Pioneer Lawyers

Peggy Gonsoulin Vallejo graduated from Tulane Law School in May 1999 and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in October 1999.

Her practice consists of civil litigation with a strong focus on personal injury, divorce, child support, spousal support, and succession matters. She has clients in all of the surrounding parishes in the Greater New Orleans Metro Area including St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson, Washington, Tangipahoa, Livingston and East Baton Rouge.

Kyle Polozola is a partner in the Lafayette office of Kean Miller. He practices in the oil and gas, business and corporate, and real estate groups. Kyle has more than 21 years of experience handling complex oil and gas and commercial litigation disputes, environmental litigation, oil and gas transactional matters, including mineral title examination, due diligence, acquisition and sale of oil and gas properties, and energy regulatory matters. He represents lenders and business interests in commercial real estate matters, and assists clients with a variety of corporate and business transactional matters.

Following law school, Kyle clerked for the Hon. Catherine D....

Attorney Doug Bryan has been serving the local community since 1991 with individualized, experienced legal counsel. As a lifelong resident of Louisiana, he understands the needs of clients and their families. You can rely on his knowledge and compassion throughout your case, whether you were in a car accident, injured at work, want to adopt a child or were charged with a traffic offense. The Bryan Law Firm L.L.C. provides representation in a range of areas of law with a focus on personal injury and work injuries. Doug Bryan began his legal career with a personal injury law firm and...

Jimmy D. Long, Jr. specializes in protecting assets and minimizing taxes for his clients. Through careful planning and trust drafting, Jimmy can shelter assets from creditors, nursing home spend-down, or children who are not well suited to manage an inheritance. His plans defer, reduce, or eliminate capital gains taxes on the sale of highly appreciated land and businesses, reduce income taxes for high earners, and reduce or eliminate estate taxes at death. Jimmy has an active state-wide practice throughout Louisiana, and occassionally consults on asset protection, estate planning, and tax matters in other states in conjunction with...

I am a highly experienced general practice attorney, one of a dying breed who has done it all. I handle serious personal injury, wrongful death, estate planning, real estate, and public relations. I have practiced bankruptcy law for individuals since the Spring of 1980 when I filed my first bankruptcy case as a law clerk during my last semester of law school at LSU, Baton Rouge. I have practiced law since, continuously and without interruption. The scope of my practice will continue to conform with my varied pursuits, but with an emphasis on public relations as...

Will Huguet is a partner in the Shreveport office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2014 and practices in the oil and gas and energy litigation groups. Will has more than fifteen years of experience assisting energy companies in the exploration and production of minerals, including sales and acquisitions, lease and contract rights, title, due diligence, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, and litigation, and in representing landowners and companies in selling and purchasing property and managing their mineral and royalty interests.

Prior to law school, Will was a professional landman in Lafayette, Louisiana. After law school, he served as a...

University of New Orleans & LSU Law Center Graduate. Solo practitioner concentrating in Criminal & DWI Defense, Personal Injury & Contract Negotiations, Civil Litigation. Trial & Motion Practice. Mac Evangelista since 1988. Rated 'Best Lawyers' for past 15 years straight in SB Magazine.

Rich is a shareholder with Wiener, Weiss & Madison. He joined the firm in 2013 and advises businesses, families and individuals in the areas of Taxation, Corporate Law, Securities Law, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, Successions/Probate, Title Insurance and Nonprofit Law.

Allen P. Jones is a shareholder in Wiener, Weiss & Madison, A Professional Corporation. He practices in the areas of estate planning, tax law, succession and probate law, business and corporate law, and real estate. Allen represents individuals and families in all aspects of estate planning, including the preparation of wills, trusts, partnerships and limited liability companies. His work in the area of business and corporate law includes business succession planning, corporate reorganizations, and business sale transactions. He is Board Certified by the Louisiana State Bar in Estate Planning, and is licensed as a title insurance agent in the state...

DAVID STANLEY is the founder and principal of David E. Stanley, APLC. Since 1983, Mr. Stanley has successfully practiced law from his office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a distinguished trial lawyer fiercely dedicated to representing individuals accused of committing serious or complex federal or state felony crimes or who seek to appeal their federal court, or state court, conviction or sentence.

In 2018, Mr. Stanley became a Lifetime Charter Member of Best Attorneys in America. From 2015 to the present, he has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers. The American Society...

I started Mitchell & Associates because I wanted to be able to do more for my clients. Up until that point I worked at a prestigious law firm representing big, corporate and insurance industry type clients. My job was to defend them at all cost, even when they were wrong. I did my job, and I did my job well. In 1999 I walked out of the Firm with one file, a case where my client was seriously hurt in a car accident, determined to practice law the way I wanted to and for the clients I wanted...

Trippe Hawthorne is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2004 and practices in the construction, ADR and business litigation groups. Trippe has experience in all phases of the construction industry and in a wide variety of commercial litigation, and general litigation matters, including design and construction contracting and dispute resolution across all sectors, including industrial, commercial, public, and residential; public bidding and procurement challenges; and public and private works lien laws. Trippe has experience with administrative law and occupational licensing law, having served as General Counsel for the Louisiana State Licensing...

Matt Smith is an associate in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2013 and practices in the commercial litigation, toxic tort defense, and environmental litigation groups. His work focuses on the representation of oil and gas exploration and production companies, mid-stream companies, and other industry companies in various litigation matters including property damage and contamination, property rights, and commercial and contractual disputes.

Matt has extensive experience guiding clients through claims related to soil contamination, groundwater contamination, air pollution, and the associated regulatory standards. His practice covers a wide range of commercial and litigation issues ranging...

Lauren Rucinski is an associate in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2016 and practices in the environmental law and intellectual property group.

Lauren helps clients understand which environmental regulations apply to new facilities and processes. Her practice focuses on permitting, compliance, litigation and transactional issues, as well as rulemaking efforts at both the state and federal level. She advises a wide range of clients including petrochemical facilities, oil refineries, natural gas terminals, glass manufacturers, and commodity processing plants.

Lauren helps clients protect and maximize the value of their businesses' intellectual property by advising them on...

I am a successful Louisiana Intellectual Property attorney. My practice includes comprehensive representation for Trademark, Patent, Copyright and Trade Secret matters. A Registered Patent Attorney, I am licensed to practice in the United States Patent & Trademark Office, as well as Louisiana, California and Hawaii courts.

I am committed to providing exceptional service and legal representation for IP matters across a broad range of technologies. I vigorously advocate for the rights and interests of my clients, intent on the best possible outcomes.

With extensive experience and knowledge, I teach Patent Law at Louisiana State University Law Center. I have been honored among...

Craig was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He graduated from Loyola College Prep in 1985. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 1990. He attended law school at Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where he graduated in 1993. He is an attorney and partner in the law firm of Smith & John. Craig was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1993, and since then, he has been admitted to practice before the following courts: U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth...

Trey McCowan is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 1989 and practices in the litigation group. Trey represents local, regional and multi-national energy and petrochemical clients in a wide variety of litigation matters. He has specific experience representing clients in litigation involving complex commercial agreements and legacy site litigation in the energy industry. Trey also represents clients with regard to environmental litigation and toxic tort defense. He also advises clients on electronic discovery, e-discovery compliance, electronically stored information (ESI), electronic information management, and retention and destructive policies and procedures.

Trey is listed...

Scott Andrews is a 2011 Baton Rouge Business Report Forty Under 40 honoree, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top 40 Under 40 member, Secretary of the Northwestern State University Foundation, an Adjunct Professor of Law teaching Insurance Law, Products Liability and Advanced Louisiana Torts at the Southern University Law Center. Scott has also been selected for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers-Personal Injury Plaintiff (2012-2013), and enjoys a prestigious AV peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Scott Andrews is a Member of the Louisiana Law Review and published one article prior to graduating in 1996 as a member of...

"Attorney Kenneth H. Hooks III focuses his practice on providing excellent representation to the few clients chosen by the section’s rigorous case selection. Kenny has practiced international maritime law for over 13 years as well as prosecuting horrific injury claims as a result of crashes, explosion burns, work place injuries and deaths, hospital errors and very large commercial claims all on a pure contingency basis. Mr. Hooks helps bring justice to individuals, businesses and professionals who have been wronged by others through both state and federal courts in Louisiana and throughout the United States as well as internationally. Mr....

I am a life-long Louisiana native admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts. For over 40 years I have handled trials and appeals on many different legal issues. Although my representation has involved many other matters, I have concentrated my current practice in the areas of bankruptcy cases (consumer and business, debtor and creditor); business law and litigation (forming, reorganizing, selling, and purchasing small businesses and handling business disputes); storm/hale damage insurance claims and litigation; successions, wills, and estate law; collections, foreclosures, and real estate litigation; and construction claims, arbitration, and litigation. Bar Admissions All Louisiana state courts U.S. District...

Danny Russell is an experienced and aggressive attorney representing clients who face DWI charges in Baton Rouge, Ascension, Livingston, St. Tammany, Covington, Mandeville, Gonzales, Tangipahoa, West Baton Rouge, Prairieville, Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, Slidell, and throughout Louisiana.

Paul "Woody" Scott is passionate in his representation of clients. Mr. Scott founded The Scott Law Firm and practices in immigration law, deportation and removal defense, criminal defense, and Federal Criminal and Immigration Litigation. Mr. Scott was born in a small hospital in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. At two years old he and his mother moved to the New Orleans, Louisiana, area where he was raised. After he graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, he moved to Baton Rouge where he attended Louisiana State University to obtain his bachelor degree. He went on to receive his Juris...

I am an experienced felony criminal defense trial attorney – bringing more than 40 felony jury trials to verdict in the last nine years. Call me now if you have a serious legal matter and you need immediate assistance. I was born in Ascension Parish and grew up in Baton Rouge. After moving around the south, I settled back home in 1999 where I started back a LSU, concluding with a Law Degree from the Paul Hebert Law Center at LSU in 2008. I began further studies at the University of Florida, School of Pharmacy, where I am...

Seth joined Mansfield Melancon after practicing with two of Lafayette's preeminent law firms. Seth joined Mansfield Melancon to pursue the firm's goal of understanding a client's wishes while efficiently and aggressively pursuing the most favorable result.

After receiving his J.D. from LSU, Seth accumulated experience in Personal Injury Litigation, Property Damage Litigation, Insurance Defense, Coverage Litigation, and Commercial Litigation and Transactions (including Collections, Corporate Organizational Work, Contract/Lease Preparation, Mergers, and Acquisitions). Seth has appeared before various Louisiana administrative agencies (including Louisiana's Office of Workers' Compensation), 20+ Louisiana Judicial District Courts, several Louisiana Appellate Courts, the U.S. District Courts in Louisiana,...

Scott Mansfield is a dedicated Baton Rouge personal injury attorney and co-founder of Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. Specializing in personal injury and civil litigation, he represents a wide range of clients in Louisiana, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies. Recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star for consecutive years, Scott is known for his legal expertise and ethical standards. He actively participates in the Louisiana State Bar Association's Ethics Advisory Service and the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board, upholding legal standards. A graduate of LSU's Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Scott also holds a certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy...

My name is Alex Laird and I exclusively practice criminal defense in the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas. I know first hand the fear and anxiety one feels facing criminal charges. That is why I chose this profession. I do everything in my power to help each and every one of my clients overcome their criminal issue and come out a better person afterwards. I know how important it is for clients to have an attorney that truly cares about them, not only for the outcome of their case but also for their overall sense of well-being while the case...

Richard C. Broussard was raised in Lafayette and is a founding partner of Broussard, David & Moroux. Broussard focuses on products liability law, maritime personal injury law, aviation litigation, and general personal injury law. Broussard is an "AV" rated attorney by Martindale-Hubble (highest rating possible). Broussard has been recognized by Louisiana Super Lawyers as one of the “Top 50” Lawyers in the State of Louisiana. Additionally, his peers selected him as one of the state’s very best personal injury attorneys every year since the inception of the Super Lawyers rating system. Broussard was the recipient of the Louisiana State Bar...

Beau practices in his own private law firm of Brock & Palmintier Law, LLC, and his main areas of focus include criminal law, family law, environmental law, DWI and car accidents. Previously, he worked at the private law firm of Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Belanger from 2011-2019. Before entering private practice, he was employed at LDEQ as a member of the Secretary’s Executive Staff from 2008-2011. From March 1999–Feb. 2008, he worked as Regional Criminal Enforcement Council for the Environmental Protection Agency, and provided in-house legal oversight to all Federal criminal investigations conducted in Louisiana by the EPA-Criminal...

Peyton Murphy is a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After completing his undergraduate study at Louisiana State University in 1988, Peyton P. Murphy was immediately admitted to law school. He received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane Law School in 1991. Peyton P. Murphy was admitted to the Connecticut State Bar and the Louisiana State Bar in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Mr. Murphy is also licensed in the Western, Middle and Eastern District of the Federal U.S. District Courts in Louisiana as well as the United States Supreme Court. Peyton P. Murphy is an active member of the Baton Rouge Bar Association...

James Graham has worked as an educator in New Orleans. He then served in executive positions in real estate and education. After earning a degree from Loyola Law School, Mr. Graham sought to use his real world experience to benefit clients in his community. He is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mr. Graham is admitted to practice before state and district courts in Louisiana.

A shining moment for Mr. Graham came when he assisted his first client to secure incorporation papers so that he could legally operate his new business in Louisiana. Another...

Attorney Mark Glago graduated from the University of Richmond in Virginia with Phi Beta Kappa honors, having triple-majored in Political Science, Speech and Sociology. He was the University’s Rhodes Scholar nominee and received the “Most Outstanding Graduate” award. At the Tulane University School of Law, he was Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review and again graduated with honors. Over the past 17 years, Mr. Glago has handled over 2,500 cases and been the “first-chair” lawyer for over 160 trials in Louisiana courts. He has built a respected, full-service law firm devoted to recovering compensation for clients in a range...

Facing arrest, criminal charges, or under investigation? It can be an overwhelmingly frightening experience. I am here to alleviate your concerns by clearly outlining your rights under the law. I will serve as your assertive, step-by-step guide throughout your case. Taking immediate action is crucial, as memories fade, witnesses vanish, and evidence can be lost over time. For all criminal defense cases, The Healy & Jordan Law Firm provides free consultations and tailors a budget for each client's legal needs through trial. Whether you are accused of unlawful drug possession, drug distribution, drug manufacturing, domestic violence, assault, burglary, robbery, DUI,...

Kenneth L. Tolar focuses primarily on general intellectual property matters including patent, trademark and copyright prosecution, intellectual property litigation and licensing on behalf of both corporations and independent inventors nationwide, patentability and trademark availability opinions, inter partes practice before both the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; during his career, he has secured over 350 patents on behalf of independent and corporate inventors.

Mr. Tolar also engages in general commercial litigation, insurance defense, labor disputes arising under The Fair Labor Standards Act, personal injury and first-party insurance claims.

Chip's emphasis in his law practice is probate, wills, estate planning, interdictions, powers of attorney, living wills and trusts. He has also been appointed by the Court in complex matters to represent the interest of individuals in many differing areas of law. Martindale-Hubbell has given Chip an AV® Preeminent rating as an attorney, which is the pinnacle of excellence awarded by the Bar and the Judiciary to any individual attorney, recognizing that Chip has the highest possible rating available in legal ability and ethical standards. Chip was named by New Orleans Magazine as one of the "Top Lawyers" in...