September 2023
1970s
Paul M. Hebert, Jr. (’70) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Family Law practice area.
Van R. Mayhall, Jr (’71) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Government Relations Practice, Insurance Law, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation - Securities, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Reinsurance Law practice areas.
Stokes McConnell, Jr (’72) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Lawyer of the Year in the Banking and Finance Law and Public Finance Law practice areas.
Fredrick Preis, Jr (’74) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Litigation - Labor and Employment practice area.
David R. Cassidy (’75) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Litigation and Controversy - Tax and Tax Law practice areas.
Patrick “Pat” Vance (’75), a senior partner at Jones Walker in new Orleans, became the first LSU Law alumnus to receive the John R. “Jack” Martzell Professionalism Award from the Federal Bar Association-New Orleans Chapter on Aug. 23, 2023. The award recognizes an attorney who “best exemplifies outstanding professionalism in the practice of law.”
Ed J. Walters, Jr. (’75), a partner with Walters, Papillion, Thomas, Cullens in Baton Rouge was nominated as the Louisiana State Bar Association president-elect for the 2024-25 term. The president-elect will automatically assume the presidency in 2025-26.
Frank Neuner ('76), founding partner of Lafayette-based NeunerPate, announced the acquisition of Lake Charles-based Guillory & McCall LLC, effective as of May 2023. As a result, William “Bill” McCall ('77) and Drury “Dru” Cunningham ('91) have joined NeunerPate to lead its southwest Louisiana service area. With an established presence in New Orleans, NeunerPate has also made a strategic investment by securing a permanent location in the heart of the city’s business district, effective as of January 2023. Nicholas G. Jones, a seasoned attorney who has been an integral part of NeunerPate since 2015, will lead this expansion and provide legal counsel to clients in the region.
John W. Barton, Jr. (’76) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Real Estate Law practice area.
Leo C. Hamilton (’77) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Administrative / Regulatory Law, Employment Law - Management, and Labor Law – Management practice areas.
William “Bill” McCall (’77) has joined NeunerPate and will lead the firm’s southwest Louisiana service area. His practice areas include Insurance Defense, Toxic Tort Defense and General Casualty Defense.
Murphy J. Foster, III (’79) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Construction Law, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation – Construction practice areas.
1980s
Richard Arsenault (’80) chaired a Webinar regarding Ethical Conundrums Associated With Litigation Funding and Non-Lawyer Firm Ownership and organized the first Annual 2023 Baylor MDL Judicial Summit in Aspen, Colorado in conjunction with Baylor University.
Richard Leibowitz (’80) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Public Finance Law practice area.
Gregory D. Frost (’81) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Government Relations Practice and Health Care Law practice areas.
David R. Kelly (’82) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, and Tax Law practice areas.
Eve B. Masinter (’82) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the - Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment practice areas.
Robert L. Atkinson (’83) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Banking and Finance Law practice area.
David M. Charlton (’83) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law practice areas.
Douglas K. Williams (’83), of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Lawyer of the Year in the Litigation-Insurance practice area.
Lisa Conly Cronin (’84), Special Counsel at Cook, Yancey, King & Galloway in Shreveport, was named as a 2023 recipient of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Angel Award, a prestigious recognition program honors outstanding Louisianians who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the state’s children.
John B. King (’85) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Environmental Law practice area.
Michael R. Hubbell (’87) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Lawyer of the Year in the Commercial Transactions / UCC Law and Real Estate Law practice areas.
Jude C. Bursavich (’88) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Health Care practice areas.
1990s
Thomas Clark, Jr. (’90) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Administrative / Regulatory Law, Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, Government Contracts, Insurance Law, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants practice areas.
Troy Villa (’90) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law practice areas.
Stephen R. Whalen (’90) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Litigation-Insurance practice area.
Drury “Dru” Cunningham (’91) has joined NeunerPate and will lead the firm’s southwest Louisiana service area. His practice areas include Insurance Defense, Toxic Tort Defense and General Casualty Defense.
Trenton J. Oubre (’91) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Litigation - Insurance and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers practice areas.
Lance J. Kinchen (’92) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Tax Law practice area.
Tracy Averett Morganti (’92) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Public Finance Law practice areas.
Jeanne Comeaux (’94) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance, and Trade Secrets Law practice areas.
Ellen Daigle-Doskey (’94), an assistant district attorney for Terrebonne Parish and member of Waitz & Downer in Shreveport, was named as a 2023 recipient of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Angel Award, a prestigious recognition program honors outstanding Louisianians who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the state’s children.
Melissa M. Shirley (’97) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Lawyer of the Year in the Employment Law – Management practice area.
Catherine M. Maraist (’98) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care, and Qui Tam Law practice area.
Thomas R. Temple, Jr (’98) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Health Care, Litigation - Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants practice areas.
2000s
Nicole Gould Frey (’00) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Tax Law practice area.
Emily B. Grey (’00) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Lawyer of the Year in the Health Care Law practice area.
Melissa Losch (’00) has joined McGlinchey Stafford’s Labor & Employment practice group as Of Counsel, offering a practical and efficient approach to complex challenges and disputes. With a focus on guiding school boards and public entities, Losch navigates constitutional law and discrimination claims, special education issues, and concerns under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Judge Shera Grant (’02), who presides over the Jefferson County District Court in Birmingham, Alabama, received her Judicial Studies LLM from Duke University Law School. Only active judges who sit on courts exercising jurisdiction over civil and/or criminal actions are eligible for the program.
Christopher A. Mason (’04) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in Litigation – Insurance practice areas.
James R. Raines (’04) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Family Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation - Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Law – Employers practice areas.
Carroll Devillier (’06) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Lawyer of the Year in the Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Health Care practice areas.
Eric B. Landry (’06) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, has been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the Business Organizations practice area.
Matthew L. Stedman (’07) has joined Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett as an of counsel. His practice focuses on defending employers and insurance carriers against claims brought under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, Jones Act, Louisiana Workers Compensation Act, General Maritime Law, and General Tort Law.
Kristi W. Richard (’09), a member of McGlinchey Stafford’s Baton Rouge and Dallas offices, will participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s 2023 class of Fellows, a landmark program to identify, train, and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
2010s
David C. Fleshman (’11) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Construction Law and Litigation – Construction practice area.
Beaux Jones (’11), acting president and CEO of the Water Institute, was selected as a member of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, a private non-profit organization providing the leadership and resources to bring about positive change in government, education and the economy to improve the quality of life for Louisianians.
Edward McAuliffe, III (’11), an associate at Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett in New Orleans, is a recipient of a Louisiana State Bar Association 2023 Pro Bono Publico Award.
Andrew D. Martin (’12), a member of Davidson, Summers in Shreveport, has been appointed to the 35-member advisory council of the LSU Mineral Law Institute based at the Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
Joseph J. Cefalu, III (’12) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Workers' Compensation Law – Employers practice areas.
Jacob E. Roussel (’12) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Construction Law and Litigation – Construction practice area.
Danielle L. Borel (’14) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Litigation - Intellectual Property practice areas.
Lynette R. Stahl (’15) has joined Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett in New Orleans as an associate. Her practice focuses on transportation, trucking, and insurance defense.
Kyle Alagood (’15), Counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, was selected to accompany Members of Congress on a bipartisan congressional fact-finding mission to Latin America in July. Alagood met with law enforcement and intelligence agency leadership in the three countries to learn about China's increasing economic overtures in Latin America, how the United States can maintain competitive in the region, and how U.S. investments in security and humanitarianism help combat cocaine trafficking and human trafficking while improving the lives of people across Latin America.
Kelsey C. Luckett (’15) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants practice areas.
Catherine Breaux Moore (’15) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Health Care Law practice area.
Chris Seemann (’15) has joined Wood, Smith, Henning and Berman’s New Orleans office as a senior associate practicing property and casualty insurance, including large loss, excess exposure, commercial trucking, coverage, and bad faith claims.
Robert M. Schmidt (’17) has joined Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson’s Baton Rouge office as an associate practicing casualty litigation and representing clients in a variety of cases in both state and federal courts.
Philip Giorlando (’18) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Litigation - Labor and Employment practice area.
Kristin Oglesby (’18) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Corporate Law and Tax Law practice area.
Victoria L. Watson (’18) an associate with Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C. in Washington, D.C., was recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
2020s
Alexa N. Candelora (’20) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Insurance Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants practice areas.
Cassandra Buer (’22) an associate at Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer in Pensacola, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division.
Christopher Vidrine (’22) of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the Health Care Law 
practice area.
In Memory
The LSU Law Center community mourns the passing of the following alumni:
James Boyer (’51), 8/5/2023
Charles Neilson Malone (’69), 7/30/2023
Byard “Peck” Edwards Jr. (’76), 8/11/2023
Jennifer Pendleton Macdonald (’86), 8/30/2023
Mary “Meepsie” Lintot Dougherty (’93), 7/21/2023
