Best Lawyers in Louisiana, United States for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Louis M. Phillips is a partner at Kelly Hart Pitre and leader of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Business Reorg. practice. Mr. Phillips provides legal representation and consultation for debtors, creditors, and trustees over a broad practice area, including transaction and business structuring and restructuring, bankruptcy reorganization, and bankruptcy and commercial litigation. He also handles civil cases in state and federal courts and has handled matters before the Fifth Circuit Court o...
William H. Patrick, III concentrates his practice in corporate bankruptcy, corporate workouts, and financial restructuring, representing debtors, committees, trustees, equity investors, and other parties in interest. Billy has played major roles in the restructuring of casinos, utility companies, restaurant and fast food chains, hotels, television broadcast companies, orthodontic management companies, and resolving claims arising from asbestos, breast implants, nuclear radiation, and other ha...
Alicia Bendana focuses her national practice on complex bankruptcy and commercial litigation, representing trustees, debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, receivers, and liquidators in high-stakes matters involving officer and director liability, professional negligence, fraud, RICO, fraudulent transfers, and business dissolutions. A Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Alicia is also board certified in business bankruptcy law by both the American Board of Certification and by the Louis...
Katherine Clark is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Katherine practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Katherine Clark 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 Katherine Clark is hel...
Lewis McHenry is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group. He represents a wide range of parties in real estate transactions. Lewis advises clients on real estate acquisitions and divestitures, workouts, commercial bankruptcy, development, and finance. He handles matters in connection with multi-family residential developments throughout the southeastern and southwestern United States, office buildings, hotels, and medical facilities. He also advises forest products companies on timber inves...
Amelia L. Hurt is an associate in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization section. Her practice focuses on bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, where she represents debtors, debtors-in-possession, creditors, and trustees in Chapter 11 cases throughout the country. Ms. Hurt also handles bankruptcy-related litigation matters and appellate work, including cases before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Hurt’s legal expertise includes prosecuting and defending preferen...
William T. Finn is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Banking and Finance. William T. practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized William T. Finn since 2010. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflec...
Stewart focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; marine finance and vessel documentation; asset-based finance; litigation, corporate and commercial law; and oil and gas. Stewart has been practicing law in New Orleans for more than 38 years. He is a 1974 graduate of Kenyon College, magna cum laude , where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated top in his class in 1977 from Tulane Law School where he was elected to the Order of the Coif...
Curtis Shelton is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Curtis practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Curtis Shelton since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice ...
Cherie Dessauer Nobles focuses her practice on bankruptcy and debtor-creditor rights, representing a broad range of clients—from large, complex companies to smaller businesses—in chapter 11 and chapter 7 proceedings and out-of-court restructurings. She has experience advising debtors, trustees, unsecured creditors’ committees, and individual creditors in complex commercial bankruptcies and related workout matters. As part of the firm’s bankruptcy team, Cherie has had s...
Ashley advises businesses, financial institutions, and individuals concerning bankruptcies, class actions, contracts, construction, environmental issues, fidelity, surety and financial institution bonds, insurance, professional malpractice, real estate, corporate, and estate matters. She also mediates and arbitrates business disputes. Ashley currently serves as a member of the AAA Construction Panel, AAA Commercial Panel and FINRA Panel as an arbitrator and mediator. After Hurricane Katrina, ...
Katie Hollowell advises clients on a wide range of insolvency matters, including bankruptcy filings, business reorganizations, loan negotiations, workouts, collateral review, commercial collections, and foreclosures. Her practice also includes representing clients in state and federal general commercial litigation matters, with a focus on issues arising in financially distressed situations. Katie represents lenders and borrowers in financing negotiations and distressed debt workouts involving...
Avery Autin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Real Estate Law. Avery practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana Best Lawyers has recognized Avery Autin since 2024. 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 Avery Autin is held by other lawyers.
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.
