Best Lawyers in America Selects 208 Phelps Lawyers, Names 12 "Lawyer of the Year," Adds 47 to "Ones to Watch" List

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Aug. 17, 2023 — The Best Lawyers in America 2024 recognized 208 Phelps attorneys from 81 practice areas in its latest annual rankings. More than half of the firm’s attorneys made the list, which included lawyers from all of Phelps’ U.S. offices. Twelve Phelps attorneys were named “Lawyer of the Year,” 47 made the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list, and eight made the list for the first time this year.

The publication named 12 Phelps attorneys as “Lawyer of the Year,” an award reserved for one attorney in each legal field and location. The full list of Phelps “Lawyer of the Year” recipients includes:

Baton Rouge, La.

• • Warner J. Delaune - Trademark Law
  • J. Alan Harrell - Litigation – Environmental
  • Karleen J. Green - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • H. Alston Johnson III - Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Erik Piazza – Real Estate Law

Jackson, Miss.

• • W. Thomas Siler, Jr. - Labor Law - Management

New Orleans, La.

• • Daniel T. Pancamo - Utilities Law
  • Mary Ellen Roy - Litigation - First Amendment
  • James A. Stuckey - Equipment Finance Law
  • Patrick A. Talley, Jr. - Railroad Law

Tampa, Fla.

• • Brian Albritton - Litigation - Health Care
  • Seth M. Schimmel - Arbitration

The full list of the 208 Phelps lawyers ranked by The Best Lawyers in America 2024 includes:

Baton Rouge, La.

• • Jeffrey M. Barbin – Gaming Law
  • Jonathan C. Benda – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Shelton Dennis Blunt – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Health Care, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Warner J. Delaune - Patent Law, Technology Law, Trademark Law
  • Virginia Y. Dodd – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Kelsey Funes – Litigation – Construction
  • Susan W. Furr - Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Karleen Green - Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Walt Green – Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Paul F. Guarisco – Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
  • J. Alan Harrell - Litigation - Environmental
  • Michael D. Hunt – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction
  • H. Alston Johnson III - Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
  • Thomas H. Kiggans – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Errol J. King, Jr. – Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Litigation – Health Care
  • Bradley Kline – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • A. Paul LeBlanc, Jr. – Commercial Litigation
  • Steven J. Levine – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Environmental
  • Richard E. Matheny – Tax Law
  • Drew Patty – Copyright Law, Patent Law, Trademark Law
  • Erik Piazza - Real Estate Law 
  • Patrick Ragan Richard – Banking and Finance Law, Franchise Law, Real Estate Law
  • Randy P. Roussel – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • John O. Shirley – Energy Law, Government Relations Practice
  • Gregory Thomas Stevens – Commercial Litigation

Birmingham, Al.

• • Gerald Burnett – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, Timber Law
  • Christopher P. Couch – Commercial Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Roy J. Crawford – Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Tax Law
  • Fred Daniels – Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Carolyn L. Duncan – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
  • Sydney F. Frazier, Jr. – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers
  • John M. Graham – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Railroad Law, Transportation Law
  • James F. Henry – Health Care Law
  • Diane Maughan – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate, Railroad Law
  • Crawford S. McGivaren, Jr. – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Securities, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Railroad Law
  • George L. Morris IV – Litigation – Health Care
  • Michael B. Odom – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Carlton Smyly – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Thomas Sullivan – Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Insurance Law
  • Steve A. Tucker – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Railroad Law
  • Michael E. Turner – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
  • Herbert H. West, Jr. – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Dallas/Fort Worth, Tx.

• • Blake Bailey – Litigation – Antitrust
  • Alan C. Duncan – Trusts and Estates
  • Paige C. Jones – Insurance Law
  • Kasi G. Schuelke – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance

Fort Worth, Tx.

• • Mark Daniel – Commercial Litigation
  • Claudine G. Jackson – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment

Gulfport, Miss.

• • Scott T. Ellzey – Insurance Law
  • Lauren McCrory – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Heather Murphy – Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • James G. Wyly III – Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Transportation Law

Houston, Tx.

• • Peri H. Alkas – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Amy Cazes Greene – Litigation – Insurance
  • Patricia A. Hair – Commercial Litigation
  • Frederick D. Junkin – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Lisa M. Kaufmann – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Marcus G. Matthews – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Ivan M. Rodriguez – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Marcus R. Tucker - Admiralty and Maritime Law

Jackson, Miss.

• • Suzanna Baker – Real Estate Law
  • Fred L. Banks, Jr. – Appellate Practice, Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Mediation
  • Ross F. Bass, Jr.- Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Todd Butler – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Chad A. Davidson – Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • M. Edwards III – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Jason T. Marsh – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • LaToya C. Merritt – Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • James W. O’Mara - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • James L. Pettis – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Bridgforth R. Rutledge – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • James W. Shelson – Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • W. Thomas Siler, Jr. - Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management
  • Calvin Wells - Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Sarah Beth Wilson – Litigation – Bankruptcy

Mobile, Al.

• • Britten L. Britt – Corporate Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Todd L. Denison - Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • William J. Gamble, Jr. – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Thomas F. Garth – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
  • Allen E. Graham – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation
  • Richard B. Johnson – Construction Law
  • Joseph J. Minus, Jr. – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Municipal Law
  • William E. Shreve, Jr. – Appellate Practice, Insurance Law
  • Grady Williams IV – Admiralty and Maritime Law

New Orleans, La.

• • Lee R. Adler – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law
  • Nan Alessandra – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mediation
  • Barbara L. Arras – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Bart C. Bacigalupi – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • William R. Bishop – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Kim M. Boyle – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Mediation
  • Michael M. Butterworth – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Christopher Bynog – Insurance Law
  • Craig L. Caesar – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust
  • Colin Cambre - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Shaun G. Clarke – Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation – Securities
  • Philip deV Claverie, Jr. – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Miles P. Clements – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental
  • Katharine R. Colletta – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Oil and Gas Law
  • Brandon Davis – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Richard N. Dicharry – Insurance Law
  • Mark C. Dodart – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Mark Fijman – Employment Law – Management
  • Mark A. Fullmer – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, Venture Capital Law
  • Pablo Gonzalez – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Reinsurance Law
  • Jeremy T. Grabill – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation
  • George B. Hall, Jr. – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Stephen P. Hall – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • David D. Haynes – Health Care Law
  • Gary A. Hemphill - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Nathan G. Huntwork – Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
  • Katherine Karam – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Douglas M. Kleeman – Insurance Law
  • David M. Korn – Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Kevin J. LaVie – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Daniel Lund III – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Robert P. McCleskey, Jr. – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Evans Martin McLeod - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Pamela G. Michiels – Insurance Law
  • Allen C. Miller – Commercial Litigation
  • Kyle S. Moran – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Thomas Kent Morrison - Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Katie Myers – Insurance Law
  • Daniel T. Pancamo - Banking and Finance Law, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Energy Regulatory Law, Utilities Law
  • David L. Patrón – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Oil and Gas Law
  • Christopher K. Ralston – Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation
  • Marshall M. Redmon – Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, Reinsurance Law
  • Stuart Richeson – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • William J. Riviere – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Harry Rosenberg - Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Mary Ellen Roy - Advertising Law, Litigation - First Amendment, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Media Law
  • Jay Russell Sever – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Rebecca Sha – Commercial Litigation
  • Patrick M. Shelby – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • James A. Stuckey - Banking and Finance Law, Equipment Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Patrick A. Talley, Jr. - Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Oil and Gas Law, Railroad Law 
  • David J. Topping – Environmental Law
  • Michael S. Williams – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Alan C. Wolf – Energy Law, Utilities Law

Raleigh, N.C.

• • Thomas M. Contois – Insurance Law
  • Robert Mills Kennedy, Jr. – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance

Tampa, Fla.

• • A. Brian Albritton - Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Litigation - Health Care, Qui Tam Law 
  • Michael Ashy – Commercial Litigation
  • Karl J. Brandes - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
  • Bret M. Feldman – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Michael S. Hooker – Commercial Litigation
  • Raquel R. Jefferson – Commercial Litigation
  • Matthew L. Litsky – Insurance Law
  • Erin L. Malone – Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Dennis M. McClelland – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Patricia A. McLean – Insurance Law
  • John D. Mullen - Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • John E. Phillips – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Jason A. Pill - Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Erin M. Raschke – Insurance Law
  • Reed L. Russell – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Seth M. Schimmel - Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
  • William J. Tinsley – Construction Law

Tupelo, Miss.

• • Andrew V. Garner – Corporate Law
  • Mark N. Halbert - Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Jeffrey S. Moore – Health Care Law
  • Gregory D. Pirkle – Tax Law, Trusts and Estates

Forty-seven lawyers made the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list, 48% of which are women lawyers. Those selected as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” include:

Baton Rouge, La.

• • Madison T. DeWitt - Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Trevor J. Haynes - Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
  • Katherine Cicardo Mannino - Health Care Law, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Molly C. McDiarmid - Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Kate Bernacchio Mire - Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Monica Vela-Vick - Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Michael B. Victorian - Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Kevin Welsh - Commercial Litigation, Government Relations Practice, Insurance Law

Birmingham, Ala.

• • Kenneth W. Boyles - Insurance Law - Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Dallas/Fort Worth, Tx.

• • Neakzaad Horriat – Commercial Litigation

Fort Worth, Texas

• • Jennifer K. Clewis – Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Alicia A. Murphy – Insurance Law
  • Andrea W. Paris – Litigation – Labor and Employment

Gulfport, Miss.

• • Drury S. Holland – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Houston, Texas

• • Andy R. Nash – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Sara Nau – Insurance Law

Jackson, Miss.

• • Garrett Anderson – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation
  • David Clark III - Administrative / Regulatory Law, Labor and Employment Law - Management
  • Nicholas F. Morisani - Litigation - Labor and Employment

Mobile, Ala.

• • Barrett Hails - Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Danielle Mashburn-Myrick - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Sumpter M. McGowin II - Corporate Law, Tax Law
  • Breanne Stanley Zarzour - Commercial Litigation, Native American Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

New Orleans, La.

• • Carys A. Arvidson – Insurance Law, Litigation - Construction
  • Ashley Bane - Commercial Litigation, Transportation
  • Lindsay Calhoun - Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Law
  • David “Turk” I. Clay II – Commercial Litigation
  • Caroline F. Crosby - Insurance Law
  • James H. Gilbert - Commercial Litigation
  • Harrison Golden – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation
  • Arthur R. Kraatz - Commercial Litigation
  • Thomas H. Peyton - Insurance Law
  • Matthew R. Slaughter - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction
  • Ryan P. Telep – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Oil and Gas Law
  • Katherine L. Wyly – Insurance Law

Raleigh, N.C.

• • Anna Pulliam Cathcart – Insurance Law
  • Christy M. Maple – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Justine M. Tate – Insurance Law

Tampa, Fla.

• • Robert H. Gidel, Jr. – Corporate Law, Real Estate Law
  • Jonathan E. Lewerenz - Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Katherine Martinez – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
  • Michael A. McGriskin - Insurance Law
  • Catriana N. Messina - Insurance Law
  • Rhett C. Parker - Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
  • Sarah J. Smith - Insurance Law
  • Mallory H. Thomas - Insurance Law

Tupelo, Miss.

• • Blake Adams – Health Care Law
  • Robert C. Bass – Real Estate Law

Of the 208 Phelps attorneys recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2024, eight made the list for the first time this year:

Baton Rouge, La.

• • Kelsey Funes – Litigation – Construction
  • A. Paul LeBlanc, Jr. – Commercial Litigation

Houston, Tx.

• • Lisa M. Kaufmann – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Ivan M. Rodriguez – Admiralty and Maritime Law

New Orleans, La.

• • Mark Fijman – Employment Law – Management
  • David J. Topping – Environmental Law

Dallas/Fort Worth, Tx.

• • Kasi G. Schuelke – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance

Raleigh, N.C.

• • Robert Mills Kennedy, Jr. – Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance

Since 1983, Best Lawyers has been hailed as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Each year, it ranks lawyers by practice areas and locations. The 2024 edition is based on more than 13 million evaluations of lawyers by their peers and recognizes more than 143,000 lawyers in 150 practice areas worldwide.