Mr. John T. Andrishok
Partner
Taylor Porter
http://www.taylorporter.com
aylor Porter Partner John Andrishok represents clients in labor and employment law and construction litigation.
John is an active member of Associated Builders and Contractors and Louisiana Associated General Contractors and has litigated construction matters throughout the Gulf South. He represents all aspects of the construction industry, including public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and design professionals. His experience includes heavy highway, industrial, commercial, and residential projects. He also devotes a substantial part of his practice to contract enforcement, claim development, lien issues, and public bid disputes.
John has been active on the legislative front, having drafted numerous industry-related bills. He formerly served as Special Advisor to the Louisiana Law Institute’s Security Devices Committee, which developed extensive revisions to the Private Works Act that were enacted into law after the 2019 legislative session. He has also served as a Special Master for Construction Matters in the 19th Judicial District Court.
In the past, his practice has also included labor and employment, premises liability, and oil and gas litigation. With respect to labor and employment matters, John has represented companies in defense of discrimination claims, public accommodation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, claims under the Family Medical Leave Act, and wage and hour claims. John also leads companies in labor negotiations, elections, and the defense of unfair labor practice claims.
John has been recognized by client review in Chambers USA for Louisiana in Construction Law since 2012. He was selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America and is rated as AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
John is a Charter Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America.
Mrs. S. Brooke Barnett-Bernal
Partner
The Long Law Firm, LLP
Brooke Bernal serves on the adjunct faculty of the LSU Law Center and teaches a course in trial advocacy and evidence.
Since joining the firm, Brooke’s clients have included accountants, architects, engineers, surveyors, attorneys, small business owners, government agencies and condominium associations. She frequently represents accountants in the accountant review panel process, which is unique to Louisiana. Brooke was named as a “Rising Star” by Louisiana Super Lawyers in 2015 and 2016. She is also fluent in Spanish.Brooke is a frequent speaker on various topics and legal issues and is the co-author of:
“Ins and Outs of Rule 19 – How it Works and What you Need to Know” (LSU Law Center CLE, October 2009);
“Construction Legislation 2010 Indemnity Clauses in Construction Contracts” (BRBA Construction Law CLE Seminar, March 2011);
“ESI: Electronically Stored Information – Securing, Safeguarding, Submitting and Screwups (Spoliation)” (LSBA Uncorked: A CLE Adventure in California’s Wine Country, March 2014);
Social Media: The issues for the Practicing Lawyer (BRBA Bench Bar Conference, Point Clear, AL, July 2018);
Navigating the Employment Maze (Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants’ Winter Cluster, November 2015);
Discovery, Authentication And Admissibility Of Social Media Evidence (BRBA Bench Bar Conference, July 2016, Attorney General’s Annual CLE Seminar, September 2016, and Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, February 2017);
How to Avoid Malpractice Lawsuits: Survival Techniques and Red Flags (LSU Fraud and Forensic Accounting Conference, July 2016);
Latest Trends in Employment-Related Dilemmas: Do’s and Don’ts for Employers (Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants Conference, November 2016);
Accounting Malpractice Lawsuits: Survival Techniques and Red Flags (Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants Winter Cluster, November 2017 and December 2018);
“A Lawyer’s Guide to Emojis – What You Need to Know” (LSBA – New York, New York, Multi-Topic CLE, November 2019).
Ms. Kelly Cambre Bogart
Of Counsel
Duplass APLC
Kelly Cambre Bogart has 30 years of experience as a litigator, having concentrated in construction defect litigation for over two decades, primarily defending general contractors and subcontractors. She has practiced her entire career at Duplass, APLC in Metairie, Louisiana. She is a mediator on the panel at Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions and is a member of the American Arbitration Association's commercial panel.
Mrs. Teresa Cop
Kaster & Cop, LLC
Mrs. Cop practices primarily in the area of construction, representing subcontractors and suppliers in both commercial and residential construction. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Paralegal Studies and received a Juris Doctorate, graduating Magna Cum Laude, from Southern University. She is admitted in all Louisiana State Courts, along with the Eastern, Middle & Western Districts of Louisiana. Ms. Cop is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and Baton Rouge Bar Association - Construction Law Section and is also a member of the Louisiana Associated General Contractors and American Subcontractors Association of Greater Baton Rouge.
Mr. Anthony M. DiLeo
Anthony M. DiLeo, APC
Anthony M. DiLeo received an LL.M. at Harvard Law School in 1971, after graduating from Tulane Law School in 1970, where he was an editor of the law review and elected to the Order of the Coif. He served as a Law Clerk to United States District Judge Alvin B. Rubin and then to United States Court of Appeals Judge John Minor Wisdom. He joined a New Orleans law firm in 1973 and was a member until 2005 when he began his independent practice.
Throughout his career, Mr. DiLeo has been an active speaker and author, and as an Adjunct Professor at Tulane Law School, he has taught both Advanced American Arbitration Law and Health Care Law Practice. Currently, he serves as Co-Reporter for the Louisiana State Law Institute ADR Committee (for revisions to Louisiana arbitration law).
Mr. DiLeo has arbitrated or mediated hundreds of cases arising from more than 30 states for international, national and local parties, both as a sole arbitrator and as a chair/member of a three-member arbitration panel. He has arbitrated a number of disputes in the 8-9 figure range, and he has mediated complex cases involving as many as five parties.
With over 45 years’ experience in corporate, partnership, shareholder, tax, employment, and healthcare law (including negotiations and dispute resolution and litigation in all levels of state and federal courts and in United States Tax Court), his present practice is as a business attorney, an arbitrator and a mediator. He also provides expert witness testimony in several contexts, including attorneys’ fees, limited liability company agreements, and professional corporations.
Since 2004, Chambers USA has selected Mr. DiLeo to be listed in America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the categories of Mediation, Healthcare, and Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions. He is one of only 26 mediators nationally-named by Chambers USA. In 2005, he received the inaugural “CityBusiness Leadership in Law Award: New Orleans 50 Top Lawyers”; and he has been Martindale Hubbell AV Peer Review rated for over 30 years.
Mr. DiLeo is a Life Member of the American Law Institute.
Mr. Mark W. Frilot
Attorney
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
In his construction law practice, Mr. Frilot represents contractors, owners, developers, subcontractors, design professionals, and suppliers, and he has appeared and litigated claims before numerous state and federal trial and appellate courts. Mr. Frilot has particular experience in contractor licensing and design professional liability as well as public and private works claims and bidding disputes.
In addition to dispute resolution before trial and appellate courts, Mr. Frilot also has experience presenting and defending claims in arbitration and representing clients before regulatory bodies. Mr. Frilot also advises clients during the construction process and assists clients in their efforts to resolve disputes before formal dispute resolution becomes necessary.
Mrs. Kelsey Kornick Funes
Partner
Phelps Dunbar, LLP
Kelsey Kornick Funes represents both plaintiffs and defendants in their disputes involving public and private construction projects. She has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals in state and federal courts in Louisiana, as well as mediation and arbitration across the Gulf Coast region.
Kelsey has handled matters involving all aspects of the construction process, including public bid protests, delay and inefficiency claims, claims involving construction defects, enforcement of payment and lien claims, as well as claims against performance and payment bonds. She also represents contractors before the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.
Kelsey regularly counsels clients in the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts. She has extensive experience drafting and negotiating AIA documents, design/build and EPC contracts.
Kelsey is a mediator and serves as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association's Construction Panel. She currently serves as the practice coordinator of the Baton Rouge Litigation practice.
Mr. George Trippe Hawthorne
Partner
Kean Miller, LLP
Trippe Hawthorne advises on all phases of construction project planning, development, execution, and dispute resolution across the industrial, heavy, municipal and public works, commercial, and residential sectors. He brings proven skill to guiding clients through the public bidding and procurement process and advises on public and private works lien laws. Trippe has successfully negotiated and litigated construction projects that range from millions to billions of dollars in value.
Trippe is dedicated to guiding domestic and international businesses of all sizes through the legalities of construction risk and opportunity at every phase of development. From project inception, through dispute resolution and completion, Trippe serves as a one-stop outside legal advisor to construction industry players. He focuses on delivering an interactive, efficient approach to detecting problems early on and to identifying and mitigating the inherent risks in such initiatives. Having served as General Counsel to the Louisiana State Licensing Board of Contractors, Trippe brings an insider’s perspective to advising on administrative law and occupational licensing. He is valued by clients and colleagues alike for being a collaborative, creative, practical, and common-sense advisor and advocate.
Notably, Trippe served as Special Advisor to the Louisiana Law Institute Security Devices Committee for its Private Works Act Revision Project and is currently on the Law Institute's ADR Committee, which is working on a project to revise the Louisiana Binding Arbitration Law. He is a frequent speaker on construction and design-related topics, such as industrial engineering, construction contracting and procurement, construction industry issues, heavily negotiated contract provisions, the Louisiana contractor's licensing law, and public bid disputes. Trippe also presents on ADR and the topic of diversity in the legal profession.
Trippe is a member of the Louisiana Law Institute ADR Committee. He is a Certified Mediator, serving as an arbitrator and mediator with Perry Dampf Dispute Solutions and listed in the Louisiana Civil Mediator's Registry, maintained by the Louisiana State Bar Association ADR Section. Trippe is on the Roster of Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association. He is also a graduate of the NITA Advanced Trial Program and the Harvard Program on Negotiation Mediation Training.
Away from the office, Trippe enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters. He also likes participating in triathlons, working on bicycles, and supporting his church. Trippe has been honored with multiple awards for giving back to the community in which he lives and works.
Ms. Hannah N. Lafrance
Claims Counsel
The Gray Casualty & Surety Company
Hannah graduated as a University Medalist and Summa Cum Laude from LSU with her undergraduate degree in Political Science in 2017 and thereafter graduated Cum Laude from Tulane University School of Law in 2020, where she received a certificate in Civil Law in addition to her law degree. Hannah is licensed to practice in both Louisiana and Mississippi, and she began her law career in New Orleans as an associate, practicing surety law. In August 2023, Hannah became claims counsel at The Gray Casualty & Surety Company, where she currently handles surety bond claims on Projects in Louisiana and throughout the country.
Mr. Kevin P. Landreneau
Partner
Landreneau and Associates, LLC
Kevin P. Landreneau attended and graduated from Louisiana State University in 1986 with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Paul M. Hebert’s LSU Law Center in 1991 where he was a member and a published author of the Louisiana Law Review.
After graduating from LSU Law Center, Landreneau practiced with a major Dallas, Texas law firm before returning to practice in Louisiana and is presently admitted to both the Louisiana and Texas Bar, all Louisiana state courts as well as U.S. Court of Appeal– Fifth Circuit and the U.S. District Courts in the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana. During his 20 year tenure at the law firm of Seale & Ross, Landreneu served as partner prior to being named Of Counsel.
Landreneau’s areas of practice include construction, commercial and business litigation, and insurance and surety claims and litigation. He is a member of the Baton Rouge Bar Association, and Louisiana Associated General Contractors and has been published and lectures on Construction and Insurance Law Issues. Landreneau has handled jury and judge trials of complex cases in federal and state courts involving multimillion dollar claims. He represents and advises construction clients including owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in the prosecution and defense of multimillion dollar construction claims and on multimillion dollar construction contracts and projects. He mediates and arbitrates both complex and simple construction and commercial claims.
Kevin is a Louisiana certified mediator and has successfully mediated construction disputes.
Landreneau is committed to assisting his clients to find efficient and reasonable solutions to the legal issues that they encounter.
Mr. Mark W. Mercante
Shareholder
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
Mark Mercante has experience representing owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in all aspects of construction, including construction contract negotiation and drafting, pre-claim counseling during the construction process and disputes before courts and arbitration panels. Dispute resolution experience includes representation on claims of breach of contract, change orders, defective work, delay, disruption, inefficiency, differing site conditions, unfair trade practices and other construction-related claims.
Mr. Mercante handles matters involving state law lien claims and federal law Miller Act claims. Transactional matters include negotiation and drafting of construction and design contracts for manufacturing and industrial facilities, office and commercial complexes, shopping centers and other retail developments, high rise residential developments, educational facilities and a variety of other commercial projects.
