Pioneer Lawyers

Paul Simoneaux is a Partner at Steeg Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the transactional practice. His practice focuses on commercial real estate sales, development, leasing, and financing. Paul has developed a reputation for handling complex financial closings and understanding how various funding sources can be combined to his clients’ advantage. He regularly advises developers and property owners on real estate projects and the use of various public real estate incentives, including historic tax credits, low-income housing tax credits and tax-exempt bonds, new markets tax credits, state and local gap financing programs, restoration tax abatements, and payment in lieu...

Charles L. Stern, Jr., a partner at Steeg Law and the head of the litigation section. Chuck handles commercial and business litigation for clients in a variety of industries, including title insurance, commercial real estate, and banking. He is highly respected for his vast experience in title disputes and title insurance coverage. His other areas of practice include: construction and development disputes; bankruptcy and workouts (creditor representation) with a concentration on disputes affecting or involving commercial real estate; litigation involving disputes among shareholders of closely-held corporations; and bet-the-company litigation. Chuck is an extremely skilled litigation attorney, who maintains the highest standards...

Ethan Zubic focuses his practice on commercial litigation in a wide range of practice areas, from cooperative purchasing enterprises to property damage to legacy litigation, as well as environmental law, admiralty and maritime law, insurance coverage and defense, real estate litigation and commercial transactions. He has handled cases involving property insurance, ocean marine insurance coverage disputes, subrogation claims, marine pollution insurance defense, commercial transactions and general litigation in Louisiana state and federal courts. Ethan is listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - Real Estate, as well as the Louisiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars...

Ms. Clark attended Louisiana State University Law school and graduated in 1996. Having handled criminal appeals as a law clerk for the East Baton Rouge Parish Public Defender's office, Ms. Clark immediately passed the bar exam and went to work as an assistant public defender in that office. Ms. Clark, in her 22+ years of experience, has represented thousands of clients in criminal court in both misdemeanor and felony cases. She has practiced extensively in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany. Ms. Clark is dedicated to protecting the rights of...

DeVonna Ponthieu attended Southeastern Louisiana University in 1993 and graduated cum laude in May 1998. She applied and was accepted to the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School and graduated in 2001. After passing the bar exam, she opened her private office in Denham Springs and has been practicing law there ever since. She has had cases in all of the 21st Judicial District (Livingston, Tangipahoa and St.Helena), East Baton Rouge Parish, Ascension Parish, East Feliciana and other parishes.

DeVonna is a member in good standing with the Louisiana State Bar Association. She was a past president, vice-president and secretary/treasurer...

I am a licensed Louisiana attorney, focusing on litigation with an emphasis in property insurance claims, bad faith litigation, and select personal injury cases. With nearly 10 years of experience in the legal and insurance industries, I have the track record necessary to help individuals and businesses maximize their property insurance and personal injury claims. From delayed and underpaid claims to denials, I am dedicated to protecting the rights of my clients against the insurance company and getting them the compensation they deserve. As a former insurance defense attorney and insurance agent, I understand the complexities...

Erik Burns was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he continues to reside with his two sons. Prior to graduating from the Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 1993, Erik graduated from Catholic High School of Baton Rouge and then obtained a B.A. degree in Business Management with a minor in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University. Erik began his practice in downtown Baton Rouge as a solo practitioner where he did significant personal injury work having worked closely with a seasoned attorney. In 1997 Erik was presented with an opportunity to move his office...

Don Cazayoux is a former U.S. Attorney, congressman and state representative. He received a B.A. in Psychology in 1985, went on to obtain his law degree from Georgetown University in 1991, and the obtained a M.A. in Psychology in 1993. Don focuses on consumer cases involving severe injuries such as spinal injuries, broken bones, and scarring, while also practicing white-collar criminal defense. Don has substantial trial experience in both state and federal injury claims.

Lane Ewing graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame, earning a business degree in 2002. He then went on to earn a law degree from Tulane University in 2005. Ewing has experience in a numerous amount of practice areas including, complex tax fraud, money laundering, and narcotics cases. He was a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Ewing is also familiar with cases involving broken bones, scarring, soft tissue injuries, spinal chord injuries and many other long term injuries. He now practices at the state and federal levels.

John M. Madison, Jr. was a founding member of Wiener, Weiss & Madison and has practiced law continually with the firm since 1975. His practice includes commercial litigation, construction law, oil and gas law, with emphasis on representation of mineral owners, business law and employment law. His experience ranges from the representation of the owners of small businesses to national corporations.

Elizabeth Rogers, who often goes by “Beth” in the company of other Elizabeths, is an attorney at Punchwork. Elizabeth was born in the San Diego Naval Hospital and spent her early years in Chula Vista, California, before moving to Phoenix, Arizona, where she spent much of her youth. From a young age, she had her eyes set on becoming a lawyer, a dream she has diligently pursued throughout her life. Her path toward the legal profession is as varied as it is impressive. Elizabeth has lived in multiple cities, including Chula Vista, California, Laurel, Maryland, and Phoenix, Arizona, contributing to her...

Shreveport Bar Association (Member, Grievance and Ethics Committee 1996-2001), Louisiana State Bar Association (House of Delegates 2002-4); American Bar Association; Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association (Member: Advisory Council, 1988-1991; Board of Governors, 1992-1997); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, Hearing Committee Member, 1998-2001 2009 -, Chair 2002-2004, 2010-; Disciplinary Counsel - Probation Monitor 2007-10;.?Chairman of Highland Area Partnership (2004-2005)

Former elected District Attorney of Caddo Parish, La. Served as DA for 30 years and prior to election Paul served as chief counsel of the Caddo Public Defender's Office. I have over 40 years experience in Criminal Court. My practice now is criminal defense in State, Federal and City Courts in Louisiana.

J. Graves Theus, Jr. is a fourth-generation Louisiana lawyer with deep roots in this community. He received an LL.M. in Tax Law from Boston University School of Law in 1997, after graduating, cum laude, from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1996. He practiced in Seattle, Washington until 1999, when he joined a prestigious law firm in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was a shareholder there until 2013, when he began his private practice. Graves is certified by the Louisiana State Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Tax Law, as well as Estate Planning and Administration, and is an approved title...