TAYLOR PORTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Member of the Louisiana Bankers Association
- Title Agent in the State of the Louisiana
Michael Dufilho is engaged primarily in commercial transactions, including negotiating commercial leases, conducting title examinations, issuing title insurance policies, drafting loan and security documents, stock sale agreements, asset purchase agreements, and mergers.
Mr. Dufilho is a licensed title agent in the State of the Louisiana, and Taylor Porter has a captive title insurance agency, Investors Title & Exchange Company.
He represents lenders and borrowers in commercial secured lending transactions related to direct loans, and taxable and tax free bond transactions, including acting as local counsel in multi-state transactions. Mr. Dufilho's practice also involves Uniform Commercial Code issues and agricultural lending, as well as public utility and conservation servitudes, probate and trust matters. Mr. Dufilho has performed extensive mineral title examination work. In addition, Mr. Dufilho has handled ad valorem tax assessment matters, including having property classified as exempt and has filed protests with local assessors both as to the value of the assessment and as to whether property is legally subject to being assessed and taxed.
A minor portion of Mr. Dufilho's practice also includes involvement in commercial litigation, and he has also authored numerous appellate briefs and has successfully argued cases in the Louisiana appellate courts.
Mr. Dufilho is a member of the Louisiana Bankers Association (Bank Counsel Section), and has been involved in drafting legislation involving various banking issues and agricultural lending practices. Mr. Dufilho is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Baton Rouge Bar Association and has lectured on secured lending practices.
Allie Amedee joined Taylor Porter in 2022 and practices in general tort litigation, commercial litigation, and insurance defense.
Allie received her J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2022 where she was a recipient of the Paul M. Hebert Scholar Award and the Dean Scholar Award. She served as the Vice President of External Appellate Advocacy Competitions and was a member of the Saul Lefkowitz Law Moot Court Competition Team and the Tom Fore Phillips National Moot Court Competition Team. She earned her B.A. in Economics and Dance, summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama in 2019.
Prior to joining Taylor Porter, Allie was a legal extern at the 23rd Judicial Louisiana District Attorney's Office, a congressional intern for Congressman Garret Graves, and a senator aide for Senator Eddie Lambert.
Amy Lambert has extensive experience representing physicians, hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes in malpractice suits as well as tort and commercial claims. She has served as lead counsel in multiple medical malpractice jury trials. In addition, Ms. Lambert has had significant success defending hospitals in medical staff privilege and peer review disputes, including HCQIA defenses and EMTALA claims. Ms. Lambert has defended private companies as well as Louisiana State University and the State of Louisiana in tort claims, insurance coverage disputes, unfair trade practice claims, breach of contract cases, and other commercial disputes.
Ms. Lambert is the Past President of the Baton Rouge Bar Association and prior to that served on the Baton Rouge Bar Association's Board of Directors for nine years. Ms. Lambert has been inducted into the LSU Law Center Hall of Fame; was recognized in 2005 as one of Baton Rouge Business Report's "Top Forty Under 40"; and has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation since 2010. Ms. Lambert serves as the co-chair of Taylor Porter's professional liability, insurance, casualty, product liability and personal injury litigation practice group. She is also the co-chair of the firm's Associate's Committee.
Ms. Lambert graduated from Louisiana State University in 1992 with a B.A. in Journalism and obtained her J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1996. As a law student, Ms. Lambert served as Editor-in-Chief of the Louisiana Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. From 1996 to 1997, she was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Frank J. Polozola, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. She has been a guest speaker a several seminars and presents regularly at the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center on Heath Care Law and Trial Tactics.
In the community, Ms. Lambert is a Board of Advisor Member for Theatre Baton Rouge, one of the oldest and largest community theatres in the nation, and she is an active member of St. Aloysius Church Parish. She formerly served as a past chair of the LSU Law Annual Fund.
Amy Groves Lowe is a Partner at Taylor Porter, where she has a litigation practice in various areas of law, including insurance defense, labor and employment, education law, administrative law, and appellate practice.
Amy has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in four areas: Education Law, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, for her work representing universities and high schools in labor and employment issues and insurance defense; and Litigation - Insurance, for her work representing various insurers in areas including personal injury, contract disputes, constitutional claims, employment, and others. Amy was formerly selected by her peers as "Litigation - Insurance Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge" in the Best Lawyers in America 2020 rankings.
Amy has more than 20 years of experience in representing public agencies, public employees and public officials in federal and state courts, in administrative hearings, and before the Louisiana Legislature. She has served as general counsel of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists for over 15 years, general counsel for the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Nursing Facility Administrators and has represented numerous other public agencies such as the Louisiana Board of Ethics, the Louisiana Board of Private Security Examiners and the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology. Amy has also served as an Administrative Law Judge for several state agencies in disciplinary hearings.
In addition to Amy's litigation experience, she has a Master of Arts in Psychology (LSU, 1994). Amy has combined her expertise in these two areas by being frequently utilized as a jury consultant, assisting other litigators in jury selection, pre-trial research, and statistical analysis and serving as a litigation consultant in expert and lay witness preparation. In addition, Amy has conducted numerous CLEs and seminars on the issue of jury selection and effective and ethical presentation to juries and has been published in the Baton Rouge Bar Association journal on jury selection.
Amy's representative engagements also include the following case matters:
Amy Christina is an Attorney at Taylor Porter and practices primarily with the Insurance Defense team. She has experience in insurance defense matters involving bodily injury and property damage claims, including Hurricane insurance claims, business interruption claims, and construction claims. Amy has independently managed all aspects of cases with full oversight of initial investigation, trial planning, motion practice, discovery, legal research, and courtroom appearances.
Amy earned her J.D. in 2002 from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center where she earned CALI awards in Toxic Torts and Sports and Entertainment Law. In addition to her J.D., she also received her Bachelor of Civil Law. Amy received her B.A. from Louisiana State University in 1997.
In the community, Amy is active in the parish of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, as well as the Bocage Racquet Club.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Louisiana Bar Association
Mr. Eversberg is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, the Mississippi Bar, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, and American Board of Trial Advocates.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Ann M. Halphen has extensive experience handling professional liability, general insurance, and health care-related matters. In addition, Ms. Halphen has had significant successes in defending hospitals in medical staff privilege, qui tam and peer review disputes, including HCQIA defenses and EMTALA claims. Ms. Halphen has tried successfully multiple medical malpractice cases, involving various specialties, as lead trial counsel. Ms. Halphen also has particular experience with arbitrating contracts through the American Health Lawyers Association including physician recruitment and employment agreements.
Ms. Halphen is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier legal associations in North America, composed of preeminent members of the Trial Bar, and limited to just one percent of the total lawyer population of any state. She has been a guest speaker at several seminars, and has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in the field of Health Care Law. She is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
Ms. Crochet counsels generators, manufacturers, recyclers, transporters, owners/operators of treatment, storage and disposal facilities, and a major Superfund site in the areas of air, water, solid and hazardous waste management, and soil and groundwater remediation. She also provides advice in commercial and real estate transactions as to environmental obligations, protections, and permit transfers. She has experience defending citizens suits, zoning challenges, and third party actions against industrial facilities.
Ms. Crochet's practice includes agency adjudicatory actions, injunctive, declaratory relief and damages actions in state and federal district courts, and appellate actions in all forums. She has extensive experience in media relations and crisis management.
Ms. Crochet was selected by her peers as "Environmental Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge" in the Best Lawyers in America 2020 and 2023 rankings. This was the third time Ms. Crochet has received the top honor in addition to her 2014 selection. Ms. Crochet is also ranked by clients among Chambers USA "Leaders in their Field" and among Louisiana Super Lawyers in Environmental Law.
Ms. Crochet is a contributing author of Louisiana Environmental Compliance, a publication in the West Group Practice Series for Louisiana that annually covers environmental compliance issues across the state.
Ms. Crochet is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, all federal district courts within Louisiana, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Executive Committee and Board Member )
Bethany joined the firm in 2023, where she practices in various areas including construction litigation, commercial litigation, real estate, and commercial transactions. Prior to joining the firm, Bethany's practice included medical malpractice, general liability, and insurance defense litigation.
Bethany served as a two-term judicial law clerk to the Honorable Judge A. Gerard Caswell for the 27th Judicial District Court in St. Landry Parish.
She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University College of Law. While attending law school, Bethany served as a judicial extern at the Louisiana Supreme Court to Justice James T. Genovese. Bethany was awarded the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center Social Justice and Public Service Award and the St. Thomas More Public Service Award in recognition of her dedication to public service. She also received the highest grade in her Legal Research and Writing and Real Estate Transaction courses. Bethany graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Bethany is currently admitted to practice in all state courts in Louisiana. She is also admitted in all Louisiana Courts of Appeal, all Louisiana federal courts, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Louisiana Supreme Court. Bethany is a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana State (Construction Section), and American Bar (Construction Forum), and the Fifth Federal Circuit Associations.
Dr. Davis has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, and for 2019, she was ranked for the second time as "Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge in Litigation - Intellectual Property."
Dr. Davis was a full professor at San Francisco State University before moving to Louisiana in 1986, where she was an adjunct faculty member at Louisiana State University until entering Louisiana State UniversityPaul M. Hebert Law Center. Dr. Davis served as Executive Senior Editor of the Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. Her published law review paper was a discussion of scientific expert testimony after Daubert. From 1995-96, she was a law clerk to the Honorable W. Eugene Davis, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
A member of the Taylor Porter Executive Committee, Partner Brett Furr is engaged primarily in a real estate and commercial litigation practice. In the last several years, his work has been related to commercial bank workout and litigation, including foreclosures, bankruptcies, defense of lender liability suits, and oil and gas cases and related matters.
Mr. Furr is the former chairman of the Banking Law Section of the National Lawyers Association. On behalf of the Louisiana Bankers Association, Mr. Furr was a principal drafter of a bill which was enacted as La. R.S. 6:1361, known as the ATM/Night Depository Customer Safety Act. He served on a Task Force to update the Local Court Rules for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Mr. Furr is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy, bank liability, and related matters.
Mr. Furr has been selected for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers (Banking) and Best Lawyers in America (Real Estate). Mr. Furr was selected by his peers as "Real Estate Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge" in the Best Lawyers in America 2020 rankings. This was the second time Mr. Furr has received the top honor in addition to his 2016 selection.
Mike is ranked among his peers among Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America in Product Liability Law, including Personal Injury - Products: Defense, Insurance Coverage, and Aerospace/Aviation.
Mike is a member of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana State Bar Associations, and the Defense Research Institute, where he previously served as the Chair of the Agricultural, Construction, Mining and Industrial Equipment (ACMIE) Subcommittee of the Products Liability Committee. He has served as an Assistant Examiner for the Louisiana State Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions.
Mike earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He received his B.S. from the United States Military Academy in 1975 with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering.
After graduation from West Point and completion of the Airborne, Ranger, and Field Artillery Officer Basic Courses, Mike served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in its border patrol mission on the border with East Germany as a Reconnaissance Officer and as a field artillery Battery Executive Officer. After returning to the United States, he commanded a self-propelled field artillery battery in the 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized).
In the community, Mike has actively supported the Istrouma Council of the Boy Scouts of America and served in leadership positions ranging from Den Leader to Council Vice-President, and as Chairman of the Camping Committee at the Council level. He served Louisiana as the state's West Point Admissions Representative for more than 15 years and helped more than 30 young men and women from Baton Rouge and southeastern Louisiana gain admission to West Point.
Mike is a licensed pilot, and has served as a Mission Pilot and Wing Leader for Angel Flight, a national organization that uses pilots to fly cancer patients to medical centers for treatment.
Cameron joined Taylor Porter in 2022 and practices in commercial transactions and commercial litigation.
Cameron received his J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2022 where he received the Judge Alvin B. Rubin Scholarship. He was a member of the Public Interest Law Society and received the CALI Excellence Award for the highest grade in its Bankruptcy Reorganization Seminar. Cameron was a 2022 nominee for the American College of Bankruptcy's Distinguished Bankruptcy Law Student Program for the Fifth Circuit and competed in the Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition. He also published an article, Compensation for the Nonstanding Subchapter V Trustee, in the American Bankruptcy Institute Journal (ABI Journal, January 2022 Vo. XLI, No. 1, Pg. 60).
In 2019, Cameron earned his B.A. in political science with a minor in business from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda and Sigma Alpha Pi Honor Societies. He was also a member of the UL Black Male Leadership Association.
Prior to joining Taylor Porter, Cameron worked as a law clerk for the Louisiana Department of Justice. He was also an intern at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
In the community, Cameron is a former Eagle Scout and volunteer at the New Hope Community Development of Acadiana Community Center.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Louisiana State
Charles received his J.D. from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1977 and his B.S. from the University of New Orleans in 1974.
He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Louisiana.
Mr. Schutte is a member of the Louisiana State and Baton Rouge Bar Association. He is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute (DRI), and the Bank Council of the Louisiana Bankers Association.
Charles is a licensed title insurance agent in Louisiana.
Cyrus Greco has been practicing law in Baton Rouge for over 40 years. Mr. Greco graduated from Southeastern Louisiana College with a B.A. He received his J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He was admitted to practice in 1963. He practices before Louisiana courts, United States District Courts, Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, and United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Mr. Greco served as Executive Counsel to Governor David Treen and is a member of the Louisiana State and American Bar Associations. He is a past president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Mr. Greco was a member of the Board of Governors of the Louisiana State Bar Association for six years. He is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel and of the American Judicature Society. Mr. Greco is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was an adjunct professor at the LSU Law School from 1974- 2003 where he taught Advanced Litigation.
His practice areas include federal and state civil litigation, business and commercial litigation, trial practice, federal criminal law, business crimes, and environmental criminal defense.
He has been selected for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers.
A member of the Taylor Porter Executive Committee and General Counsel for the firm, Partner David J. Shelby II has over 25 years of experience advising and representing clients on matters of construction, labor, employment, commercial contracts and disputes, premises liability, and personal injury defense. He received his J.D. from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1993 and was admitted to practice in Louisiana that same year.
David's representative experience includes:
Labor and Employment: Family Medical Leave Act; Employment Contracts; Discrimination Claims; Employee Investigations; Employee Handbooks; Drug and Alcohol Policies; Computer Use Policies; Social Media Policies; Wage and Hour Laws; Collective Bargaining Agreements; Unfair Labor Practices; and Non-Compete Agreements.
Construction and Business: Contract Drafting, Negotiation and Litigation; Claims for Delay; Operating Agreement; Shareholder/Member Disputes; Unfair Trade Practices; Liens; Collections; Commercial Leases; Insurance; Indemnity; Accident Investigation; Personal Injury Defense; Premises Liability; and Safety.
Education: Research Misconduct; Title IX; Promotion and Tenure; Student Due Process; Cleary Act; Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; Public Records Requests; Public Bid Laws; and Civil Rights.
David has significant experience drafting and negotiating construction contracts, defending liability and indemnity claims arising from construction projects and contracts, and defending unfair labor practice and employment discrimination claims. He has defended complex multi-district litigation.
David's clients include Dixie Electric Membership Corporation, Triad Electric, The Newtron Group, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Coastal Process, and Royal Engineering.
David is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, in the United States District Courts for the Middle, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Baton Rouge Bar Association.
Ms. Lamb is a member of the American, Fifth Circuit, Louisiana State, and Baton Rouge Bar Associations. She is admitted to practice before all federal and state courts in Louisiana and the United States Supreme Court.
Ms. Lamb is actively involved in the Baton Rouge community. She currently is a member of Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge. She serves on the board of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra as a member of the marketing committee, and serves on the advisory panel to Volunteers in Public Schools. She has served on the board of Capital Area CASA Association, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge, Inc., and currently volunteers for those agencies.
In 2006, Ms. Lamb received Volunteer Baton Rouge's Volunteer Employee Spirit Award for her work with VIPS. In 2005, Ms. Lamb received the "Portrait of Caring" award from Cox Communications and 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge for her efforts to promote diversity and unity in the Baton Rouge community.
Eddie has extensive experience in contract and agreement preparation including purchase and sale agreements, surface and subsurface leases, mineral leases, operating agreements, voluntary and reservoir-wide unit agreements, farmouts, subleases, assignments of leases and overriding royalties, and various curative instruments. He regularly appears before the Commissioner of Conservation, Department of Natural Resource, State of Louisiana regarding unitization matters.
Eddie has argued before Louisiana state and federal district courts, Louisiana appellate courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Eddie's notable representative matters include:
Lead counsel for a number of oil and gas operators and working interest owners in various "Legacy lawsuits".
Counsel for Fortune 100 chemical company in a number of "Legacy lawsuits," lawsuits involving claims for environmental contamination and remediation on property with previous and ongoing oil and gas operations.
Counsel for major timber company in a number of "Legacy lawsuits," lawsuits involving claims for environmental contamination and remediation on property with previous and ongoing oil and gas operations.
Counsel for drilling company in suit involving the prosecution of a negligence claim by the operator and working interest owners for negligence against a contractor which resulted in damage to a well bore.
Counsel for drilling company in suit involving the prosecution of a claim by the operator and against a contractor involving a fee dispute.
Lead counsel for a group of overriding royalty owners seeking damages against an operator for bad faith termination of overriding royalty interests culminating in a significant verdict in favor of the clients.
Lead counsel for the subsidiary of a Fortune 500 company defending indemnity and single business enterprise claims arising out of a previous Legacy lawsuit.
Lead counsel for an independent exploration company involved in a dispute concerning an Area of Mutual Interest (AMI) and interpretation of a series of Joint Operating Agreements.
Counsel for a pipeline company in lawsuit involving environmental damage and water contamination arising out of historical pipeline operations.
Counsel for chemical manufacturer in complex toxic exposure litigation by a former on-site contractor.
Counsel for state university in a dispute with an oil and gas operator involving contractual and unitization issues on property owned by the university.
Counsel for a riverboat casino operator in defense of a $600 million Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices claim by a competing license applicant. Jury award for the plaintiff in the amount of $3 million reduced by the trial court to $1.6 million, and then overturned on appeal. Applying the Noerr-Pennington doctrine, the Court of Appeal dismissed all of plaintiff's claims. The Louisiana Supreme Court denied writs and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari.
Lead counsel for a number of oil and gas operators in a mass tort suit filed by the SLFPA-E for damages arising out of oil and gas operations.
Lead counsel for various oil and gas operators in a suit filed by two (2) Louisiana parishes for violations of the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Counsel for a major steel manufacturer seeking to build a plant in Louisiana involving a site with numerous operating natural gas wells.
Eddie received his J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center where he was a member of the Louisiana Law Review and Order of the Coif. He graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a B.A. in 1994. Before law school, Eddie worked as an independent petroleum landman where he negotiated the sale and acquisition of potential and existing oil and gas properties for various small to medium-sized oil and gas exploration companies.
Mr. Groves has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Louisiana Super Lawyers. Mr. Groves was selected by his peers as "Construction Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge" in the Best Lawyers in America 2020 rankings. This was the second time Mr. Groves has received the top honor in addition to his 2014 selection.
Mr. Groves is the author of numerous articles and a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars. He is the author of Chapter, Louisiana Civil Trial Procedure Practice Guide, American Inns of Court Series, Lawyers Cooperative Publishing (1997) (Post Trial Motions).
As a past-president of the Baton Rouge Bar Association, Mr. Groves has been very active in both local and state Bar Associations matters including serving as a member of the Louisiana State Bar Associations House of Delegates (1990-1998). He also is a member of the National Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.
Mr. Groves is married and has three children and four grandchildren.
Mr. Tulley was invited to testify before an Investigative Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives, Energy and Commerce Committee on the issue of insurance company insolvencies.
Mr. Tulley is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society limited to 4,000 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
Gillian Griffin is an Associate at Taylor Porter. She joined the firm in 2023 and practices with the Alcoholic Beverage Licensing and Related Enforcement Issues and the Employment, Labor, and Benefits Teams. She has experience representing employers in connection with various labor and employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation litigation in federal and state court and administrative proceedings before the EEOC. Gillian has experience interviewing witnesses, responding to requests for information, and drafting position statements in response to charges filed with the EEOC, OSHA, and other administrative agencies.
Gillian earned her J.D., cum laude, in 2020 from Tulane University Law School where she was Managing Editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. She received her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, from Kennesaw State University in 2014.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor of Law at the Louisiana State University School of Law
- in 2024 As Special Counsel
- Special Counsel
Grant Willis joined Taylor Porter in 2024 as Special Counsel practicing primarily in federal civil rights litigation, investigations, white-collar defense and criminal defense including tax, insurance fraud, and public corruption.
He has experience handling investigations, preparing indictments, prosecuting criminal cases, trying cases before juries, drafting appellate pleadings, and arguing before courts of appeal, including the Louisiana Supreme Court. Grant has litigated complex cases from investigatory and discovery stage through the trial and settlement stage in both state and federal courts. In addition, he has nearly 10 years of experience working as a prosecutor for the Louisiana Department of Justice and Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office.
Mr. Willis received his J.D. from the Loyola University School of Law. In addition, he received his Master of Laws in Public International Law form the University Leiden School of Law in the Netherlands.
Grant is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts.
Mr. Willis is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Louisiana State University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
- Member of the Baton Rouge
Harry J. "Skip" Philips, Jr. focuses his practice on state and federal civil trial and appellate litigation, including banking, commercial, insurance, personal injury, insurance coverage, and products liability cases. His practice also includes corporate law as counsel to several non-profit organizations.
Mr. Philips has been ranked by his peers and clients in Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Philips was selected by his peers as "Litigation Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year in Baton Rouge" in the Best Lawyers in America 2022 rankings. In both 2017 and 2018, he ranked among the Top 50 Overall Louisiana Super Lawyers. He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, the three federal district courts in Louisiana, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Skip is the 2022 recipient of the Louisiana Bar Foundation Boistontaine Trial Advocacy Award. This award recognizes his long-standing devotion to and excellence in trial practice and for upholding the standards of ethics and consideration for the court, litigants, and all counsel.
Mr. Philips is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier legal associations in North America, composed of preeminent members of the Trial Bar, and limited to just 1 percent of the total lawyer population of any state. Fellowship is extended only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.
Mr. Philips formerly served for nine years as the Taylor Porter Managing Partner and for many years as a member of the firm's Executive Committee.
Mr. Philips is a frequent lecturer on ethics, professionalism and litigation skills. He is a member of the Council of the Louisiana Law Institute, is a member of the Code of Civil Procedure Committe, and co-chairs the Institute's Committee on Torts and Insurance.
He received his J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1983, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Louisiana Law Review and elected to the Order of the Coif. He received a B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1972, where he was a distinguished military graduate in the Army ROTC program. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Philips was an investigator in the public corruption section of the Criminal Division of the Louisiana Attorney General's office. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Mr. Philips previously served as a chair of a Disciplinary Hearing Committee appointed by the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board. He is the former Director of Character and Fitness for the Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions and has also served as a bar examiner and assistant examiner.
Mr. Philips is a member of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana State Bar Associations. He is a former president of the Louisiana Association of (Civil) Defense Counsel. He has served as a mediator and as an arbitrator.
Mr. Philips is on the Board of Directors of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (Chairman of the Board) and Chair of the Board of Franciscan High School. He is also a member of the Boards of Directors of the Supreme Court of Louisiana Historical Society, Plaquemine Bank and Trust Company and Forte and Tablada, Inc. Mr. Philips is a member of the Board of Future PAC as well as a former member of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. He is Immediate Past Chair of the South Louisiana Super Region Committee, a joint economic development endeavor of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Greater New Orleans, Inc. He is a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. Mr. Philips is a member of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc.
Mr. Philips is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and a retired major general in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was last assigned as Commanding General, 377th Theater Sustainment Command, New Orleans, Louisiana, where he commanded more than 30,000 Army Reserve soldiers in the United States.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Louisiana Association of Defense
Imelda Frugé is a Partner at Taylor Porter and practices primarily in insurance defense and professional liability defense with a focus on medical malpractice.
She received her J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1997 and a B.S. in Nursing from Loyola University in 1993. Imelda also received an A.D. from the University of Texas at Pan American in 1987.
Imelda is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana as well as the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mrs. Frugé is a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.
In the community, Mrs. Frugé is an active member at St. Jude Catholic Church.
J. Clayton Johnson is Of Counsel at Taylor Porter where he has practiced law since graduation from law school in 1969. Mr. Johnson had previously received a B.S.in Geology in 1965.
Mr. Johnson's law practice has been concentrated in the area of oil and gas, more specifically:
Bringing and defending lawsuits in state and federal courts involving royalty and working interest due on production (including take-or-pay), the determination of ownership of property, and the interpretation of various oil and gas agreements, including leases, joint operating agreements, balancing agreements, unit agreements and gas purchase agreements, with a number of the lawsuits having been discussed in various law reviews and energy related publications.
Bringing and defending lawsuits arising out of rig accidents, fires, and blowouts on behalf of Amoco Production Company, other oil companies, and numerous landowners.
Conservation practice before administrative agencies, including review and appeal of Conservation Orders, on behalf of major and independent oil companies and major landowners.
Experience in acting as local counsel for out-of-state law firms and domestic and foreign banking institutions in litigation; bankruptcy proceedings; contract matters; the formation of business entities; and the purchase, sale, and financing of oil and gas properties located onshore and offshore.
Experience in drafting and negotiation of all types of oil and gas related contracts, including leases, seismic options and rights-of-way; drilling contracts; operating agreements; joint venture; exploration and participation agreements; and acquisitions, sales, mortgage and financing instruments related to both inshore and offshore transactions.
Bringing and defending lawsuits involving oil and gas environmental matters in the state and federal courts of Louisiana.
Successfully prosecuted review and appeal of Order of Commissioner of Conservation, which established law in Louisiana as to duty of unit operator to account for production to non- operators. See Amoco Production Company v. Herbert W Thompson, Commissioner of Conservation, 516 So. 2d 376 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1987); writ denied, 520 So. 2d 118 (La. 1988).
Successfully defended Ennex, Inc., in lawsuit which established Louisiana law on validity of declared units formed under the provisions of mineral leases. The unit was filed after a successful discovery well with substantial royalties at stake. See Gorenflo v. Ennex, Inc., 735 F.2d 835 (5th Cir. 1984).
Successfully defended Amoco Production Company in lawsuit which established validity of cover-all clause in mineral leases.
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a Division of Tenneco Inc. vs. Conoco Inc. et al. No. 402- 076, 19th JDC, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA. As trial counsel for Tenneco, the firm prosecuted a large damage claim for breach of contract against the owners of a gas processing plant at Grand Chenier, La. The owners included most of the major oil companies (Conoco, Arco, Texaco, Trident, Mobil, Shell, Chevron, Exxon, and others). After extensive discovery, a settlement was mediated with all owners except Arco. A settlement was reached with Arco after the first witness testified.
Louisiana Intrastate Gas Co. vs. Martin Intrastate Gas Co., 623 So.2d 664 (La. App. First Cir. 1993), writ denied, 629 So.2d 390 (La. 1993). The firm participated in the successful defense of a claim seeking interpretation of a contract to allow the right to market unlimited quantities of gas at highly favorable prices.
On behalf of Tenneco, the firm prosecuted an intervention by an affiliated corporation as a defense strategy and was substantially involved in the preparation, trial, and appeal.
Successfully defended Amoco Production Company in bitterly contested five-week trial, affirmed on appeal, involving non-operator's participation in farm-out agreement under terms of joint operating agreement, saving client millions of dollars. See Martin Exploration Company vs. Amoco Production Company, 637 So. 2d 1202 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1994), writ denied, 644 So. 2d 1048 (La. 1994).
Has served as legal team member in defense of "legacy lawsuits" for Dow Chemical, CenterPoint, Cavenham Forest Products, and other operators and owners in North and South Louisiana.
Has served for many years as the special mineral counsel to Baton Rouge/East Baton Rouge Parish and to Louisiana State University.
Bringing and defending lawsuits involving a determination of the boundary line between East Baton Rouge Parish and West Baton Rouge Parish, a determination of ownership based on the navigability of water bodies and a determination of boundary lines between properties.
Mineral title opinions on behalf of Amoco Production Company, Hunt Petroleum Corporation, Ennex, Inc., and Chesapeake Energy Corporation, among others.
Mr. Johnson has lectured and published in oil and gas related subjects:
Author: "Maintenance of Mineral Interests in Louisiana," 26th Institute on Mineral Law, 1979; "The Top Lease - No Longer a Stranger in the Lease Block," 34th Institute on Oil and Gas Law and Taxation, 1983; "Liability for Blow-outs and Similar Accidents," 32nd Institute on Mineral Law, 1985.
Presenter: Oil and Gas Law for a New Century: Precedent as Prologue, The Southwestern Legal Foundation, 1997.
Mr. Johnson was a member of the Board of Editors, Oil and Gas Reporter, International Oil and Gas Education Center, from 1987 through 2005, and, as a member of the Board of Editors, was a recipient of the John Rogers Award. Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Mineral Code Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute since 1992 and is an Emeritus Member in the American Inns of Court. Mr. Johnson has been the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Middle District of Louisiana, Civil Justice Reform Act; a Hearing Committee Member, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board; and Chairman of the Mineral Law Section, Louisiana State Bar Association, where he was also a member of the House of Delegates for 14 years.
Mr. Johnson has been President of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Cancer Society and was a former Chairman of the Board of the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Mr. Johnson has served as president of the Evlyn J. Daniel Educational Foundation and as president of the City Club of Baton Rouge. Mr. Johnson has also been a Board Member of the Wesley Foundation, United Methodist Campus Ministry at Louisiana State University, and a Board Member of Grace Camp, a summer camp for children of incarcerated persons. Mr. Johnson was selected as a 2012 Volunteer Activist by the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America.
Mr. Parker has acted as lead trial counsel in the defense of federal and state litigation involving environmental claims for remediation of soil and groundwater contamination and claims relating to occupational and non-occupational exposure to toxics released into the air, soil, or water. Over the course of his experience, Mike has tried a wide variety of cases, both for individuals as well as for Fortune 500 companies. In his career, Mr. Parker has handled cases involving highway design, construction, expropriation/condemnation disputes for pipeline, highways, electric power and landowners' interests, interstate trucking, business interruption, pipeline and pressure vessel explosions, gas and steam turbine failure, fires, building defects, electrical faults and failures, ship collisions, Jones Act Seaman Claims, insurance coverage, asbestos, silica, lead, and chlorinated solvents.
Mr. Parker is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, in the Federal District Courts for the Middle, Eastern, and Western Districts of Louisiana, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Throughout his career, Mr. Parker has been a frequent lecturer on various subjects including toxic torts, insurance, and civil litigation. Mr. Parker was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and is AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell. In 2022, Mike was selected as "Baton Rouge Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America.
Mr. Parker is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), one of the premier legal associations in North America, composed of preeminent members of the Trial Bar, and limited to just 1 percent of the total lawyer population of any state. Fellowship is extended only by invitation, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.
Mr. Parker is an active member of the Defense Research Institute and Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. He is also a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana State, Fifth Federal Circuit, and American Bar Associations.
Mr. Ellis has represented electric, water, and gas utility companies, and numerous pipeline and energy companies before state regulatory agencies and the courts. As part of that representation, he advises the boards and management of those companies on corporate, rate, merger and acquisitions, contract, and litigation issues. Further, he has worked with regulated entities on franchise issues with public bodies and compliance with city and state regulatory codes. He has represented many national companies in utility, energy, cogeneration, pipeline, and other matters relating to financing, acquisitions, deal structuring, land and right-of-way acquisition, government compliance, and other corporate and litigation issues. He has been lead counsel and has litigated numerous cases at the trial and appellate levels and has won several notable cases involving regulatory law before the Louisiana Supreme Court.
In addition to his representation of regulated entities and corporations, he has also represented the boards of public bodies in court and regulatory proceedings, including towns, police juries, universities, and state agencies. He also advises boards and commissions on corporate governance and directors' and officers' liability issues.
Mr. Ellis has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in Energy Law for over 25 years.
Mr. Ellis has been active in many civic and economic development organizations in the capital region. He was General Counsel for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (2005-2007), served as Chairman of the Board of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber in 2008, and served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Mr. Ellis has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Baton Rouge Airport Commission and served as Chairman of the Board of the Airport Commission. In addition, he served as President of the Board and Board Member of the City Club of Baton Rouge, FuturePAC, the Manship Theatre, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, the McMains Children's Developmental Center, ReStore of Baton Rouge, and Evergreen Life Services.
Jen joined Taylor Porter in 2023 as a Partner. Since her admission to the Louisiana Bar in 2012, Jen exceeded her client's expectations with a confident and aggressive litigation approach. Jen prides herself on securing efficient resolutions for legal disputes or favorable defense verdicts when necessary.
Jen has successfully litigated matters in Louisiana's state and federal courts and enjoyed numerous successes before a jury, bench trials and up to the Louisiana Supreme Court. At the request of her clients, Jen secured admission to the Texas Bar in 2019 and also litigated matters before Texas state and federal courts and up to the Texas Supreme Court.
Jen's practice includes trucking and transportation law, workers' compensation defense, general liability, industrial accidents and OSHA investigations. Jen is TWIC certified and has in depth experience with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act.
When Jen is not in the courtroom, she is in the boardrooms of various local charitable organizations. Jen is a past board member of the Baton Rouge Mental Health Association and former chair of the Boys & Girls Club Gala. Jen has also been a fitness instructor since she was 18 years old and enjoys leading group fitness classes in the local community. She is an avid rock climber, hiker and enjoys traveling with her husband.
Whether Jen is aggressively protecting her client's interests or raising money for a good cause, she brings unmatched passion and work ethic to the table every single time.
John Milazzo is a Partner at Taylor Porter and practices in a variety of areas including commercial litigation, banking, construction, and transactions.
John represents commercial banks in loan workouts and litigation, including foreclosures, defense of lender liability suits, and bankruptcies. His construction practice includes representing owners, contractors, and suppliers in both litigation and drafting contractual agreements. He also represents other clients in contractual disputes, property rights disputes, securities litigation, and collections. His transactional work includes drafting business and real estate documents, corporate governance agreements, asset purchase agreements, loan and security documents, UCC documents, and master service agreements, among others. John is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts and in the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, the Louisiana Bankers Association (Bank Counsel Section), and the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Within Taylor Porter, John serves as the Firm's Chair of the Recruiting Committee.
In 2013, John graduated from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center where he was a member of multiple Moot Court competition teams. Prior to law school, John graduated from Millsaps College in 2009 and received his Masters of Business Administration from Millsaps' Else School of Management in 2010. John was a captain of the Millsaps Majors football team and joined the coaching staff as a graduate assistant in 2010 before attending law school.
John lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Megan, and their son, John III.
When he is not practicing law, John enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and attending New Orleans Saints and LSU Football games.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Chairman of the Tax
Mr. McDermott serves as the Chair of the Tax and Estate Planning and Administration practice and has more than 36 years experience in his primary practice area of taxation, including business and individual income tax, payroll tax, franchise tax, excise tax, ad valorem tax, sales and use tax, and gift and estate tax.
Mr. McDermott has represented individuals, business entities, trusts, and estates with controversies before the IRS examinations and appeals, US District Court, US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Louisiana Department of Revenue, the Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals, and parish and municipal taxing authorities. He has made applications to the Taxpayer Advocate and has assisted clients in collections, in dealing with tax levies, and in the preparation and presentation of offers-in-compromise, innocent spouse relief, and installment payment arrangements. He has also applied for and obtained private letter rulings. He has assisted tax-exempt organizations in making application for, obtaining, and maintaining status under IRC section 501(c). He is experienced in representing non-profit, tax exempt and charitable entities from initial consultation through organization and obtaining tax status determination letters to dissolution and liquidation.
Mr. McDermott is ranked among Louisiana Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America in Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. In 2022 and 2024, John was listed as a local "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America.
In addition to his primary practice of taxation, Mr. McDermott represents and advises clients in the selection, formation, and governance of business entities, including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships. He represents hospitals and physician practice groups with respect to business and tax matters. He designs and drafts executive compensation packages and non-qualified deferred compensation plans. He also does estate planning and handles successions, probate, and estate administration matters.
Mr. McDermott served a three-year term on the Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council, and in 2017, served a Chair of the Council's Small Business/Self-Employed and Wage & Investment Subgroup. The IRSAC provides an organized public forum for IRS officials and representatives of the public to discuss key tax administration issues. As an advisory body, the IRSAC suggests operational improvements, offers constructive observations regarding current or proposed IRS policies, programs, and procedures, and advises the Commissioner with respect to issues having substantive effect on federal tax administration.
Before pursuing the practice of law, Mr. McDermott practiced in the tax department of an international CPA firm for five years in New Orleans and Washington, D.C. Mr. McDermott is a Board Certified Tax Law Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, and he is a certified public accountant. He served on the examination committee for the Tax Law Advisory Commission of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and was an assistant bar examiner for the Louisiana State Bar Association for many years.
Mr. McDermott is a member of the professional advisory council for the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the LSU Foundation Planned Giving. He is an active member of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana State Bar Associations, Baton Rouge Estate and Business Planning Council, and The Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is Vice Chair of the Board of Governors the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Louisiana.
John Forrest Ward, IV joined Taylor Porter in 2023 and practices primarily in commercial litigation and commercial transactions.
John earned his J.D. in 2023 from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center where he graduated with a Certificate in Estate Planning and Taxation. John was also Senior Associate of the Journal of Energy Law and Resources, President of the Louisiana Business Law Society, and he received the CALI Excellence Award for the highest grade in Mergers & Acquisitions. He received his B.S. from Louisiana State University in 2020.
Before joining Taylor Porter, John served as a law clerk for various law firms assisting in representing corporate entities in matters of transactional closings and contract negotiations, as well as exposure to a wide breadth of commercial litigation.
In his spare time, he enjoys participating in triathlons, surfing, and playing golf.
John Runnels has practiced law since 1985. Mr. Runnels primarily practiced in patent law, including chemical patent prosecution, biotech patent prosecution, patent licensing, university technology transfer, and related matters.
Mr. Runnels has been ranked among Best Lawyers in America in Biotechnology Law.
Mr. Runnels has a B.S. from Louisiana State University and an M.S. in chemistry from California Institute of Technology.
Mr. Runnels is admitted to the bar in Louisiana, New York, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, and the Association of University Technology Managers.
John Ashley Moore is a Partner with Taylor Porter. Mr. Moore's practice areas include commercial litigation, banking and transactional matters, oil and gas transactions and mineral title examinations, real estate and land use and insurance regulatory matters.
Mr. Moore is ranked by his peers in Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Transactions/UCC Law.
Mr. Moore is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a B.A. in 1978 and a J.D. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center at LSU in 1981. He is a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana State, and American Bar Associations along with the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel.
Job Titles:
- Cancer Center ( Former Board Chair )
- Cancer Foundation ( Board Member )