PIPES - Key Persons


Alexis Joachim

Job Titles:
  • Staff Member

Catherine Giarrusso

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Chris Smith

Job Titles:
  • Associate

Chris Swanson

Job Titles:
  • Associate

Christopher R. Teske

Job Titles:
  • Staff Member
Chris handles coverage disputes arising out of allegedly defective construction of commercial buildings and multi-family apartment and condominium complexes across the Southeastern United States through trial and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He also regularly assists insurance companies in the pre-suit investigation of first-party claims including suspicious losses such as arsons, staged thefts, and suspicious water damage events, as well as Business Interruption and Contingent Business Interruption claims and defends carriers against coverage actions seeking defense and indemnity for toxic and environmental exposure suits.

Delta Delta Delta

Job Titles:
  • Vice President of Recruitment

Delta Gamma Fraternity

Job Titles:
  • Philanthropy Director

Edith DeBusk

Job Titles:
  • Scholarship

Emily E. Ross

Emily E. Ross practices complex commercial litigation, insurance defense, and bad faith litigation.

H. Minor Pipes, III

Job Titles:
  • Staff Member

Jennifer Martinez

Jennifer Martinez has provided a wide range of representation throughout her years of practice.

John R. Kramer Merit

Job Titles:
  • Scholarship

Josh Yeager

Job Titles:
  • Associate

Katherine L. Swartout

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Katherine is an associate in the New Orleans office and practices in the areas of appellate, construction litigation, including zoning and permitting disputes, insurance coverage and bad faith, professional liability, products liability, including products liability in the maritime industry, and public entity liability.

Katie S. Roth

Katie S. Roth is a commercial litigator with extensive appellate experience in state and federal courts.

Kelsey L. Meeks

Kelsey Meeks represents clients in a wide array of disputes, including insurance defense, commercial litigation, environmental and toxic tort litigation, and securities arbitration.

Kristin L. Beckman

Job Titles:
  • Founding Member
  • Partner
Kristin Beckman is a founding member of the firm. She represents clients in high-exposure

Louisiana Super Lawyers

Job Titles:
  • Leading Lawyer, Insurance Coverage
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Louisiana Workers

Job Titles:
  • Compensation Corporation, Law Clerk in Office of General Counsel
United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Judicial Extern to Chief Judge Shelly Dick

Marshall-Brennan Constitutional

Job Titles:
  • Literacy Project Teaching Fellow

Mary Elizabeth

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Mary Elizabeth has experience handling cases involving a variety of industries and insurance companies. She graduated from Louisiana State University, earning her Juris Doctor and Graduate Degree in Comparative Law. While in law school, Mary Elizabeth was a member of LSU's Moot Court Board and later served as Vice President of External Competitions for the Board of Advocates. She was a member of LSU's Tax Moot Court team and Estrella Trial Advocacy team.

Mia J. Lewis

Mia J. Lewis practices in the areas of insurance defense and general civil litigation. Mia represents insurers in first-party coverage litigation and third-party liability disputes in state and federal court.

Patrick J. Lorio

Patrick J. Lorio practices commercial litigation, with a focus on construction litigation, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, and securities litigation.

Simon Penning

Job Titles:
  • Associate
Simon is an associate in the New Orleans office and practices in the areas of insurance coverage and insurance defense.

Stephen Miles

Job Titles:
  • Founding Member
  • Partner
Stephen Miles is a founding member of the firm. He represents clients in high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith litigation as well as in complex commercial and securities litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels across the Gulf South and Southwest.

Stuart H. Smith Law

Job Titles:
  • Clinic - Student Practitioner