Professor Andrea B. Carroll
LSU Law Center
Andi Beauchamp Carroll is the Associate Dean for Student & Academic Affairs and the Donna W. Lee Professor of Family Law at the LSU Law Center. Before joining the LSU Law faculty, Professor Carroll clerked for The Honorable W. Eugene Davis of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She subsequently worked as an associate at the Dallas law firm of Baker Botts, L.L.P., handling appellate litigation. In 2003, Professor Carroll returned home to LSU Law, where she has been teaching and writing about family law, community property, and property for nearly two decades. Professor Carroll is the author of more than a dozen books and articles in her field. She has recently been published in the Cambridge University Press and her Tulane article on civil law property was honored as outstanding scholarship at the Stanford-Yale Junior Faculty Forum. Professor Carroll is active in law reform in Louisiana, as a Member of the Council of the Louisiana State Law Institute and the Institute’s Children’s Code, Adult Guardianship, Surrogacy, and Property Committees. She has led successful legislative reforms in the areas of child relocation, spousal support, surrogacy, and community property reimbursement rights. As Reporter of the Law Institute’s Marriage and Persons Committee, Professor Carroll continues to work to improve the law related to marriage and the family.

Mrs. Amanda H. Chapoton
Brandon P. Romano, Psy.D. & Associates
Amanda Chapoton is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She joined Brandon P. Romano, Psy.D. & Associates in 2010. Ms. Chapoton earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1997. She earned a Master of Education in Counseling from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2001. In addition to her LPC-S and LMFT, Amanda earned her certification as a Registered Play Therapist in 2005. Her diverse career includes time as an adjunct professor at Southeastern Louisiana University teaching courses in career planning, child development, and marriage and family studies. Her career also has been devoted to the treatment of children, youth and families affected by physical and sexual abuse. Her extensive experience in counseling includes treatment of high-risk youth and those with mental health disorders as part of the Louisiana Judicial System. In 2007, Ms. Chapoton began providing treatment to juveniles who were adjudicated for sexual offenses. In her work with Brandon P. Romano, Psy.D. & Associates, she has focused on the treatment of both victims and perpetrators of sexual offenses. She is a trained forensic interviewer who has assisted law enforcement and child protection services in over seven parishes with child sexual abuse investigations, including testifying in open court. She has been qualified to testify as an expert in the field of counseling in the courts of Louisiana. More recently, Ms. Chapoton has served as the clinical director of The Journey Home, which served females diagnosed with substance abuse disorders as well as other co-occurring mental health issues.

Eric J Derbes
The Derbes Law Firm, LLC
ERIC J. DERBES is a member and co-manager of the ten attorney Derbes Law Firm, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana, where he practices in the areas of bankruptcy law, commercial litigation, tax, real estate, and probate. His bankruptcy practice consists of commercial and consumer cases in Chapters 7, 11, and 13 representing debtors, creditors, and trustees. His tax representation includes representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service and the Louisiana Department of Revenue. He recently spoke with at the LSBA seminar “The Bankruptcy Code is 40 Years Old and We Are Still Learning!” He co-presented “Everyone Wants a Discharge… How to Make Sure You Don’t Lose it in Your Chapter 7 or 11” in April 2019. Previously, he practiced as a judge advocate in the 82d Airborne Division from 1990 to 1994. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar, the State Bar of Texas, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Federal Bar Association. He was President of the Jefferson Bar Association in 2016. He is currently the President Elect/Treasurer of the St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers’ Association. Mr. Derbes received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and his Juris Doctor from Marquette University, School of Law. He is married with five adult children.

Judge Charles G. Fitzgerald
3rd Circuit Court of Appeal-Lafayette Parish
Judge Charles G. Fitzgerald earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Louisiana State University in 1997. Thereafter, he attended the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, from which he graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree in 2001. While in law school, he was selected to the Order of the Coif, and he was also a member of the Louisiana Law Review.
After graduating from law school, Judge Fitzgerald was a founding member of the law firm Cox Fitzgerald LLC, where his practice focused in the family law area, with an emphasis on complex financial and community partition matters, and litigation in those areas. Judge Fitzgerald’s judicial career began when he was elected District Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial District Court, Division M, in November 2014. He served as a district court judge for six years, from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2020. In July 2020, he was elected without opposition to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal. His service as an appellate judge began on January 1, 2021. Judge Fitzgerald is a member of numerous professional associations, foundations, and organizations. And while in private practice and since taking the bench, he has been a frequent presenter at regional, state, and local continuing legal education seminars. He has presented on various legal topics, including ethics, professionalism, business valuations, and evidence. He is an annual participant in the Judges in Classrooms and Judicial Ride-Along programs. He has hosted numerous educational presentations for students throughout Acadiana, and he regularly participates in the LBA Young Lawyer’s Mock Trial competition for high school students.

Mr. Keith Friley
owner
Friley and Dugas, LLC
Keith Friley has practiced law in the Greater Baton Rouge area since 1984. Since 1993, Keith has been a solo practitioner, practicing primarily in the family law area. Keith graduated in accounting from LSU in 1979, and became a CPA (unlicensed) in 1981. Keith graduated from Tulane Law School in 1983. Keith has been married to his wife, Diane for 34 years. They have two boys and four grandchildren.

Keith has observed over the last 35 or so years the increase on the demands on the family law attorney. Like most family law attorneys, Keith has observed the stress levels of the practitioners on the rise as well. Keith has made a pointed effort to learn practical ways to properly deal with the stress, that have helped improve his quality of life. Keith is eager to share what he has learned with his colleagues in hopes that they will also find the suggestions helpful.

Mark S. Goldstein
The Derbes Law Firm, LLC
With a practice focusing on bankruptcy and commercial litigation, Mark S. Goldstein has represented hundreds of creditors, committees, trustees, and debtors, in cases under Chapters 7, 11, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. As Trustee’s counsel, he has represented estates in complex commercial fraud and directors’ and officers’ liability litigation, transfer avoidance actions, as well as claims allowance and subordination proceedings. As creditor’s counsel, he has protected and prosecuted his clients’ rights through the plan confirmation process, claims allowance process, lift stay motions, and lien ranking proceedings; further, Mr. Goldstein has defended clients in transfer avoidance litigation. As debtor’s counsel, he has prepared and filed petitions under Chapters 7, 11, and 13, represented a wide range of debtors-in-possession, and has extensive experience representing both business and consumer Chapter 7 debtors in every phase of those proceedings.
For 25 years, Mr. Goldstein practiced at the firm of Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver, LLP, where he was “of counsel.” During that time, he developed deep expertise in community property and divorce issues, directors and officers’ liability, professional liability, insurance coverage, commercial fraud, and the dischargeability of tax indebtedness, all in the context of bankruptcy proceedings.
Mr. Goldstein has been invited to speak at numerous continuing legal education programs and has presented materials on the treatment and dischargeability of income tax liability, tax attributes, the treatment of community property in bankruptcy, and individual Chapter 11 reorganizations.
Mr. Goldstein was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After obtaining his B.A., master’s degree, and law degree from the University of Michigan, he moved to Louisiana in 1981 and has been practicing law in state and federal courts in Louisiana ever since.

Mr. Frank Granger
Attorney at Law
Frank Granger, APLC
Frank Granger is a 1981 graduate of LSU Law School. He clerked for Judge Cecil C Cutrer on the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, in Lake Charles from 1981 to 82. He entered into practice in 1982 and has been a solo practitioner since 1991. Frank became a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in 1995. In addition to his family practice, Frank has represented indigent criminal defendants in Federal Court as a CJA panel attorney since September 1982. He has represented defendants in state and federal district and appellate courts, and successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Lewis v. United States in 1995. Frank also has an active appellate practice in family law and civil cases. He has spoken at numerous seminars on family law and criminal issues and is interested in the intersection of family and criminal law issues.

Mr. Jeffrey M. Hoffman
Partner
Hoffman Nguyen & Kuehl, L.L.C.
http://www.hnkfamilylaw.com
Jeff is the co-founder of Hoffman Nguyen & Kuehl, LLC, also known as HNK Family Law, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been practicing law since 2004 with a specialty in family law after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as an undergraduate, and then the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, earning his Juris Doctorate and bachelor’s in civil law.

Jeff has been honored and/or recognized by numerous local and national publications including Super Lawyers (since 2013 as a Rising Star and 2018 as a Super Lawyer), the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys in 2014, New Orleans Magazine “Top Attorney” since 2015, New Orleans CityBusiness “Ones to Watch” in 2017, and Best Lawyers in America since 2017. He was also appointed to the Family Law Committee of the New Orleans Bar Association, where he participated in the Mentor Up Program and co-developed the Mental Health Professionals Meet and Greet program.

Outside of the family law arena, Jeff has also successfully represented clients in personal injury lawsuits, trademark infringement cases, employment discrimination, sexual harassment cases, Fair Labor Standards Act cases, and collection matters. He often helps entrepreneurs and current family law clients form businesses, draft contracts and operating agreements, and negotiate leases.

Mr. David G. Koch
Member
Koch St. Martin
David G. Koch is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Administration Specialist and a Board Certified Taxation Specialist with a practice focusing in wills and estate planning, probate, federal taxation, business transactions, and IRS resolution. He has “AV” Preeminent rating with Martindale and a Louisiana Super Lawyer in tax law. He has an LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University, where he graduated first in his class. He received his law degree and undergraduate degree in accounting from L.S.U., and is also Certified Public Accountant (inactive). He was member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2000 and was named as one of Baton Rouge’s “Top Forty under Forty” in 2004. He has served on both the Tax Law Advisory Commission and the Estate Planning Commission for the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He has been a featured speaker on estate planning, Louisiana probate law, trusts, and federal taxation issues for professional organizations throughout Louisiana.

Ms. Melanie C Lockett
Lowe Stein LLC
Melanie Lockett is a litigator at heart. She enjoys a diverse litigation practice which includes insurance coverage and defense, commercial litigation, professional liability, family law, and employment law. Melanie also represents students, faculty, and staff in conflict with the college or university in which they are enrolled or employed. She has an active practice and litigates in both state and federal courts. She is an experienced trial and appellate attorney.

Melanie is an active member of the local and national legal communities. Locally, Melanie serves as Chair of the New Orleans Bar Association’s Minorities in the Profession Committee. She is also a member of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the A.P. Tureaud Inn of Court. Melanie served as Chair of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Nationally, Melanie currently serves as a member of the Defense Research Institute’s (“DRI”) Law Institute. She is Chair of the DRI 2021 Insurance Coverage and Practice Symposium and Diversity Liaison to the Insurance Law Committee. Melanie is a member of the American Bar Association and CLM.

Prior to joining the firm, Melanie served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Ivan L.R. Lemelle of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. She received her J.D. on full scholarship from Loyola University School of Law. While in law school, she was a Member of Moot Court, an Oralist on the Pepperdine Entertainment Law Moot Court Team, and member of the Public Interest Law Journal. Melanie received her M.F.A. from Tulane University on full scholarship, and her B.Mus. from Boston University on scholarship.

Before becoming an attorney, Melanie taught music in the New Orleans Public School system and Xavier University. She also performed locally with the New Orleans Opera, in St. Louis Cathedral, and in St. Maria Goretti Church.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Melanie is the second of six children. She is married to Shawn Lockett and together they have two beautiful children.

Mr. David M. Prados
Partner
Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver, L.L.P.
David M. Prados practices in family law and general civil litigation. He is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist who represents parties in every phase of matrimonial and domestic law, including prenuptial agreements, divorce actions, spousal and child support, child custody and visitation, division of marital property, as well as paternity, tutorship, interdiction, wills, successions, and appeals. He is also a Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice. Mr. Prados has served as a mediator and as a Special Master to assist litigants, their counsel, and the court to resolve difficult cases. Mr. Prados earned his
undergraduate and a masters degree in English from the University of New Orleans, and his law degree, cum laude, from Loyola University. During law school, he was a member of the Loyola Law Review and the Moot Court staff. He authors "Recent Developments in Family Law" for the Louisiana Bar Journal. He is a frequent lecturer on family law topics at continuing professional education seminars. He serves on the Louisiana State Law Institute Child Custody Committee. Mr. Prados is a Louisiana "Super Lawyer," and has been named to the "Best Lawyers in America" (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022), and was recognized by Best Lawyers as a "2020 Lawyer of the Year" in the practice area of Family Law.

Professor Sally Brown Richardson
A.D. Freeman Associate Professor of Civil Law
Tulane University Law School
PROFESSOR SALLY BROWN RICHARDSON is Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and the A.D. Freeman Associate Professor of Civil Law at Tulane University. Her scholarship and teaching focus on how property and community property doctrines might be modernized to operate more effectively and efficiently given changes in society since their creation. In doing so, she compares how property and community property doctrines operate in both common and civil law jurisdictions, and she considers what the different legal systems might learn from each other to better address modern property issues. Richardson in 2019 received Tulane University’s highest teaching honor, the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional and Graduate Teaching. In 2015, she was awarded the Felix Frankfurter Award for Distinguished Teaching, Tulane Law School's highest teaching honor. And in 2015-16, she was the Gordon Gamm Faculty Scholar, an award supporting early-career professors. Her work has been published in the American Journal of Comparative Law, University of Houston Law Review, Tennessee Law Review, Tulane Law Review and the Louisiana Law Review. She is the author of the textbook Community Property in the United States (Carolina Academic Press 2015). Her article "Reframing Ameliorative Waste" was selected for the 2015 Yale/Stanford/Harvard Junior Faculty Forum. Richardson also blogs regularly for the PropertyProf Blog. Richardson serves on the executive board for both the Association of Law, Property and Society and the American Society of Comparative Law’s Younger Comparativist Committee. She is a member of Federal Bar Association New Orleans Chapter board of directors. She also is an active member of the Louisiana State Law Institute, serving on its council and a number of committees, including the Water Law Committee, Persons-Marriage Committee and Tax Sales Committee. She earned her BA in 2004 from Georgetown University and her JD, summa cum laude, in 2009 from LSU. Before joining the Tulane Law faculty in 2012, Richardson practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Washington, D.C. She clerked for Judge W. Eugene Davis on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and before that worked as deputy communications director for then-U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu.