Best Lawyers in Louisiana, United States for Litigation - Bankruptcy

Pat Vance is a partner in and leader of the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses on business litigation, debtors' and creditors’ rights litigation, and business bankruptcy. Pat has the distinction of being one of the few lawyers who is both a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is also a life member of the American Law Institute and a member of the National Bankruptcy Conference. As a trial attorney, Pat has handled mor...

Rick Shelby is an experienced attorney who specializes in bankruptcy, restructuring, oil and gas litigation, commercial litigation and corporate governance. His representation includes secured and unsecured creditors, trustees, committees, and debtors. Mr. Shelby has handled virtually all aspects of bankruptcy work from complex chapter 11 cases representing debtors, creditors’ committees and secured creditors to consumer bankruptcy cases in chapter 7 and 13. He has recently represented ...

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...

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 ...

Curtis Shelton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Curtis, who practices law in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Curtis is held by other top lawy...

Ault's practice is focused on bankruptcy, restructuring and commercial litigation. He represents clients in commercial contract disputes, defense of lien rights, acquisitions and financial litigation matters.

Steve has practiced in the commercial litigation and bankruptcy areas for 40 years. His practice centers around the oil and gas and maritime industries. He has represented oil field service providers, vessel providers, aviation interests, geopositioning companies, shipyards and lease interest owners in bankruptcy matters in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Delaware. Steve has also represented pipeline interests and property owners in environmental litigation. Since 2013, he has taught Inter...

From our New Orleans office, Benjamin focuses on several practice areas including bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions; litigation; and asset-based finance. After graduating from Louisiana State University in 2002, Benjamin earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School in 2005. During law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Magistrate Judge Alma Chasez, United States District Court for the ...

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...

Samantha Oppenheim is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Samantha, 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 Samantha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Coleman L. Torrans is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. Coleman L., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Coleman L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joseph Caneco is an attorney in Fishman Haygood’s Litigation Section. He works in the bankruptcy and restructuring practice group and concentrates on debtor and creditor rights. Before joining Fishman Haygood, Joseph was an attorney at two nationally recognized firms headquartered in New York City. Joseph has experience representing debtors, creditors’ committees, secured lenders, general unsecured creditors, and trustees before U.S. Bankruptcy and State Courts, as well as in conn...