STONE PIGMAN WALTHER WITTMANN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
- Member / New Orleans
Andy Mendez concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, complex litigation, family law, and bankruptcy. He has represented individuals, privately-held companies, and publicly-traded corporations in a wide variety of disputes as plaintiffs, defendants, debtors, and creditors. Andy began his career at the main office of a multi-national law firm before joining Stone Pigman. He has substantial experience defending product liability and toxic tort personal injury claims, including mass and class actions. He has also represented both shareholders and corporations in securities law cases. In the area of insurance law, he represented an insured making a claim under a vessel title insurance policy, the first known claim of its type. He has also represented parties involved in disputes over control of some of the most prominent business in the city and state.
Andy is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he teaches a trial practice seminar in e-discovery and digital evidence.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
Brittany Carnes Melancon focuses her practice on corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate matters. She has represented several start-up companies looking to raise capital through the sale of securities, including performing research on state-specific blue sky laws and drafting corporate consents.
Brittany also has experience assisting legal teams in construction matters, arbitration awards, and business disputes.
Bryant York practices in the areas of commercial litigation, intellectual property, antitrust matters, bankruptcy litigation, government relations, and regulatory counseling. He has represented clients in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitrations, mediations and administrative proceedings before federal agencies. Notably, Bryant represented adversary proceedings arising from the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history and defended an oilfield service company in a lawsuit which culminated in a three-week trial and a $0 jury verdict, despite the plaintiff's request for $200 million in damages.
Bryant has provided pro-bono counseling to the Human Rights Watch, including the monitoring of the International Criminal Court in The Hague and advising on constitutional developments in the Republic of the Sudan.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member / New Orleans
Larry Orlansky, chair of the firm's Gaming Practice Group and co-chair of the Appellate Practice Group, concentrates his practice in the areas of business litigation, gaming law, and professional liability and ethics. He also serves as the firm's loss prevention and ethics counsel.
Larry has served as an arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers (now FINRA).
He previously served on the Noncompetition Legislation Task Force of the Louisiana Association for Business and Industry.
Larry has served as a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees of Touro Synagogue in New Orleans, and he has served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, the Jewish Children's Regional Service, and Congregation Gates of Prayer.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
Christine Lama Hadley practices business litigation, corporate and business law matters. She also assists clients with estate planning, successions and family law matters.
Prior to joining Stone Pigman in 2019, she served as a Judicial Intern for Judge Fredericka Homberg Wicker in the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.
Job Titles:
- Special Counsel
- Special Counsel / New Orleans
Daria Diaz has practiced environmental law for more than 30 years. She represents local, national, and international energy and industrial clients in a variety of substantive areas including environmental, natural resources, energy, oil and gas, and toxic torts.
Throughout her career, Daria has litigated a variety of environmental and energy law cases, including legacy oil field cases, and cases involving solid waste disposal and recycling, underground storage tanks, underground injection wells, coastal and wetlands issues, natural resource damages, and hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal.
Additionally, she handles environmental regulatory law, including permitting, compliance, and enforcement. Daria assists and counsels clients in permitting and enforcement actions before federal and state agencies, on release notification issues and environmental audits, and has participated in rulemaking efforts at both the federal and state level. She also represents clients in insurance, real estate, and transactional matters involving environmental issues.
Job Titles:
- Member and Business Section Head
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel / New Orleans
Dorothy Wimberly concentrates her practice in products liability, class action litigation, and bankruptcy litigation. She has extensive trial experience and maintains an active litigation practice. She has represented R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in defending a state class action formed against the tobacco industry and in multiple individual suits. Additionally, Dorothy represented the trust beneficiaries of a local New Orleans grocery store in a lawsuit against the trustees for various breaches of fiduciary duties relating to their management. Dorothy was instrumental in placing the management of the grocery store rightfully back into the hands of the original family owners.
Doug Cochran concentrates his practice on corporate litigation, testate litigation and insurance defense. With 30 years of experience, Doug has represented clients such as Anheuser-Busch in contract disputes, Amazon in products liability cases, and Acadian Ambulance in medical malpractice claims and medical regulatory compliance issues. One of his most notable achievements occurred after Hurricane Katrina, when he defended a major insurance company in two of the very few Katrina cases where a jury found for the insurance company following the hurricane.
Job Titles:
- Member / New Orleans
- Member of the Firm
Edward Bukaty is a corporate and transactional lawyer. From large businesses to emerging companies, clients look to Edward to successfully guide them through their commercial transactions. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, he has helped local businesses navigate the multitude of state and federal relief opportunities to minimize the pandemic's negative economic effects.
Edward also provides legal consulting services on a pro bono basis to underserved populations through the Legal Help for the Homeless Program.
Job Titles:
- Joins Stone Pigman As Special Counsel
- Special Counsel
- Special Counsel / New Orleans
Elizabeth Tamporello concentrates her practice in the areas of bad faith, property-casualty, and personal injury litigation, as well as insurance coverage defense. Her work includes motion practice, depositions, and representing clients in mediation.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
- in 2022 As an Associate
- Joins Stone Pigman As a New Associate
Emily Hickman joined Stone Pigman in 2022 as an associate in its New Orleans office.
Emily, who graduated cum laude from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, with a J.D. in comparative law, works in the firm's litigation section.
Job Titles:
- Joins the Firm As Special Counsel
Job Titles:
- Joins the Firm As Special Counsel
Job Titles:
- Special Counsel
- Special Counsel / New Orleans
Evan Lestelle joined Stone Pigman in 2022 as Special Counsel.
Lestelle has experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of commercial lawsuits and other cases.
He previously served from 2015 - 2020 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, in Brooklyn, where he represented the United States in many lawsuits and investigations including cases involving civil claims of financial fraud, healthcare fraud, environmental issues, torts, and food and drug safety. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he received a Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Award for Excellence, and an Attorney General's Award for Fraud Prevention. Before that, he practiced for several years in the litigation group at a large law firm in New York, where he represented clients in complex commercial lawsuits and government investigations.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
Faith Flugence joins Stone Pigman's litigation group with experience in representing Fortune 500 companies in an array of lawsuits including derivative actions and other suits in the Delaware Court of Chancery.
A native of Lafayette, La., Faith graduated from Howard University School of Law, where she received a merit scholarship and was the co-captain of the Charles Hamilton Houston National Moot Court Team. She earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice, cum laude, from Dillard University, where she was on the dean's List, won the Outstanding Scholar Award, and the Justice Revius O. Ortique, Jr. Scholarship.
Job Titles:
- Joins the Firm As an Associate
Job Titles:
- Joins the Firm As an Associate
Larry has served in various capacities on the Louisiana State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee, and has served as a member of the LSBA Committee on Bar Admissions as an Assistant Examiner in Federal Jurisdiction and Procedure.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
- Joins Stone Pigman As a New Associate
Gabriel Silva joined Stone Pigman in 2022, bringing experience in litigation and transactional work, representing clients in maritime cases, international trade deals and commercial business matters.
A native of Brazil, Gabe is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish, and has applied his multilingual capabilities throughout his law practice, particularly in international trade cases. Throughout his academic years, he served as an exchange student in the United States, Chile and Hong Kong. He also interned with the Brazilian Consulate in Paraguay and with the Paraguayan Stock Exchange.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Joins Stone Pigman As Chief Operating Officer
Job Titles:
- Member and Chief Diversity Officer
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel / New Orleans
Hirschel Abbott concentrates his practice in estate planning, closely held businesses and entity selection, fiduciary litigation, charitable planning, and tax-exempt organizations. He currently serves as a co-chair of the firm's Tax, Trusts and Estates Practice Group.
As a Board-Certified Tax Law Specialist and a Certified Public Accountant, Hirschel counsels businesses and other high net worth individuals and families on matters related to property, tax, and estate planning. He also advises clients on the structure, funding, and operational aspects of public and private non-profit corporations and charitable foundations, including organization, qualification with the Internal Revenue Service, and related tax-exempt organization compliance.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel / New Orleans
For more than four decades, Jay Gulotta has represented clients in business litigation, class action, products liability and toxic torts matters. His vast experience ranges from representing hotel, restaurant and entertainment companies in securities and corporate governance litigation to assisting private universities in securing zoning authorization.
An active member of the local legal community, James is a Past President of the New Orleans Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Elected As Assistant Secretary for the Real Property Division of the American Bar Association 's Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Member / Baton Rouge
James E.A. Slaton concentrates his practice on commercial real estate, construction, and finance law as well as land use and zoning matters. He counsels businesses of all sizes and individuals through transactions ranging from the highly complex financing and development of large commercial campuses to the leasing of retail space or acquisition of property for a small business owner. His real estate practice allows James to positively impact the community around him, whether it's through the development of historic properties in the center of the city or office parks and manufacturing facilities on the outskirts.
James Slaton Elected as Assistant Secretary for the Real Property Division of the American Bar Association's Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Job Titles:
- Estate Planning and Administration Specialist
- Member / New Orleans
- Member of the Firm
John Overby is an Estate Planning and Administration Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. His practice focuses on estate planning, taxation planning, wills and trusts, employment law and general business consulting. He also advises clients on marital agreements, powers of attorney, living wills, special needs trusts, family wealth transfers and the administration of decedents' estates.
In his free time, John performs pro bono work through the Pro Bono Project. He previously served on the Board of Governors for the Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy, a charter school that once provided online learning opportunities to at-risk children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel / New Orleans
With more than 40 years of legal experience, John Landis concentrates his commercial litigation practice primarily on bankruptcy, construction, land use and antitrust disputes. As co-chair of the firm's Bankruptcy Practice Group, John regularly assists clients in a multitude of Chapter 11 and bankruptcy matters, including reorganizations and foreclosures.
Among his successes, John served as lead debtor's counsel in the successful reorganization of a national construction company that resolved over $2 billion of claims and preserved a tax credit of over $100 million.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Senior Counsel / New Orleans
John Colbert focuses his practice area on tax and tax controversy. As a Louisiana Certified Tax Law Specialist, he assists clients in the tax efficient structuring of business entities, as well as handling any tax controversies involving challenges to audits or tax statutes at administrative, state and federal levels.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
John Myles concentrates his practices on corporate law and real estate transactions. He joined Stone Pigman in 2023 after graduating cum laude from Southern University Law Center where he was a member of the Southern University Law Review, represented Southern University Law Center as a student ambassador, and served on the Board of Student Advisors as a teaching assistant. He gained legal experience working as a summer associate for Stone Pigman and clerked for the Orleans Public Defenders and Southeast Louisiana Legal Service.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Member of the French - American Chamber of Commerce
- Senior Counsel / New Orleans
For more than 35 years, Joe Caverly has practiced corporate and business law, securities, as well as mergers and acquisitions for an array of clients ranging from transportation, technology, chemical, and oil and gas companies. He has also represented numerous health care providers in both acquisitions and sales of businesses, including hospitals, home health agencies, physician practice groups and a regional emergency medical service company.
Joe is a member of the French-American Chamber of Commerce and fluent in French.
Job Titles:
- Member / New Orleans
- Member of the Firm
Justin Swaim concentrates his practice on public utilities regulation, energy and general business litigation as well as appellate law. Justin has also represented the Louisiana Public Service Commission in numerous Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proceedings.
Justin Lemaire concentrates his practice on business litigation. He assists clients with a wide variety of business issues, including state and local tax disputes, products liability litigation, oil and gas litigation, public bid law cases and government procurement cases.
His experience ranges from defending independent oil and gas companies in legacy oilfield site lawsuits to representing a large chemical corporation in a multimillion dollar arbitration over a chemical distribution agreement. Justin has a strong background in representing businesses through products liability claims, lease and defamation claims, as well as wrongful termination claims.
Job Titles:
- Joins the Firm As Special Counsel
Job Titles:
- Joins the Firm As Special Counsel
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
- Joins Stone Pigman As a New Associate
Katelyn McGibney practices business litigation and insurance defense. She has assisted independent oil and gas companies in corporate disputes and breach of contract claims.
Prior to joining Stone Pigman, Katelyn assisted legal teams in medical malpractice claims and disputes involving employment law and maritime matters. She also gained experience at the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Job Titles:
- Special Counsel
- Special Counsel / New Orleans
Katelyn Gunn concentrates her practice in estate planning, counseling individuals, families, and closely held businesses on sophisticated estate planning issues. Her work includes drafting documents such as wills, powers of attorney, trusts, and matrimonial agreements; administering succession proceedings; preparing U.S. Gift Tax returns and U.S. Estate Tax returns; and working with families and foundations to establish charitable giving plans.
Katelyn also advises clients on changes in tax laws, identifies and carries out tax-efficient wealth transfer opportunities, and assists families with business succession planning with the goal of promoting generational business continuity. Katelyn has been recognized by Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" for Tax Law and is a former board member of Hands On New Orleans, a nonprofit that promotes voluntarism in the Greater New Orleans area.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Counsel
- Energy Bar Association Board Member
Job Titles:
- Alumni Association Board of Directors Member
- Review Warren E. Mouledoux Editor - in - Chief 's Award
Job Titles:
- Member of the Chair of Management Committee
Job Titles:
- Member and Litigation Section Head
W. Brett Mason's practice focuses on the representation of businesses in the transportation and other sectors. He frequently defends clients in business related casualty litigation, contract disputes, ownership disputes, and with insured risks. In addition to being a seasoned litigator, he has negotiated and documented numerous marine related transactions, including vessel construction, repair contracts, preferred ship mortgages, charter agreements, shipping contracts, terminal service agreements, batture leases and fleet lease agreements.
One of Brett's more notable cases was when he seized a ship owned by the government of Ghana in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana for its failure to pay a steamship agent. The facts of the case were challenging and complex and ultimately the vessel was sold at a private sale with the client being paid in full.
Brett also provides pro bono legal defense to merchant mariners in administrative proceedings.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / New Orleans
Fritz Metzinger concentrates his practice on general business litigation, representing clients in matters such as breach of lease claims and termination disputes, while also assisting companies against claims of securities violations, fraud and contractual breach.
Fritz's accomplishments include winning an appeal before the Louisiana Fourth Circuit and assisting a sports team in a confidentiality dispute. An avid sports fan, Fritz has dabbled in sports writing and appeared on an episode of Sports Jeopardy! He also utilizes his extensive knowledge of sports law to discuss NCAA regulations with the media.
Wayne Lee has spent the last 15 years focusing his practice on insurance and insurance class action lawsuits. He assists clients with legal matters such as coverage issues, bad faith claims, mold claims, regulatory issues and class action claims with a myriad of substantive issues. Throughout his career, he has successfully represented numerous insurance companies in class action lawsuits that alleged improper handling of claims.
Wayne has spent more than four decades at Stone Pigman and currently serves as chair of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. He also hosts diversity receptions at Stone Pigman where first-year law students are invited to meet a community of diverse judges and attorneys.
Job Titles:
- Member of the St. Thomas More Loyola Inns of Court