Ponchatoula Lawyers

Greg Anding is a litigation partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 1995 and practices in the trial, toxic tort, expropriation, and commercial litigation groups. Greg represents clients in asbestos and benzene defense, other occupational and toxic tort litigation, hearing loss claims, expropriation (eminent domain) litigation, civil and business litigation, and construction law.

Greg has particular experience representing clients in cases involving premises liability, products liability, personal injury involving occupational and chemical exposures, and pipeline expropriation and expansion projects. He has specialized in asbestos and benzene litigation for over 20 years. Greg has handled...

John Funderburk is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices in the litigation and construction groups. He represents clients in energy, commercial, environmental, transportation, and construction litigation in both state and federal courts. Prior to joining the firm, John practiced with a global law firm from its Houston, Texas office.

John has represented both individuals and corporations in complex environmental litigation, contract disputes, maritime actions, personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, deceptive trade practices claims, and oilfield contamination litigation. In addition, he coordinates with clients and experts to respond quickly to accidents and incidents across the...

Rob was born in Traverse City, MI and raised in El Paso, TX. He is a graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans and Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. Rob enjoys fishing, reading, golf and automobile racing. He loves to cook with his family and is an avid Major League Baseball and NFL fan.

EDUCATION
Tulane University – B.A. English
Loyola University Chicago School of Law – J.D.
Frankfurt International School
ROB’S LEGAL ASSISTANTS
Magdalene Bedi
Eyona Nelson

MEMBER
Colorado Bar Association
Louisiana Bar Association
New Orleans Bar Association
Mississippi Bar Association

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE LAW IN
Colorado
Louisiana
Mississippi

Allison Benoit is special counsel in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 2005 and practices in the toxic tort, occupational exposure, and commercial litigation groups. Prior to joining the firm, Allison practiced at an insurance defense firm in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Allison earned her B.A. in English, magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University in 1999. She earned her J.D. in 2003 from the LSU Law Center where she was a member of the Moot Court Board and a semi-finalist in the Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition.

Amanda Bourgeois is a partner in the Baton Rouge office. She joined the firm in 2012 and practices in the business and corporate group. Amanda has experience representing clients in connection with a variety of transactional matters, including asset and stock acquisitions and sales and the drafting and negotiating of industrial and construction procurement, purchase and service contracts. She has also assisted individuals and businesses with entity formation, structure and governance, including the drafting of organizational documents and planning of overall corporate structure.

Amanda received her J.D. in 2010 from the LSU Law Center where she was a member of the...

Beau Bourgeois is an associate in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2016 and practices in the commercial litigation and construction litigation groups. Beau has represented and counseled owners, general contractors, and subcontractors in the industrial and commercial markets and in both the private and public sectors. He has drafted construction contracts for owners, drafted and filed numerous Private Works Act liens, assisted clients with obtaining contractor’s licenses in multiple states, and represented clients in Public Bid Law disputes.

Prior to joining Kean Miller, Beau served as an Issue Editor for the Louisiana Law Review...

Randy Cangelosi is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He practices in the litigation group. Randy represents clients in complex products liability, general litigation, commercial and business litigation, environmental litigation, healthcare issues and related business disputes, medical malpractice defense, telecommunications law and litigation, trademark and intellectual property claims, and personal injury defense. He has trial experience in products liability defense and large commercial litigation matters. He also has experience in NORM, TERM and asbestos cases in the energy industry. Randy also has served client's needs on a national level, obtaining various admissions to the bar in...

Troy Charpentier is a dedicated and experienced Louisiana Attorney. He joined Kean Miller in 1996, where he works with the Litigation Group in the Baton Rouge office. Troy has successfully represented local, regional and national clients in an array of legal disputes. His practice areas include General Commercial Litigation such as Contract Claims, Lease Disputes and Landlord/Tenant matters. Additionally, Troy advocates for clients with Pipeline Permitting and Incident Response before the Department of Natural Resources. He has extensive experience in Pipeline Expropriation projects. Troy is committed to providing outstanding service and the best possible outcomes.

Troy received a B.A. from Louisiana...

Bob Hawthorne is of counsel to the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He is one of the founding members of the firm and practices in the estate planning and probate, business and corporate, and real estate groups. Bob represents clients in the finance, acquisition, construction, purchase, refinancing, management, leasing and sale of various types of real estate developments, both commercial and residential, including office buildings, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, retail centers, industrial facilities, and commercial developments.

Bob advises business and corporate clients with regard to commercial lending transactions, financings, and the structure and formation of corporate entities. He has extensive...

Melissa Hemmans is an experienced Litigation Attorney in Kean Millers's Baton Rouge office. Her practice includes Petrochemical, Manufacturing, Municipal, Civil Rights Defense, Oil and Gas, and Local Business matters. She has extensive experience with cases involving Toxic Tort and Environmental claims. Melissa is dedicated to providing clients with creative solutions, unique strategies, and unparalleled value.

In 1996, Melissa received her B.A. from Louisiana State University. She obtained her J.D. from the LSU Law Center in 1999. Melissa is admitted to practice law in the State of Louisiana, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, United States District Courts for the Eastern,...

Ben Jumonville is an associate in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller.

Richard McConnell is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He is trial counsel for energy and financial companies in high stakes lawsuits involving a wide variety of claims. Prior cases involved soil and groundwater contamination, wetlands loss, toxic tort exposure, lost mineral leasing opportunities, mineral lease cancellation, pipeline right-of-way claims, expropriation/condemnation, and commercial litigation. Richard also serves as appellate counsel arguing before state and federal appellate courts.

Richard’s recent experience includes obtaining a successful verdict as trial counsel for national pipeline companies in a wetlands loss lawsuit involving canals that widened over time, he was lead...

Matthew Meiners is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He joined the firm in 2009 and practices in the business and corporate group. Matthew has experience in the drafting and negotiation of numerous industrial service and purchase agreements. He also has experience representing numerous individuals and small businesses in connection with acquisitions and divestitures of their respective businesses and with formation of new entities, including drafting organizational documents and planning of overall corporate structure.

Matthew earned his B.S. in International Trade and Finance with a minor in Economics from Louisiana State University in 1998. He earned his...

Gayla Moncla is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices in the areas of toxic tort and environmental litigation, premises liability, and commercial litigation. She has more than 25 years of experience in the chemical and petrochemical industries, defending workplace accidents, chemical exposure cases, products liability cases, as well as advising clients regarding workplace safety issues and OSHA regulations. Gayla also has experience in retail premises litigation having defended retail clients for over 25 years.

Gayla earned her B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1973. She earned her J.D. in 1989 from the LSU Law Center...

Jon Bethune’s extensive knowledge and resolute style of litigation makes him one of the most sought-after independent attorneys in Louisiana. Jon has tried countless cases on both the State and Federal level all the way from initial consult through trial. His award-winning practice has garnered him both local and national attention, as well as received extremely high client satisfaction ratings. Jon Bethune is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, and specializes in Personal Injury and Family Law litigation. Our insistence on providing excellent communication between Jon Bethune and his clients sets us apart from...

Bill has more than four decades of experience in the area of real estate law and represents lenders, title insurance underwriters and commercial and residential real estate developers.

Bill is an AV-rated lawyer and has been named as one of Louisiana's Super Lawyers.

.Attorney and Counselor at Law
Notary Public

Jennifer M. Bonneau has represented individuals, insurers, small businesses, insurance companies, and corporations in a variety of cases. She has extensive experience in helping clients resolve disputes through negotiations, trials, mediation, arbitration, and appeals.

Jennifer has served as both lead and assistant counsel in litigation resulting in millions of dollars in recovery to clients injured as a result of others. She represents clients in state and federal courts in matters both simple and highly complex. Jennifer is a Qualified Family Law Mediator and has also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for...

My name is Mike Gertler and I am the managing partner of Gertler Accident & Injury Attorneys, a New Orleans based Personal Injury Law Firm. I have been representing individuals injured in accidents since 1970 - not only in the state of Louisiana, but throughout the country. I focus only on personal injury lawsuits and concentrate in the following areas: Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Claims Construction Accidents & Injuries Brain Injuries/Traumatic Brain Injury/TBI Injuries from Defective Products Medical Malpractice Birth Injury/Cerebral Palsy Nursing Home Negligence Medical Negligence Nursing Home Abuse Premises Liability/Non-Secure Premises Offshore Injuries Oil Rig Injuries Dog Bite...

Chelsea Brener Cusimano has a substantial litigation practice and client base after a decade of work with her family firm and public officials. Chelsea is the daughter of the late Lisa Brener who began her trailblazing civil rights and employment practice in New Orleans in the 1980s. Chelsea is a fourth-generation New Orleans lawyer. Chelsea has successfully litigated Collective Actions under the FederalFair Labor Standards Act, including managing a Collective Action with over 90 Plaintiffs from 2018-2020. Chelsea is a member of both the Louisiana and Georgia bars, and holds an LL.M. from George Washington University in National Security and International Affairs. She...

Jacob K. Weixler is a dedicated attorney who represents clients in federal criminal proceedings, civil lawsuits, and professional disciplinary proceedings. He also provides counsel on business law matters. He has represented a diverse range of clients facing various challenges, including defending the first amendment rights of a national civil rights figure, assisting a former military official facing fraud and conspiracy charges, fighting for the rights of cheated investors, and seeking justice for incarcerated individuals. Prior to establishing Weixler Law LLC, Jacob gained valuable experience as an attorney at Schonekas Evans McGoey & McEachin, LLC, a respected New Orleans-based boutique law firm...

Personal experience with racial injustice infused with an awareness of the judicial system motivates Mr. Christopher Szeto. Mr. Szeto recognized law as his calling from an early age. This internal drive led him to volunteer for numerous courts across the country. Mr. Szeto’s dedication to courts in Louisiana, New York, and Massachusetts showed him the endless caseloads lawyers face. Inspired by Charles Houston, who was key in disrupting the Jim Crow era, Mr. Szeto set off for law school.

Mr. Szeto graduated from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He majored in Philosophy, Political Science, and History. Mr....

Joseph A. Interiano has more than a decade of experience in the legal field and represents a wide variety of clients in many different legal situations. He specializes in auto accidents, personal injury, slip and falls accidents, workplace accidents, workers’ compensation claims, home and property owners’ insurance claims for property damages, business law and immigration. Joseph is a member of the American Association for Justice, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Louisiana State Bar Association and New Orleans Bar Association. He has tried and won cases in most of the courts in southern Louisiana, including cases before the First...

Brad’s practice utilizes the Master of Business Administration he earned in addition to his Juris Doctor. In addition to representing businesses of all kinds, he practices many different areas of law, performing both transactional work and litigation. Brad’s trust and estate practice covers everything from simple wills and successions to complex trusts and advanced estate planning. As part of his real estate practice, he is a title agent for Gulf Title Corporation, which is an agent for First American Title Insurance Company of Louisiana. Brad’s collection practice specializes in purchased debt. He also litigates many labor and employment matters and...

Background and Education Mr. Mitchell was born in Mobile, Alabama on April 7, 1963. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He attended Louisiana State University, The Paul M. Hebert, School of Law from which he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1989. During law school, Mr. Mitchell was awarded the Outstanding Oral Advocate award by Mr. F. Lee Bailey during the F. Lee Bailey National Moot Court Competition. Mr. Mitchell's team placed second in the country. Mr. Mitchell was also a member of the National Moot Court Team and was...

Samuel Ford is a dedicated consumer attorney, protecting the rights of consumers in Louisiana, the gulf coast, and throughout the nation. Samuel's practice is focused on providing individuals relief from relentless debt collectors who use abusive and illegal tactics to squeeze money out of hard-working Americans. Prior to joining Varadi, Hair & Checki, Samuel was a defense attorney for creditors and debt collectors, witnessing first-hand the injurious methods utilized by these corporations and learning the best ways to fight back against them. If you are receiving calls or letters from a debt collector, have been sued on a debt, or...

Why choose Joe Larre? Here is why you should call today! Joe Larré is a local Personal Injury Attorney who also practices in personal injury, property damage and real estate. His list of credentials include: Practiced and excelled in car accident claims property damage claims, and injury claims since 2003. Licensed to practice law in Louisiana. Admitted to practice law in Federal Eastern and Middle District and Chitimacha Tribal Court. Certified by NHTSA’s Certificate of Completion of the 24-credit hour course in DUI Detection & Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Southeastern LA University. Graduated in 2003...

John D. Ray is the owner and operator of The Ray Firm, LLC and has practiced law for over 20 years and specializes in workers’ compensation. He opened his law firm in Baton Rouge in 2016 after years of working for New Orleans and Lafayette based defense firms, serving as Assistant Attorney General for the Louisiana Department of Justice and then serving as the Section Chief of Workers’ Compensation Section of LDJ. In addition to his role as Section Chief, he served as an in-house legal advisor to the Office of Risk Management and the Louisianan Department of Justice regarding...

Jeff Greenberg founded the Greenberg Law Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana to help victims of personal injury and employment violations.

As an associate attorney of Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP, Ryan Cook maintains an active securities arbitration and litigation practice. Mr. Cook has worked on numerous cases dealing with individual investors, high net worth and institutional investors, corporate executives, regional banks and municipal issuers.

Prior to beginning his law practice, Mr. Cook worked in the securities industry as a licensed and registered representative with a large broker/dealer. He received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from South Texas College of Law, where he earned his degree Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor) as the graduating salutatorian. Mr. Cook...