Education

• Tulane University Law School, J.D., 1989
• Rice University, B.A., 1986

Professional Certifications:

• Louisiana Notary Public, 1990
• Louisiana Real Estate Title Insurance Agent, 1995
• LSBA ADR Civil Mediator Registry, 2020

Bar Admissions:

• Louisiana State Bar Association, 1990
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, 1990
• United States District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, 1990
• United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana, 1990
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1993
• United States Tax Court, 1993
• United States Supreme Court, 1995
• State Bar of Texas, 2001
• United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, 2009

Organizations

• Vice-President, Jefferson Bar Association, Present
• Director, New Orleans Bar Association Board of Directors, 2016 – 2019
• Chair, Bankruptcy Section of the New Orleans Bar Association, 2011 – 2015, 2026
• Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
• Member, Jefferson Bar Association
• Member, St. Thomas More Society
• Member, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Master Member, Judge Jerry A. Brown American Inn of Court

CLE Authored and Instructed:

• “Employment of Bankruptcy Estate Professionals: What Could Go Wrong?” at the LSU’s 31^st Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference. Albert J. Derbes, IV Co-Presented on a Panel with panel members Hon. Jerry Edwards, Jr., U.S. District Court for the WDLA; Hon. Stephen D. Wheelis, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the WDLA; Dwayne Murray, Esq.; and Brooke W. Altazan, Esq. at the LSU’s 31^st Annual Bankruptcy Law Conference, October, 2025.
• “When Do I Need to Call for Backup? Practical Tips on Insolvency, Workouts, & Bankruptcy for Your Small Business Clients” at the Hon. Jerry A. Brown Bankruptcy Symposium New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association [with Olivia Greenberg of Jones Walker LLP], September 24, 2024
• “Accounting for Bankruptcy Lawyers,” at the New Orleans Bar Association’s Bankruptcy & Debtor/Creditor Rights Committee [with Patrick Gros, CPA], Thursday, September 19, 2024
• “Bankruptcy Law for Non-Bankruptcy Lawyers,” [with Judge Meredith S. Grabill, United States Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana] at the Jefferson Bar Association’s 35^th Annual CLE By the Sea, The Lodge at Gulf Shores, April 2024
• "Evidence – A Discussion on How to Gather, Present and Use Evidence in Making Your Case in Bankruptcy Court" [with Bradley L. Drell, R. Patrick Vance, Sr., and Judge Meredith S. Grabill], (27th Annual LSU Bankruptcy Law Conference, December 2, 2021)
• “Ethical Implications of Protecting Firm and Client Money” [with Bryan C. Reuter], (Jefferson Bar Association Live Webcast, December 3, 2020)
• “Settlement & Mediation in Insolvency” [with Dwayne Murray, James Grady, and Chad P. Morrow], (Turnaround Management Association of Louisiana Webinar, December 2, 2020)
• “The Coroner and First Response to Mental Illness Interdictions: Judicial Commitments and Litigation” [with Hon. William C. Credo, III and Dr. Candace Cutrone], (Jefferson Bar Association’s 32nd Annual CLE by the Sea, 2019)
• “Negotiating Business Contracts” (National Business Institute, National Webinar February 22, 2018)
• “Notarial Issues: Practice, Capacities and the E-Future” [with Ellen Barrett Artopoeus], (Louisiana State Bar Association’s Solo, Small Firm & Tech Conference, 2018)
• “Notarial Law: Don’t Take it for Granted” [with Ellen Barrett Artopoeus], (Louisiana State Bar Association’s 10th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference, 2017) & (Jefferson Bar Association’s 31st Annual CLE by the Sea, 2018)
• “Federal & State Practice: Procedural Pitfalls” [Moderator, with Panel Members Hon. Piper D. Griffin, Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Hon. Jane M. Triche-Milazzo, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Hon. Michael B. North, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, and Sharonda R. Williams] [Materials Prepared with Hon. Jane M. Triche-Milazzo, United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana and Philip Dore] (New Orleans Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 2017)
• “Miscellaneous Clauses: Reconsidering Boilerplate,” (New Orleans Bar Association’s Procrastinator’s Program, 2016)
• “Top Ten Ethics Mistakes,” (New Orleans Bar Association’s Procrastinator’s Program, 2016)
• “Preventing Business Contract Disputes,” (NBI, 2016)
• “Bankruptcy Lawyer’s Guide to Business Startup and Maintenance: Understanding how and why Companies Fail,” (New Orleans Bar Association’s Procrastinator’s Program, 2015)
• “Collection in the Oil Patch: LOWLA and More” [with Christopher T. Caplinger], (New Orleans Bar Association’s program on the Interplay of Bankruptcy and Oil & Gas Law, 2015)
• “Ethics in Two Venues,” [with Hon. Douglas D. Dodd, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge, Middle District of Louisiana], (New Orleans Bar Association’s program on the Interplay of Bankruptcy and Domestic Law, 2014)
• “Practitioners’ Roundtable Discussion of Software Related to Practicing Bankruptcy,” (New Orleans Bar Association, 2014)
• “Disposal of the Entity Shell,” (New Orleans Bar Association’s program on Entity Law in Bankruptcy, 2013) [with other(s)]
• “Actions under 11 USC 510(b)” (New Orleans Bar Association’s program on Entity Law in Bankruptcy, 2013) [with Daniel J. Poolson, Jr.]
• “Insolvency and Death in Louisiana,” (New Orleans Bar Association, 2012)
• “Adversary Proceedings – Discovery, Evidence, Settlements,” (NBI, 2012)
• “Dischargeability Actions,” (NBI, 2012)
• “Preferences,” (NBI, 2012)
• “Accounting for Bankruptcy Lawyers,” (New Orleans Bar Association, 2012) [with Patrick J. Gros, CPA]
• “Small Business in Chapter 11,” (New Orleans Bar Association, 2010) [with Christopher Caplinger]
• “Choice of Entity: LLCs and Beyond,” (Jefferson Bar Association, CLE by the Sea, 2010) [with Melanie Mulcahy]
• “Bankruptcy for the Non-Bankruptcy Attorney,” (New Orleans Bar Association, 2010) [with panel]
• “Bankruptcy Litigation,” (Lorman, 2009)
• “Taxation and Bankruptcy,” (Lorman, 2009)
• “Bankruptcy and Ethics,” (Lorman, 2009)
• “Interplay of Bankruptcy and the Real Estate Crisis,” (NBI, 2009)
• “Ethics: 10 Common Mistakes Attorneys Make,” (Jefferson Bar Association, 2009)
• “Creating Contracts: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Lawyer,” (La. State Bar Association, 2009)
• “Limited Liability Companies in Louisiana,” (NBI, 2007)
• “Avoiding Fraudulant Real Estate Practices,” (NBI, 2006 & 2007)
• “The Purchase Agreement,” (NBI, 2005)
• “Ethical Considerations in Foreclosure,” (NBI, 2004)
• “Contract Review Tips: From Purchase Agreements Leases to Innominate Contracts & Boilerplate,” (Jefferson Bar Association, CLE By the Sea, 2004)
• “Bankruptcy Creditor’s Playbook,” (Jefferson Bar Association, CLE By the Sea, 2003)
• “Bankruptcy Law & the CPA,” (University of New Orleans, Beta Alpha PSI’s Accounting Lecture Series, 2003)
• “Recent UCC Developments…,” (NBI, 2002)
• “Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Law and Procedure in Louisiana,” (NBI, 2000)
• “Louisiana Foreclosure and Repossession,” (NBI, 1998)

Publications:

• “Insolvency and Louisiana’s Adoption of the Model Business Corporations Act,” (New Orleans Bar Association, May 2015)
• “Fraud, Peremption & the Revocatory Action,” New Orleans Bar Association’s Briefly Speaking & its blog (Feb. 2014)
• “What happened to my Judicial Mortgage? Lien Stripping, Lien Avoidance, and How a Judgment Creditor’s Security Rights May Be Affected in Bankruptcy,” Briefly Speaking, New Orleans Bar Assoc., Winter 2013 [with Daniel J. Poolson, Jr.]
• “The Effect of Stern v. Marshall,” Briefly Speaking (New Orleans Bar Association, Winter 2012) [with Eric J. Derbes]
• Book Review, 55 La. Bar J. 248 (Dec. 2007/Jan. 2008) (reviewing “Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Second Edition”)

Instructor:

• Delgado Community College, Louisiana Notary Public Preparation Course, 1997

• AJ Holdings of Metairie, LLC, et al v. Brenda P. Fischbein, No. 21-318, 2022 WL 278923 (E.D. La. January 31, 2021)
• L-3 Communications Westwood Corp. v. Robichaux, 2008 WL 577560 & 2007 WL 756528
• In re Vicknair, 315 B.R. 822 (Bankr. E.D. La. 2004)
• In re Service Marine Industries, Inc., 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8523
• Medical & Business Facilities Ltd. v. C.I.R., 60 F.3d 207 (5th Cir. (La.), 1995)
• Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Best Oilfield Services, Inc., 48 F.3d 913 (5th Cir La. 1995)