters, and other industry participants in a broad range of disputes involving hull, cargo, builder's risk, P&I, MEL, CGL, control of well, and excess and umbrella policies. He has given opinions regarding coverage, prepared reservations of rights, and advised...
Mr. Lee is Chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. For the last 15 years, his practice has included a concentration in insurance and insurance class action lawsuits. He has experience in handling coverage issues, bad faith claims, mold claims, regulatory issues and class action claims with a myriad of substantial issues. Mr. Lee joined Stone Pigman, and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar, in 1974.
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.
Sean Mount defends corporate clients and insurance companies in a variety of litigation claims that can arise as a result of today’s competitive legal environment. With a special interest in defense litigation, Sean Mount enjoys addressing client problems and crafting a solution that is best suitable for their business. Building upon his extensive courtroom experience, he has successfully litigated a variety of matters in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas for various corporate and insur...
Practicing law since 2009, John M. Parker, Jr. is a Partner at Taylor Porter, focusing on insurance coverage and defense litigation, public utilities, personal injury and commercial litigation. John is admitted to practice before all Louisiana federal and state courts. John’s representative practice area experience includes: Working with public utilities companies on litigation issues and contract negotiations concerning pole attachment agreements. Helping clients with representation be...
James A. Prather has over 30 years of experience representing clients in complex litigation, focusing on insurance defense, casualty claims, professional liability, and commercial disputes. He has tried cases in state and federal courts and is known for his thorough preparation and commitment to client goals. Learn more about James’s extensive trial and litigation experience at: gallowaylawfirm.com
Marshall Redmon practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. For more than twenty years, he has focused on insurance coverage, professional liability defense, bad faith counseling, and related litigation. As a young lawyer Mr. Redmon completed a secondment to a Lloyd’s non-marine syndicate, during which period he provided in-house advices to several London market insurers. His experience includes litigating a variety of non-marine matters, with an emphasis on professional liabili...
Kermit Tre’ Roux works extensively with insureds, claims adjusters, third-party administrators, and underwriters in the development of strategy and defense of all insurance related matters from the time of the accident through the ultimate resolution of the case. He is experienced in all facets of civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance coverage related litigation work from initial case analysis and strategy formation to trial/arbitrations and Writ applications/Appeals.
Lugenbuhl shareholder, Shaundra Schudmak’s practice areas include insurance coverage, insurance defense, bad faith claims, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, property damage claims, commercial litigation, torts, premises liability, public sector liability, and pre-litigation consulting. Shaundra is an attorney with substantial litigation experience both in state and federal courts. Since joining Lugenbuhl in 2013, she has worked diligently to partner with clients to rectify mat...
Jay Sever is a partner in the Insurance and Reinsurance group of Phelps Dunbar. He is the Regional Practice Coordinator for the firm's insurance practice group and is also head of the insurance and reinsurance practice group in the New Orleans office. He serves as local, regional and national coverage counsel for both foreign and domestic insurance companies. He counsels clients, manages disputes and tries cases involving a wide variety of insurance coverage issues, including matters arising ...
Steven W. Usdin is a founding member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C. His practice is concentrated in commercial litigation, including insurance coverage, contracts, class actions and complex litigation, oil and gas litigation and intellectual property. Throughout his career, his diverse representations have included, among many other cases, representing large public companies in shareholder litigation, a shipbuilder in a multi-million dollar contract dispute, and insu...
Jason Waguespack serves as Managing Director of Galloway and focuses his practice on admiralty and maritime litigation. He regularly represents domestic and international insurers, vessel owners, and offshore service companies, handling a broad range of maritime, commercial, and insurance-related matters. Jason is also a trained mediator. More on Jason’s leadership and maritime experience: gallowaylawfirm.com
Sloan defends insurers, trucking companies and corporate clients, as well as realtors, insurance agents, physicians and other professionals in matters involving trucking & auto negligence, professional negligence, medical malpractice, premises liability, property damage and coverage disputes. He believes consistent communication, along with outcome-driven litigation tactics, are key to developing and executing a defense strategy that is best suited to meet the needs and desired outcome of...
Bryce M. Addison is a civil litigator who represents corporate and insurance clients in all areas of motion and trial practice. His principal area of practice is complex insurance coverage analysis and litigation and commercial litigation claims. As a civil litigation partner, Bryce has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts as well as before federal, state, and municipal agencies. Bryce is a native and lifelong resident of Louisiana where he graduated from Saint Paul&rs...
Whitney M. Antoine practices in the areas of commercial litigation and insurance coverage and bad faith. Before joining the firm, Whitney served as law clerk to the Honorable Ivan L.R. Lemelle of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Whitney also served as an extern for Magistrate Judge Erin Wilder-Doomes in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Whitney received her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Southern University Law Cen...
Andrew Baer is of counsel in the New Orleans, Louisiana, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. His practice emphasizes employment law, wage and hour disputes, and workplace safety while encompassing a wide variety of litigation and counseling matters on local, state and federal areas of law. Andrew’s strong business background provides a practical approach to employers who encounter countless workplace issues while providing excellent defense of his clients when claims and litigation arise. He h...
Jose Barro’s aggressive and client-focused approach to litigation helps clients achieve their objectives in resolving disputes. He defends clients in professional liability, premises liability, and toxic tort/asbestos matters, often involving high-value complex litigation stemming from wrongful death and catastrophic injuries. Jose also handles franchisor/franchisee disputes, insurance coverage, and employer liability. While most of his work is in Louisiana state and federal courts, he ...
Kelsey believes effective communication is key to successful client advocacy. She assesses client-specific goals and strategic business considerations to develop tailored case strategies—whether through settlement or trial. Her practice focuses on insurance defense, insurance coverage, and workers’ compensation, representing insurance carriers and private businesses in civil litigation in state and federal court. A native of New Orleans, Kelsey is active in the community and leads...
Jennifer focuses her practice on insurance coverage, bad faith litigation, immigration, premises liability, professional liability, contractual liability, personal injury defense, and equine law. She has handled over 200 commercial and residential hurricane-related claims and developed claims strategies for Lloyd’s syndicates and other carriers. Jennifer also regularly represents insurers and TPAs in pre-litigation matters and has built a strong reputation among Special Masters, mediato...
Stephen Butterfield is a trial attorney with a wealth of experience in insurance coverage, casualty defense and trial and appellate litigation. When working with his clients, he believes a collaborative process produces the best results to meet their goals. As an insurance law attorney, Stephen Butterfield’s practice has led him to represent some of the most recognized insurers. In turn, this has allowed him the opportunity to try cases in both jury and bench trials. Most of his trial p...
Chloé M. Chetta is licensed in Louisiana and Texas. Her practice focuses on most types of complex and commercial litigation, with special emphasis on appellate issues. Her experience includes contract disputes, non-compete and antitrust issues, and other business litigation. She represents financial companies and advisors in employment and securities matters, including succession fights and other disputes over financial assets. She also represents insurance companies in high-stakes cov...
Lorcan L. Connick practices in the areas of commercial litigation and insurance coverage and bad faith. Lorcan received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Philosophy, Policy, and Law from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. While in law school, Lorcan served as an Articles Editor for the Georgia Law Review. Lorcan also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Kurt D. Engelhardt, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the...
Member Trevor Cutaiar’s practice focuses on admiralty and maritime litigation and insurance defense. Trevor has significant experience in handling asbestos exposure cases involving a unique combination of Louisiana tort law, federal constitutional law, multi-district litigation and state and federal workers’ compensation schemes. His practice also includes premises liability cases, contractual disputes, and municipal liability. He has represented a wide range of clients, including...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.