Areas of Practice:

• Litigation
• Maritime Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Labor and Employment Litigation
• Toxic Tort Litigation
• Consultant
• Mediator
• Arbitrator

Judicial Appointments:

• Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, 2022
• Division “H,” Orleans Parish Civil District, 2014

Bar Admissions:

• Louisiana, 1981
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1981
• U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 1981
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1981
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1981
• U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1981
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
• Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2007

Education:

• Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1992
  LL.M., Energy and Environment
• Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1985
  LL.M., Admiralty
  Honors: With Distinction
• Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1981
  J.D.
  Honors: Order of Barristers
• University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1978
  B.A., Psychology

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• Professor and Director, Trial Advocacy Program, Tulane University School of Law, 1992 - Present
• Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1988 - 1995
• Speaker, National Institute on Toxic Torts, American Bar Association, 1992
• Speaker, Annual Meeting, American Bar Association, 1991, 1993, 1994, 2000
• Instructor, Tulane University, Louisiana State University and Loyola University Law Schools Continuing Legal Education
• Faculty, National Defense Counsel Trial Academy
• Speaker, American Center for International Leadership
• Speaker, American Conference Institute
• Speaker, Annual New Orleans Maritime Seminar
• Speaker, Annual Contract Risk Management for the Oil & Gas Industry
• Speaker, Defense Research Institute
• Speaker, International Bar Association
• Speaker, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
• Speaker, Mealey's Publications, Inc.
• Speaker, National Association of Insurance Women
• Speaker, Professional Education Group (PESI)
• Speaker, The Rutter Group of Texas
• Asbestos Seminar, Defense Research Institute, 2001
• Products Liability Seminar, Defense Research Institute, 2002
• Asbestos Litigation, Andrews Publication Seminars, 1999
• Professor and Team Leader, Trial Advocacy Skills Program, Loyola Law School, 1994 - 1996
• Visiting Professor, Trial Advocacy Program, Emory Law School, 1993
• Speaker, "Marine Operations and Employment Discrimination-Pay Attention", 17th Annual New Orleans Maritime Seminar, 1998
• Speaker, "Use of Experts", Louisiana State Bar Association, 1998
• Program Chair and Speaker, "A Survey of the Law of Contractual Indemnity in Different Contexts and Disciplines", International Association of Defense Counsel, 1998
• Program Chair, "Use of Demonstrative Evidence", International Association of Defense Counsel, 1997
• Speaker, "Toxic Torts: New Exposures-Employees v. Employers: Breaking the Workers' Comp Bar", Mealey's Publications, 1997
• Speaker, Bench-Bar Conference, New Orleans Bar Association, 1997
• Speaker, "Successful Strategies in Toxic Tort Litigation", American Conference Institute, 1996
• Speaker, "Civil Trial Procedures and Evidence", Louisiana State Bar Association, 1996
• Speaker, "Recent Developments in the Law", 15th Annual New Orleans Maritime Seminar, 1996
• Speaker, "Federal Civil Procedure", The Rutter Group, 1996
• Speaker, "Proposed Changes to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 regarding Class Actions", International Association of Defense Counsel, 1996
• Speaker, "Recent Developments in Civil Procedure and Evidence", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1996
• Speaker, National Institute, Hot Topics for Corporate Counsel, ABA Section of Litigation, Corporate Counsel Committee, 1995
• Speaker, "Current Developments in Maritime Law", 14th Annual New Orleans Maritime Seminar, 1995
• Speaker, "Jury Selection", The Rutter Group, 1995
• Speaker, "Opening Statements", Defense Research Institute, Annual Trial Tactics Seminar, 1995
• Program Chair, "the Case from Hell: An NPL Site Becomes a Mass Toxic Tort Case", Toxic and Hazardous Substances and Environmental Law Committee, 1994
• Speaker, "Indemnity Agreements in the Environmental Setting", ABA Tort and Insurance Practice Section Spring Meeting, 1994
• Speaker, "Daubert: Junk Science? Yes or No?", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1996
• Speaker, "Toxic Tort and Environmental Claims and Efficient Claims Handling", Annual Meeting of National Association of Insurance Women, 1994
• Speaker, "Punitive Damages: The Defendant's Perspective", International Bar Association, 1993
• Speaker, "Some Thoughts on Ethics: Witness Preparation", Loyola Continuing Legal Education, 1993
• Speaker, "New Federal Rules and Other Hot Topics", The Rutter Group, 1993
• Program Chair, "Women Who Run With Wolves", ABA Annual Meeting, 1993
• Speaker, "Transfer of Risks: Indemnity Contracts, 11th Annual New Orleans Maritime Seminar, 1992
• Speaker, "Toxic Wastes", American Center for International Leadership, 1992
• Speaker, "Psychological Claims", National Institute on Toxic Torts, 1992
• Speaker, "Maritime Asbestos Litigation", ABA Annual Meeting, Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee, 1991
• Speaker, "Hedonic Damages", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1991
• Speaker, "Demonstrative Evidence", LSU Law School, 1991
• Speaker, "Jury Selection", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1991
• Speaker, "Deposition Tactics", Loyola Continuing Legal Education, 1990
• Program Chair, "The Judges Speak...And Listen", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1990
• Speaker, "Trial By Masters", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1989
• Program Originator and Chair, "The Judges Speak...And Listen", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1988
• Speaker, "Trial Tactics", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1988
• Speaker, "Recent Developments in the Law of Indemnity and Contribution", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1987
• Speaker, "Settlement and Negotiation Practice", Tulane Law School Continuing Legal Education, 1986

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Maritime Law Association
  Proctor in Admiralty
• New Orleans Bar Association
  Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
• Fifth Circuit Bar Association
  Member
• Louisiana State Bar Association
  Member; Civil Law & Litigation, Chair; Assistant Bar Examiner, Louisiana Civil Procedure; Former Co-Chair, Professionalism Committee
• Defense Research Institute
  Member
• Maritime Law Association
  Member
• American Inns of Court, 1990 - Present
  Master of the Bench; President, Tulane Inn of Court, 2008-2010; President Elect, 2006-2008; Membership Chair, 2004-2006; Program Director - 2002-2004
• Dean's Council, Tulane University School of Law, 1990 - Present
  Member
• Executive Committee, Dean's Council, Tulane University School of Law, 1992 - Present
  Member
• Louisiana Judicial Campaign Oversight Committee, 2002 - 2008
• Louisiana Judiciary Commission, 1991 - 1995
  Member
• Louisiana Judiciary Commission, 1992 - 1994
  Vice Chair
• Louisiana Judiciary Commission, 1994 - 1995
  Chair
• American Bar Association, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Law Committee
  Chair, 1994-1995; Chair-elect, 1993-1994, Vice-chair, 1992-1993
• American Bar Association, Toxic and Hazardous Substances Law Committee, 1991 - 1993
  Newsletter Editor
• American Bar Association, Corporate Law Committee
  Member
• American Bar Association, Trial Techniques Committee, 1992 - 1994
  Vice-chair
• American Bar Association, Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee
  Vice-chair, 1994-1995, Chair-elect, 1995-1996, Chair, 1996-1997
• International Association of Defense Counsel, Maritime and Energy Law Committee, 1995 - 1998
  Chair
• Business Litigation Committee
  Member
• Product Liability Advisory Council
  Sustaining Member
• International Association of Defense Counsel
  Member
• International Association of Defense Counsel, 1995
  Professor, National Trial Academy
• American Inns of Court, Tulane Inn of Court
  Master of the Bench
• Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (SEALI)
  Member
• National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF)
  Board Member; Chair
• National Association of Women Owned Businesses
  Member
• Federal Bar Association, 1997 - 1998
  Board of Directors
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Gulf Coast Regional Trial Advocacy Program, 1995 - 1996
• Program Co-Director and Team Leader
  National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Gulf Coast Regional Trial Advocacy Program, 1993 - 1996
• Assistant Team Leader
  National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Gulf Coast Regional Trial Advocacy Program, 1988 - 1993
  Faculty
• National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Gulf Coast Deposition Program, 1992 - 1996
  Team Leader
• American Bar Association, 1995 - 1997
  Member, Special Task Force on Class Actions
• American Bar Association, 1994 - 1996
  Standing Committee on Environmental Law, TIPS Liaison
• American Bar Association, 1992
  Vice Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, TIPS
• American Bar Association, 1991
  Vice Chair, Trial Techniques Committee, TIPS
• International Association of Defense Counsel, 1996 - Present
  Member, Special Committee on Class Actions and Multi-Party Litigation
• Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Trial Academy
  Faculty

Honors and Awards:

• Named as a "Role Model" by the Young Leadership Council, 2004
• Named on the "Ten Best Dressed Women" in New Orleans, 2005
• Named as one of the "Women of the Year" by CityBusiness, 2006
• Named as a "SuperLawyer," 2007 - present
• Named to "Best Lawyers in America," 2009 - present
• Named as "Leader in Law" by CityBusiness, 2008
• Named as One of Top 25 Women Lawyers in Louisiana, 2010-present
• Recipient of the Human Rights Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association, 2014
• Recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from Tulane University School of Law, 2014
• Named the Environmental Law Alumna of the Year by Tulane Law School, 2015
• Association for Women Attorneys - Michaelle Pitard Wynne Professionalism Award, 2018
• Named as "Leader in Law" by CityBusiness, 2018
• Inducted into CityBusiness Leadership in Law Hall of Fame, 2018
• Recipient of the "President's Award" by the Louisiana Bar Association, 2018
• Member of the Board of Governors of the Louisiana State Bar Association, 2018

Past Employment Positions:

• Adams & Reese, Partner, 1987 - 1999
• Adams & Reese, Associate, 1981 - 1987

Birth Information:

• March 22, 1953, Tacoma, Washington, United States of America