Young Lawyers Committee
~The LADC Young Lawyers Committee is where new lawyers get to know one another, and network with experienced professionals.~ In 2014 the LADC Board of Directors mandated and formed the Young Lawyers Committee in order to provide more participatory opportunities for young lawyer members. The Association concluded that young lawyers need their own committee to determine ways in which to increase their roles. Since that time, the roles of young lawyers in participating and governing have increased through communication between the YL Committee, the LADC Board, and initiatives started by the YL Committee and supported by the Board. The YL Committee is now a standing Committee provided for in the LADC bylaws. Young lawyers speak at almost all LADC seminars, write columns for the LADC monthly newsletter, and organize their own mini-seminars. These activities provide an excellent opportunity for young lawyers to get exposure in their field of interest. Perhaps the crown jewel of YL Committee initiatives has been the annual LADC Board and Young Lawyers Awards Dinner, at which the Frank L. Maraist and Young Lawyers Committee Member of the Year awards are presented. The lifeblood of an organization is in developing its younger members. The LADC is grateful for the work of the Young Lawyers Committee. The Committee is chaired by Amber Barlow. Committee members serve a three year term except for at large members. We thank our committee members who have completed their terms for their faithful service. If you are interested in serving on the Committee or in assisting with any of the activities of the Committee, please contact the LADC at [email protected]
Amber Barlow - Chair, Deutsch & Kerrigan LLP Amber Barlow is a partner in Deutsch & Kerrigan’s Toxic Tort and Environmental Group. Amber represents manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and premise owners in complex litigation matters, including environmental litigation, toxic tort litigation, and premises and products liability. She handles all phases of representation from initial case assessment, pre-trial discovery and depositions, motion practice, mediation and negotiations, through to trial. While in law school, Amber served as Managing Editor of the Law Review, President of the Women’s Student Bar Association, Vice President of the Mississippi Defense Lawyer’s Association-Student Chapter, Law Student Bar Association Senator, and Mississippi College School of Law Honor Court Justice. She was awarded the Am Jur Award in Trial Practice taught by Presiding Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Jess Dickinson as well as receiving the Mississippi Defense Lawyer’s Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award. While in law school, she clerked for the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Staff Attorney’s Office and the Honorable Neil P. Olack, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.
David Adams, Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea David Adams is an associate in the New Orleans office of Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea, where he practices primarily in the areas of medical malpractice defense, toxic tort, and other casualty litigation. David graduated summa cum laude from Loyola law school in May 2016 and was a member of Loyola Law Review. Before law school, David earned his bachelor’s degree in Greek and Roman Studies from Rhodes College in December of 2012.
Justin Jack, Adams & Reese LLP
Katelyn W. Harrell, Jackson Lewis P.C. Katelyn W. Harrell is an Associate in the New Orleans, Louisiana, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Ms. Harrell’s practice focus includes the defense of ERISA plans and plan fiduciaries at both public and private companies. She is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits group, and is a contributor to the Employee Benefits Newsletter, the firm’s publication covering current events in benefits law. In addition to litigating ERISA-based claims, Ms. Harrell is also involved in litigating general employment law matters, including representing employers in Family and Medical Leave cases, discrimination claims relative to age, sex, disability, race, religion, and sexual harassment, and handling EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. She has trial experience including sitting first chair in two bench trials as well as second chair in a third. Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Ms. Harrell practiced general casualty litigation with a local New Orleans defense firm.
Matt Smith, Kean Miller
Jared Nelson, Liskow & Lewis Jared is an energy litigator practicing in the Lafayette office of Liskow & Lewis, where he practices primarily in the areas of Energy Litigation. Prior to joining Liskow & Lewis, Jared served as an Assistant Attorney General for the Louisiana Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General handling tort and civil rights litigation for the State of Louisiana. He has experience in multiple facets of litigation, including drafting motions, exceptions, demand and settlement letters, discovery requests and responses, and direct and cross examination questions. A native of New York City, Jared received his undergraduate degree in Government from the University of Virginia in 2008, and an Master of Public Administration from Southern University and A&M College in 2010. Prior to practicing law, Jared served as a Probation and Parole Officer for the State of Louisiana, Department of Public Safety and Corrections for seven years. Jared received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Southern University Law Center in 2018. In addition to his involvement with the LADC Young Lawyers Committee, Jared is a member of the 2019-2020 Louisiana State Bar Association’s Leadership Class, Louisiana State Bar Association’s House of Delegates Member (representing the 15th Judicial District Court- effective June 2020), Louisiana State Bar Association’s Committee on Diversity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
Gemma Zuniga, Wilkinson Carmody & Gilliam
Thomas McCall, Jones Walker LLP
Erica Durr, Stamey & Miller LLC A native of Natchitoches, Erica Durr is with the firm of Stamey & Miller, LLC, practicing primarily in the field of insurance defense. She received her Toxicology degree with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Louisiana at Monroe before obtaining her Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2012. Erica is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, and is a licensed teacher as well.
Stephen Butterfield, Lugenbuhl Wheaton Peck Rankin & Hubbard
Kelly L. Staples, Kinney Ellinghausen Richard & DeShazo
William H. Priestley Jr., Lunn & Irion
Dianna Duffy Willem, Hebbler & Giordano |