Mediation & Arbitration
Mediation & Arbitration
Mediation and arbitration are the two most common forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which simply means resolving legal disputes without going to court. Both mediation and arbitration can provide faster, more cost-effective alternatives to traditional litigation, while still allowing the parties to resolve disputes fairly and professionally.
Federal Litigation Consulting
Many lawyers are uncomfortable in federal court. I am not. I grew up as a lawyer in federal court and have spent the better part of my career there. While some attorneys find in the strict rules and procedures daunting, I am comfortable with them because of decades of hands-on experience.
Local Counsel
All federal courts in Louisiana require local counsel for matters pending before them. Federal litigation presents distinct procedural, strategic, and logistical challenges. Clients need local counsel who understand not only the written rules, but how the courts actually function.
Who Am I?
For nearly five decades, I have worked with civil disputes from every angle—first as a trial lawyer, and later as a United States Magistrate Judge. I now serve as a mediator and arbitrator, helping parties resolve cases efficiently, fairly, and with respect for the realities each side faces.
My legal career spans 49 years, including 14 years on the Federal Bench. As a practicing lawyer, I represented injured individuals, defendants, insurance companies, small businesses, and major corporations. As a magistrate judge, I presided over a wide range of civil cases, including personal injury matters (onshore and offshore), insurance coverage disputes, business litigation, intellectual property cases, employment discrimination claims, Fair Labor Standards Act cases, police excessive force actions and many more.
As a lawyer, I began mediating cases in the 1990s, when mediation was just taking hold in this area. During my years on the bench, I conducted hundreds of mediation settlement conferences and was frequently asked to assist with mediations for other judges and other federal courts in Louisiana. I have also successfully mediated cases pending in state court, including matters that had been unresolved for many years.
What I bring to mediation is simple: thorough preparation, an even hand, and credibility with both sides. I understand how lawyers analyze cases, how claims professionals evaluate exposure and how claimants often have an emotional investment in their case. I also understand how difficult it can be for parties to move off long‑held positions. My role is to help break that logjam by asking the right questions, testing assumptions, exhibiting fairness and keeping the focus on resolution.
I grew up in a working-class area of Baton Rouge. I worked my way through law school as a street police officer in Baton Rouge. I worked for the FBI in Washington, D.C., classifying and analyzing criminal fingerprints while in college. Those experiences, combined with decades in courtrooms, conference rooms and talking to real people with real problems, shaped my practical, no‑nonsense approach to problem‑solving.
I am married, have two adult sons, and am the grandfather of two young boys. At this stage of my life and career, I value perspective, patience, and fairness while recognizing that I am often dealing with real people with real problems—I bring those qualities to every mediation I conduct.