Nine Join Phelps 2026 Partner, Counsel Classes

NEW ORLEANS — Jan. 8, 2026 — Phelps welcomed five lawyers to its partnership and promoted four to counsel on Jan. 1. The elections highlight the firm’s focus on helping industry leaders find solutions to emerging business and litigation issues.

“Strong outcomes for clients start with talent – these promotions reflect our commitment to developing, attracting and retaining the right lawyers to serve clients at the highest level,” said Phelps Managing Partner Marshall Redmon. “They’re central to our 2026 strategy as we continue our momentum to equip our growing team to help our clients.”

Phelps’ 2026 partner class includes:

• Collin Buisson (New Orleans, utilities, government relations) helps utility companies, businesses and public entities manage regulatory, operational and legislative challenges. He advises clients on rate cases, major infrastructure projects, real estate‑related utility issues, and compliance with state and federal regulations, including proceedings before public service commissions and legislative bodies. Collin also develops strategies to shape public policy, protect revenue and maintain service reliability, drawing on his experience drafting legislation and negotiating agreements with municipalities. He has successfully resolved disputes involving core issues affecting utility operations, including rates and financing.
• Paxson C. Guest (Baton Rouge, real estate, finance) represents clients in every stage of their commercial transactions, from inception to closing. He helps developers, lenders, franchisees, investors and others arrive at the closing table with confidence. He drafts and negotiates contracts, reviews and resolves real estate title issues, assists with corporate law issues, and manages every stage of deals to keep them on schedule. Paxson walks clients step-by-step through sales, acquisitions, commercial leases, loans and other transactions. Paxson also advises on renewable energy projects and provides guidance to HOAs and COAs on governance and enforcement issues.
• Joseph “Josh” E. Lee III (New Orleans, marine and energy litigation) brings trial and appellate experience to resolve marine and energy disputes for vessel owners, oilfield contractors, oil companies and their insurers. He has handled casualty and commercial matters ranging from auto collision claims to premises liability to multimillion-dollar insurance coverage litigation. He defends claims stemming from injuries, property damage and catastrophic incidents on waterways and offshore sites. He also manages risk by advising on indemnity and insurance issues tied to drilling and shipping operations.
• Catriana N. Messina (Tampa, insurance litigation) defends domestic and international insurers in coverage and bad faith lawsuits, helping them resolve first-party disputes while managing exposure. She works closely with clients to outline the best course of action to meet time constraints and business goals, providing clear guidance that minimizes risk. With extensive experience navigating arbitrations, mediations, appraisals and litigation, she quickly assesses coverage issues and explains the pros and cons of each path forward. When informal resolution is not possible, she advocates for clients in Florida’s state and federal courts on a wide range of claims. Her added insight into the insurance market as a former PICG Claims Academy delegate strengthens her ability to deliver practical, business-focused solutions.
• Melissa Redmon (New Orleans, insurance) helps insurers handle coverage determinations and policy wordings to mitigate risk. She resolves coverage issues involving professional liability, commercial general liability and financial lines policies. She has completed two secondments with leading Lloyd’s syndicates, gaining an in-house perspective that helps her translate complex issues into clear coverage opinions and practical solutions. She also served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and she graduated in the top 1% of her class at Tulane University Law School.

Joining the 2026 counsel class are:

• Tucker Bohren (New Orleans, insurance) helps insurers navigate coverage disputes and bad faith claims in courts across the country. He primarily handles complex liability cases, often involving major construction defects, catastrophic losses, class-action claims and pollution events. A track record of delivering results in the courtroom and through negotiation informs his counsel to domestic and foreign insurers. He builds litigation strategies to resolve both first-party and third-party disputes that protect clients’ interests and support their long-term business goals.
• Taylor Crousillac (Baton Rouge, health care litigation) supports health care insurers, managed care entities and other stakeholders when lawsuits threaten productivity, the administration of benefit plans, and patient trust. He defends managed care entities, including plan sponsors and third-party administrators, and cost management vendors in reimbursement, commercial and employment disputes. He’s resolved high-stakes provider and payor contract lawsuits, as well as issues stemming from noncompete agreements and unfair trade practice claims, in venues throughout the country. He is also experienced in defending clients in litigation based on alleged Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations. This experience helps him spot and address risk areas before they become problems and find efficient solutions when issues arise.
• Jennifer Lacey (Nashville, government relations) provides strategic counsel to businesses navigating government at all levels. Utilizing strong state and local relationships, she has delivered impactful administrative, legislative and regulatory wins for clients. She helps clients secure appropriations for various projects including technology, economic development, infrastructure, health care and education. Jennifer is at the forefront of complex issues covering multiple industries and has steered passage of landmark land use, education, infrastructure and health care legislation in Tennessee.
• Austin Laurienzo (Tampa, employment) represents employers in labor and employment and commercial litigation matters. He represents employers in disputes involving discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour issues, employment agreements, trade secret misappropriation, restrictive covenants, and business torts in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration. Austin also advises employers in connection with workplace investigations and represents them in responding to charges and proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Florida Commission on Human Relations, the National Labor Relations Board, and other state and local agencies. He also handles union-related matters, including discipline and disputes arising under collective bargaining agreements. A former federal appellate judicial law clerk, Austin leverages his judicial insight and litigation experience to develop strategic, results-driven solutions for employers.

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 Phelps is an AmLaw-ranked firm whose collaborative strategies help clients thrive. We deliver practical, business-minded solutions to clients with interests in admiralty, business, health care, insurance, labor and employment, and litigation. Our more than 435 lawyers work in tandem to share forward-thinking approaches for businesses in the global economy. Phelps’ reputation is rooted in 150 years of legal excellence, and we reimagine it every day from our 17 locations across the Gulf South, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and the London Market. Learn more at phelps.com.