Find Lawyers in New Orleans, Louisiana for Commercial Litigation
Practice Area Overview
Litigation increasingly occurs in various venues, from state and federal courts to private arbitrations and administrative hearings. Proceedings can involve business-to-business disputes or any number of government agencies. Understanding the motivations and outlook of each of the litigation participants is important for determining weak points to exploit and strong points that will persuade the audience in question. During the past decade, commercial litigators have seen a dramatic uptick in multidistrict and inter-disciplinary litigation, making the stakes higher, the cases more complex, the parties more numerous and the discovery more complicated and unwieldy. Firms that are able to develop and implement a creative legal approach to each individual problem, efficiently focus on the key legal and factual issues, and master and manage the various aspects of these complex matters will be the busiest in the years to come.
In the current challenging economic climate, commercial litigators are under increasing client pressure to keep costs in check, which has both sides testing the efficacy of alternative fee arrangements and the scope of reasonable discovery. Whether the “death of the billable hour” is ultimately realized, the keys to a commercial litigator’s success will continue to be strong client relationships, thought leadership, practical management skills, deep experience, and personal commitment.
Corporate Law & Commercial Litigation Legal Guide 2023
View Legal GuideRichard Aguilar is resident in the firm's New Orleans office. His multi-state practice focuses on bringing his extensive business experience to bear for clients dealing with issues in areas involving creditor's rights, foreclosure, bankruptcy, reorganization, and high-consequence business and commercial litigation.
Mr. Alford represents public utilities and other clients in a variety of matters, including commercial and tort litigation, regulatory proceedings, and contract and property issues. Representative cases include construction disputes, securities actions, antitrust and unfair trade practice claims, medical licensing, and consumer litigation. Mr. Alford also counsels clients concerning regulatory compliance, employment, and general business issues. Mr. Alford graduated from Louisiana State Unive...
Phil is a commercial litigator in state and federal courts. He takes pride in advising his clients on how to succeed at trial, on appeal, or how to avoid litigation altogether. Louis Armstrong, the greatest trumpet player of all time, said “never play anything the same way twice.” Phil has taken this advice to heart in his practice, advising unique clients facing distinct challenges with an individualized approach. Phil represents a diverse set of clients across a broad range of i...
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...
John T. Balhoff, II, a member of the firm, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1971. He attended college at the University of Notre Dame and graduated from there, cum laude, in 1993, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. Mr. Balhoff received his Juris Doctor degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1996. Mr. Balhoff presently is admitted to the Louisiana Bar and he also is admitted to practice before all United States District C...
Judy Y. Barrasso is a founding member of the law firm of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C., a New Orleans litigation firm ranked among the top litigation firms in Louisiana. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation, and includes complex commercial litigation matters and class actions involving insurance coverage and bad faith, director and officer liability, securities fraud, and commercial contracts. Judy has handled matters in at least twelve states. Judy has been r...
In his 30-plus years as a litigator in New Orleans, Brent Barriere has built a solid reputation as a tireless advocate for his clients. Clients praise Brent’s tenacious, dogged representation and his “industrious work ethic.” With a crisp, creative mind, Brent is able to craft inventive arguments to advance his client’s cause, and his professionalism – both in and out of the courtroom – has earned him the respective of his peers in the community. Brent join...
Alicia Bendana practices business bankruptcy law and commercial litigation with an emphasis on prosecuting and defending complex and multi-layered litigation claims on behalf of trustees, debtors, creditors, creditors’ committees, and other interested parties in Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcy proceedings. She represents clients as lead or co-lead counsel in the prosecution of officer and director liability litigation, legal and accounting malpractice liability litigation, fraud and RICO li...
Jamie L. Berger is a member of the firm and serves as the firm’s hiring partner. Clients have praised Jamie for her "out-of-the-box solutions to complicated legal problems" and "impeccable judgment." Jamie practices in all aspects of complex litigation. She has litigated, arbitrated, and advised clients in a variety of areas, including securities, corporate governance, contract disputes, and government and regulatory investigations. Her clients come from a range of industries, including...
Ned Bergin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He represents utilities and publicly held companies in a broad range of disputes. Ned has a robust commercial litigation practice focused on utility regulation, complex and class action litigation, contract litigation, energy litigation, state constitutional and home rule law and antitrust matters. He represents publicly held entities in these areas, including large nationwide telecommunications providers and energy production and coge...
C. Byron Berry, Jr.’s practice covers a broad spectrum of litigation matters. He handles complex, multi-district and multi-party litigation (including class actions) and is known for leading, managing and coordinating counsel in such matters. These cases arise in the areas of administrative law, construction litigation, business litigation, professional malpractice liability, pharmaceutical drug liability, products liability, healthcare, professional licensure investigations and discipl...
David Bienvenu has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana, representing clients in general casualty, insurance and commercial litigation. He enjoys an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell, a testament to the fact that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been named a Louisiana Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation Defense and is recognized in Best Lawyers in Commercial, Casualty, and Insurance Litigation. ...
Kim Boyle practices in the areas of labor and employment, civil rights, constitutional law, commercial, tort and general litigation. Her employment practice includes representing employers in employment related claims, such as retaliation and discrimination claims as well as workplace harassment. She also handles EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. Her practice also includes the representation of public and private clients in a wid...
Bill Bradley represents health care providers and other professionals in court, on appeal and before regulatory agencies. His practice consists principally of the defense of medical malpractice actions in the Louisiana state and federal courts. He also has an extensive appellate practice. Through 2023, Bill has tried at least 42 jury trials and 37 bench trials.
Mr. Brown heads the firm’s Commercial Litigation Section as well as its Professional Liability Practice Group. He is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and serves as the firm’s Loss Prevention Partner. His practice focuses on complex litigation, including banking and contract disputes, professional liability litigation, legal malpractice defense, antitrust litigation, trusts and estates litigation, First Amendment litigation, and Education law. For over two decades, Mr. Brown has succe...
For over 25 years, Judy Burnthorn has represented insurance carrier and insurance guaranty association clients in all types of commercial matters before juries, judges and arbitration panels. Judy is a professional liability attorney defending life, health, disability, directors & officers, and errors & omissions claims for the insurance industry and malpractice suits for CPAs, attorneys, surveyors, appraisers and insurance agents. She also is experienced defending claims of employmen...
Clients turn to Craig Caesar's trial and appellate experience for help with complex business disputes and government investigations. His decorated background of courtroom success has earned him the trust of regional and national clients in health care, manufacturing, telecommunications and financial services. He advises clients on a variety of issues, from antitrust and trade regulation matters to state and federal litigation. For nearly 20 years, Craig has served as the principal outside cou...
Daniel J. Caruso has been an active trial practitioner since his admission to the Bar in 1972. As such, he has litigated nationwide cases involving maritime and general liability; insurance coverage and bad faith; architecture and engineer error and omissions; construction surety and construction defect, as well as toxic tort. Mr. Caruso has appeared on behalf of clients in numerous state and federal district courts, as well as courts of appeal. He has also appeared before arbitration panels ...
Thomas Casey is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. He has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice covering matters in both court and arbitration, including numerous class action cases. Tom maintains a broad business and commercial litigation practice, handling disputes in court and arbitration. He has represented a variety of clients in the manufacturing, insurance, financial, and healthcare industries. Tom has also handled more than 50 class action cases in multiple states on ...
Since joining the Firm in 1985, Steve Copley has represented local and national concerns in complex commercial litigation and trials including class action, insurance, energy, products liability, construction, bankruptcy and franchise law matters. He has extensive trial experience in both Louisiana Federal and State courts. He has successfully represented clients in federal and state appeal courts and has extensive experience arbitrating disputes. Steve is also admitted to practice law in Tex...
Mark A. Cunningham is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-team leader of the corporate compliance and white collar defense team. Mark provides strategic advice to clients on competition and trade issues related to the structuring of national and global distribution networks, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property protection. Mark also serves as first-chair trial counsel for companies and individuals under law enforcement scrutiny or facing bet-the-co...
Beverly DeLaune handles professional liability matters for accountants, lawyers, insurance agents and brokers. Beverly assists her clients in responding to disciplinary complaints and professional liability lawsuits, as well as providing assistance addressing pre-litigation concerns. Beverly DeLaune handles professional liability matters for accountants, lawyers, insurance agents and brokers. Beverly assists her clients in responding to disciplinary complaints and professional liability lawsu...
Robert J. Dressel practices in the areas of complex and commercial litigation, securities litigation and regulatory proceedings, and appellate litigation in state and federal court. Bobby’s pro bono work includes helping state and local prison inmates to resolve their outstanding legal issues before being released from prison. Bobby received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law. While in law sc...
Tim Eagan enjoys a diverse legal practice concentrating on complex commercial litigation in the trial and appellate courts in both the state and federal court systems. He has represented business clients in a range of industries including energy, securities, exploration, health care, banking and construction. Tim has served as lead counsel in national and state class actions, multidistrict litigation, regulatory actions, antitrust, RICO, securities fraud, shareholder disputes, corporate dispu...
Matt’s practice currently focuses on resolving claims arising out of specialty lines of insurance, including financial institution bonds, commercial crime policies, directors and officers liability policies, and professional liability policies. Matt also has significant experience in litigating claims under surety bonds, in the defense of extra-contractual claims, and in the representation of creditors and asset purchasers in corporate bankruptcies.
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. Flint is a Shareholder in the New Orleans office with a practice that includes both commercial and civil litigation within the maritime and energy fields. His maritime industry experience includes the representation of drilling and service companies, blue and brown water vessel owners, charterers, and insurers. Particularly related to his maritime practice, Mr. Flint has developed a specialty with DBA cases defending burn pit and PTSD claims. His longevity in the practice area and concern...
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...
George J. Fowler, III, is a partner in the Maritime Practice Group, where he focuses on litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. George Fowler is an internationally recognized trial lawyer known for his successful record trying hundreds of cases to juries and judges, including numerous high-profile matters, complex litigation, and cases of national concern. George has written and lectured extensively on private international law and world trade and is active in promoting trade and inv...
George C. Freeman, III, is a founding member of the firm. His practice focuses on securities litigation, arbitration, and enforcement. He primarily represents financial advisors and broker-dealers, together with their respective officers, directors, and employees, in customer disputes and in SEC and FINRA proceedings. He also represents underwriters, issuers, and trustees in securities class action cases. Outside the field of securities, George concentrates in complex financial and commercial...
Mr. Garner, a Member of the firm is a trial lawyer specializing in commercial and complex litigation. He has been lead counsel in cases in New Mexico, California, West Virginia, Kansas, Arizona, Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, involving complex and class action litigation ranging from asbestos exposure, benzene exposure, mass closings of big box retailers, noise pollution, commercial, banking, bankruptcy and financial litigation. He is admitted to practice before the fede...
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. ...
In these complex cases, Jeremy complements his arguments with logical structure and prudent strategy to gain advantages over the opposition. He regularly appears in state and federal courts, and he has litigated and handled appeals involving: Contract and other commercial disputes Business torts Products liability and toxic tort cases Insurance matters Vessel seizures/arrests and other maritime casualty matters Jeremy is also a regular contributor to legal publications and has written numerou...
Tim was first inspired to become an attorney while watching Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird. When Atticus commanded a courtroom against all odds in a seemingly impossible case, it ignited Tim's desire to be challenged by interesting things and to do work that is socially valuable. Every day Tim gets to do just that, as he shows up to work to face fresh challenges that allow him to provide his clients with his best efforts. A considerate friend and genuine professional, Tim has a strong...
Greg Grimsal practices in the area of commercial litigation (for which he was named a “Best Lawyer” in 2012), with some concentration in the areas of general contract disputes, commercial real estate, commercial leases, risk management and casualty matters (including coverage questions and lost policy issues), and complex products liability litigation. He has litigated maritime lien ranking disputes, oil and gas royalty suits and environmental cleanup cases, as well as several hig...
Mr. Gulotta is the Chair of the firm's Toxic Torts/Products Liability Practice Group. His practice includes business litigation, products liability, toxic torts and class actions. He handles cases involving pharmaceuticals, chemical exposure, insurance, oil and gas, securities, antitrust, property damage, business interruption and construction cases. Mr. Gulotta joined Stone Pigman in 1976.
Lele Hainkel is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on energy litigation. Lele has extensive experience handling offshore and onshore energy-related disputes in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration. Her oil and gas litigation practice covers defense of claims against the oil and gas industry asserting liability for coastal erosion, legacy suit property restoration claims, disputes related to Outer Continental Shelf decommissioning liability, preferential rig...
Pauline Hardin is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on criminal litigation as well as business, commercial, and labor disputes. Pauline has tried more than 150 jury trials across the spectrum of criminal and commercial litigation. She routinely handles bet-the-company and high-stakes matters, and also draws on her experience to help clients facing grand jury investigations by avoiding prosecution, or when facing criminal charges, by negotiating plea agreements or going t...
Mr. Holmes has more than 25 years of experience as a business lawyer, representing clients in arbitration and litigation as well as handling transactional matters. He also represents franchisors with respect to disclosure, relationship and termination issues. Mr. Holmes also helps clients in the matters of business organization, contracts, directors’ and officers’ liability, bankruptcy and intellectual property as well as trusts and estates. Mr. Holmes is an Eagle Scout and remain...
Grady Hurley is a partner in and leader of the maritime litigation and arbitration team and co-chair of the Energy, Environmental & Natural Resources Industry Team. Since 1979, he has focused on maritime, oilfield, and energy litigation. Grady has broad-ranging dispute resolution and transactional experience at the intersection of energy and maritime law, including in areas such as offshore energy exploration, production, and distribution, where a range of complex legal, regulatory, and b...
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