THE DERBES LAW FIRM - Key Persons

Albert J. Derbes, IV co-founded the Derbes Law Firm, LLC over twenty-five years ago, and has practiced law for over 30 years. Mr. Derbes both negotiates and litigates commercial matters, believing that doing both transactional work and court practice improves and informs each. Mr. Derbes is also a Louisiana certified civil mediator, focusing upon commercial and insolvency matters. His transactional work includes helping clients start up their businesses, negotiating the contracts for business operations, and aiding them with the closing of their businesses. Mr. Derbes litigation background provides him with invaluable insights into business issues, especially member disputes, derivative actions, state court liquidations, as well as bankruptcy adversaries and contested matters. Mr. Derbes' extensive litigation experience includes litigating in multiple Louisiana District Courts, Federal District Courts, Tax Courts, as well as Bankruptcy Courts in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. He has successfully litigated well-known bankruptcy cases such as Schwegmann Giant Super Markets, Ormond Country Club, and New Orleans Paddlewheels, Inc. Drawing on his knowledge and experience, Mr. Derbes is a favorite, frequent speaker to other attorneys on bankruptcy and other business related topics. His involvement with the Jefferson Bar Association and the New Orleans Bar Association creates and fosters relationships with other attorneys, which relationships are often helpful to the resolution of his clients' problems. Mr. Derbes was born in New Orleans and graduated from Jesuit High School in 1982. Thereafter, he went to Rice University and the Tulane School of Law. Outside of practice, Mr. Derbes is an avid reader, and enjoys "quiet sports" such as fishing, kayaking, snowshoeing, and hiking. He and his wife, Terri, enjoy cooking and the dining and music opportunities of New Orleans. They have been married for over 30 years and they have two adult children. Education & Certifications Education Tulane University Law School, J.D., 1989 Rice University, B.A., 1986 Professional Certifications:

Job Titles:

• Derbes Staff Member
• Assistant Bookkeeper & Billing

Beau P. Sagona is recognized as a leader in his practice areas. He is board-certified as an Estate Planning and Administration Specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Courts recognize him as an expert on retirement plan issues. He has served as special master in divorces as well as successions. Mr. Sagona is one of the few attorneys in the state of Louisiana who extensively practices in the micro-niche area of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs). Mr. Sagona prepares QDROs and court orders dividing government retirement benefits, such as state, federal and military benefits. The complexity of this practice arises from having to satisfy the legal requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), as well the contractual requirements of employer and plan administrator guidelines and procedures. His practice not only involves assisting his clients, but also other attorneys, in the valuation and division of retirement benefits. Mr. Sagona's practice also includes advising clients regarding end of life matters. His estate planning work includes the preparation of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. He also regularly assists clients after their loved ones have passed, advising clients regarding the administration of successions. On occasion, his practice involves litigating with creditors or other heirs. After passing his bar examination, Mr. Sagona opened a solo law practice. Twelve years later, he began working as an associate at a small law firm across from the Jefferson Parish Courthouse. Since November 2007, he has been a member of The Derbes Law Firm, LLC. He currently serves as a hearing committee chair for the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board and is also a volunteer with The Pro Bono Project. Beau is married to the former Gretchen Ann Grieshaber, with whom he has two sons, Daniel and Thomas. Education & Certifications Education Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1990 Louisiana State University, B.S., 1987 Professional Certifications: Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, 2005

Job Titles:

• Legal Assistant to Wilbur J. "Bill" Babin

Job Titles:

• Notary Public & Legal Assistant to Albert J. Derbes, IV and Jared S. Scheinuk

Job Titles:

• Member of the Advisory Board of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal

Bryan J. O'Neill assists clients in a variety of commercial transactional matters, including entity election and startup, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, commercial litigation, real estate, as well as general business related matters. Bryan also regularly advises clients on the division of retirement plans through Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, as well as end of life matters, such as estate planning, succession administration and litigation. Bryan rounds out his practice handling appeals in many venues. During law school, Bryan served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal, was a member of the Judge John R. Brown Admiralty Moot Court Team and was the research assistant to Professor Nikolaos Davradros for a project that was ultimately published in the Louisiana Law Review, A Louisiana Theory of Juridical Acts, 80 La. L. Rev. 1120 (2020). Outside of practice, Bryan is an active mentor to Loyola Law School students. Bryan is a member of the advisory board of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal and frequently serves as a guest judge for the Loyola Moot Court program. Bryan is an active member of the St. Thomas More Loyola Law American Inn of Court, and currently serves as the Inn's Programming Chair. Bryan and his wife, Amy, live in Metairie. Education & Certifications Education & Certifications Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, J.D., 2016 Tulane University, B.S., 2012

Job Titles:

• Bookkeeper
• Derbes Staff Member
• Office Manager

Job Titles:

• Expert

Court appointed special master in divorce and succession cases, 24 th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish Court appointed expert to assist divorcing parties in valuing and dividing retirement benefits, 24 th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish, and Civil District Court, Orleans Parish Qualified as expert in retirement systems and survivor benefits, 24th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish Qualified as expert in calculation of present value of retirement benefits, 24th Judicial District Court, Jefferson Parish

Job Titles:

• Certified Public Accountant in the State of Louisiana

Hugh J. Posner is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Louisiana. He began his career in the audit department with J.K. Byrnes and Associates. He then joined Derbes & Company, Certified Public Accountants, LLC in 1985. Thereafter, he became a member of Derbes & Posner, Certified Public Accountants, LLC in 2011, at which time, Mr. Posner's practice began to focus on tax preparation and compliance. He presently is the managing partner of The Posner Accounting Firm, LLC. He also assists attorneys at the Derbes Law Firm in preparation of various types of tax returns and with IRS audits. He has a particularized knowledge regarding the preparation of fiduciary returns (Form 1041) in connection with bankruptcy estates. Mr. Posner is a native of Gulfport, Mississippi and has lived in the metro New Orleans area for the past several decades. Education & Certifications Education & Certifications University of New Orleans, B.S., 1975

Job Titles:

• Legal Assistant to Frederick L. Bunol, Mark S. Goldstein, and Patrick S. Garrity

Jared is a proud graduate of Brother Martin High School and a class of 2006 Golden Crusader. During his five years at Brother Martin, Jared was a member of the Crusader wrestling team, and he remains active in the alumni association to date. At Boston College, Jared was an active participant in student organizations. Jared is presently a resident of New Orleans.

Job Titles:

• Master
• Social Committee Member

Job Titles:

• Legal Assistant to Beau P. Sagona and Bryan J. O'Neill

Job Titles:

• Derbes Staff Member

Job Titles:

• Business Bankruptcy Specialist

Patrick S. Garrity is board-certified as a Business Bankruptcy Specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and American Board of Certification. He has practiced all aspects of commercial bankruptcy for over a quarter of a century with an emphasis on representing parties in Chapter 11, as well as Chapter 7, bankruptcy proceedings. He is a bankruptcy litigator. Mr. Garrity's experience includes representing debtors, creditors, chief restructuring officers, trustees, liquidating trusts, and committees in a variety of industries, including hospitality, retail, real estate, transportation, engineering, oil field service, and construction. Not only does he practice throughout the state of Louisiana, but he has also been admitted pro hac vice in multiple other bankruptcy courts in other states. He represents parties in all phases of corporate debt restructurings, including negotiating out-of-court workouts and litigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in court. Mr. Garrity also advises businesses in their contractual and corporate matters. He also represents them in state court regarding contract disputes. His clients have been closely held businesses. He is a native of New Orleans and a 1987 graduate of Holy Cross High School. While attending LSU, he was a member of the 1991 College World Series Championship baseball team. After obtaining his J.D. from Southern University Law Center, Mr. Garrity worked in Baton Rouge for 23 years in a boutique bankruptcy firm. He and his wife eventually returned to the New Orleans metro area. They have three children. Education & Certifications Education Southern University, J.D., 1995 Louisiana State University, B.S., 1991 Certifications Business Bankruptcy Specialist, American Board of Certification

Job Titles:

• Receptionist

Wilbur J. "Bill" Babin, Jr.'s decades as a member of the panel of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana provides the foundation for his experience and knowledge of bankruptcy and insolvency law. He has served as a Chapter 11 plan distribution trustee, as well as a Louisiana state court liquidator. He regularly represents debtors, advising both businesses and individuals in times of financial distress. Understanding that not all solutions need to be found in court, Mr. Babin regularly negotiates work out agreements for debtors and/or creditors. Mr. Babin's experience cultivated an in depth understanding of how problems arise in business matters, which informs his advice to businesses and individuals regarding their business affairs in ordinary times. He advises businesses regarding their formation, as well as disputes among owners of businesses. He advises clients on contracts they are asked to sign. He further provides legal services regarding collection issues and other commercial disputes. Mr. Babin also regularly handles end of life matters for his clients, including wills, powers of attorney, and successions. Mr. Babin is a title insurance agent. His real estate practice not only covers the acquisition and sale of real estate, but also the negotiation of commercial sales and leases. Mr. Babin is a lifelong resident of the greater New Orleans area. He graduated from Jesuit High School in 1974 and was named the Jesuit High School alumnus of the year in 2014. Mr. Babin has coached various baseball teams at Jesuit, New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD), and Jefferson Parish Department of Parks & Recreation (JPRD) for over forty-five years. Bill and his wife Margaret currently live in Metairie. Education & Certifications Education & Certifications Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1982 Tulane University, B.S., 1979 Professional Certifications