PEOPLE of PURPOSE - Kean Miller LLP

PEOPLE of PURPOSE

PEOPLE of PURPOSE
Kean Miller was formed in 1983, based on a foundation of mutual
respect among attorneys, meaningful collaboration with clients, and an
overarching commitment to serve the community. Thirty years later, this
fundamental philosophy is stronger than ever.
In the following pages you will meet those in new roles, and those new to
us who share our vision.
With this new year, Kean Miller is pleased to announce that G. Blane
Clark, Jr. has been named Managing Partner, and that Victor J. Suane,
Jr. and Jason R. Brown have been elected to the partnership effective
January 1, 2013.
We are also pleased to announce that Carrie R. Tournillon, David P.
Curtis, Elisabeth Q. Prescott, Sean J. Whittington, Michael J. deBarros,
Zoe W. Vermeulen, R. Devin Ricci, Shannon A. Shelton and Tiffany Sues
Pucheu have become associated with the firm.

1 | message from the MANAGING PARTNER
3 | meet our NEW PARTNERS
5 | welcome our NEW ASSOCIATES
8 | kean miller IN THE NEWS

message from the
MANAGING PARTNER

When I joined Kean Miller as one of the firm’s first associates, we had one
office with 17 attorneys. Fortunately, I recognized that the newly formed
firm, while small by today’s standard, had a strong core of energetic people
dedicated to the practice and profession of law, desirous of building a firm
with a culture of friendship, cooperation and collegiality, dedicated first
and foremost to the clients and the community.
Today, this core philosophy is stronger than ever - from the people we
represent, to the people we employ, from the charitable organizations we
serve, to the civic causes we support. The fact that we now number 135
attorneys in four offices has neither altered our focus, nor dampened our
enthusiasm for our people, our clients, or the communities where we live
and work.
As the incoming Managing Partner, I will seek your feedback on our
service, value, and responsiveness to your legal needs. I hope you’ll share
your thoughts and suggestions in the months to come.
On behalf of the 135 attorneys of Kean Miller and our 170 staff members,
please accept our best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.
G. Blane Clark, Jr.

meet our
NEW PARTNERS
Victor J. Suane, Jr. is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and
practices in the environmental and litigation groups. He represents local, regional,
and national clients in a variety of environmental, regulatory, and general litigation.
Vic earned his J.D., cum laude, from Southern University Law Center in 2007,
where he was a member of the Southern University Law Review and American Inns
of Court. He earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Rhodes College
in 1998. Vic is a member of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana State and American Bar
Associations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana School
for the Deaf Foundation and Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge. He is also a
member of the Young Lawyers Council of the Baton Rouge Bar Association.
Victor J. Suane, Jr.

Jason R. Brown is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices
in the state and local tax, business, and corporate practice groups. He represents
local, state, and national clients in matters involving each of the taxes administered
or assessed by the state and local taxing authorities and at each stage of the taxing
process. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Southern University Law Center in
2001, where he was named to the National Law School Dean’s List and served
as Associate Editor of the Southern University Law Review. He earned his B.A.,
magna cum laude, from Southern University in 1998. Jason is a member of the
Baton Rouge, Louisiana State, and American Bar Associations. He is a member of
the Board of Directors of HAART, Inc. He is also a member of the Volunteers of
America Greater Baton Rouge.
Jason R. Brown

welcome our
NEW ASSOCIATES
Carrie R. Tournillon joins the firm as
an associate in the New Orleans office.
She practices in the utilities regulation,
oil and gas, and pipeline groups. Carrie
earned her J.D from Loyola University
New Orleans School of Law in 2005
and earned her B.A., cum laude, from
the University of Alabama, College of
Communications in 1998.
David P. Curtis joins the firm as an
associate in the New Orleans office. He
practices in the oil and gas, commercial
litigation, insurance defense, products
liability and admiralty and maritime
groups. David earned his J.D. from
the University of Mississippi School of
Law in 2006 and earned his B.S. from
Vanderbilt University in 1999.
Elisabeth Q. Prescott joins the firm as
an associate in the Baton Rouge office.
She practices in the construction and
litigation groups. Elisabeth earned her
J.D., cum laude, from the University of
Georgia in 2001 and earned her B.B.A.,
summa cum laude, from the University of
West Georgia in 1998.
Carrie R. Tournillon David P. Curtis Elisabeth Q. Prescott

Sean J. Whittington joins the firm
as an associate in the Baton Rouge
office. He practices in the toxic tort
and occupational exposure litigation
groups. Sean earned his J.D., magna
cum laude, from Washington & Lee
University School of Law in 2008,
where he was a member of the Order
of the Coif. He earned his B.A. from
Louisiana State University in 2004.
* Louisiana licensure pending
Michael J. deBarros joins the firm as an
associate in the Baton Rouge office. He
practices in the labor and employment
group. Michael earned his J.D., cum
laude, from Louisiana State University,
Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2009
and earned his B.S. from Louisiana State
University in 2005.
Zoe W. Vermeulen joins the firm as an
associate in the New Orleans office. She
practices in the admiralty and maritime
and labor and employment groups. Zoe
earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from
Tulane University Law School in 2012,
where she was a member of the Order
of the Coif. She earned her B.A. from
Louisiana State University in 2008.
Sean J. Whittington Michael J. deBarros Zoe W. Vermeulen

welcome our
NEW ASSOCIATES
R. Devin Ricci joins the firm as an
associate in the Baton Rouge office. He
practices in the intellectual property
group. Devin is a Registered Patent
Attorney. He earned his J.D, magna cum
laude, from Louisiana State University,
Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2012,
where he was a member of the Order
of the Coif. Devin earned his B.S. from
Louisiana State University in 2009.
Shannon A. Shelton joins the firm as
an associate in the New Orleans office.
She practices in the legacy oil field,
environmental litigation and commercial
litigation groups. Shannon earned her
J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola
University New Orleans College of Law
in 2012, where she was a member of
the Loyola Law Review and a William L.
Crowe Sr. Scholar. She earned her B.A.,
cum laude, from Loyola University New
Orleans in 2002.
Tiffany S. Pucheu rejoins the firm as
an associate in the Baton Rouge office.
She practices in the medical malpractice
defense group. Tiffany earned her J.D.
from Louisiana State University, Paul M.
Hebert Law Center in 2001, where she
was a member of the Order of the Coif.
She earned her B.A., summa cum laude,
from Louisiana College in 1998.
R. Devin Ricci Shannon A. Shelton Tiffany S. Pucheu

kean miller
IN THE NEWS

Stephen Hanemann
Named To
Leadership in
Law List
Stephen Hanemann was
selected by New Orleans
CityBusiness magazine as a
recipient of its 2012 Leadership
in Law award. This award
honors the Top 50 lawyers
in the Greater New Orleans
area based on their legal,
professional, and community
contributions.
Vance Gibbs Named General
Counsel of the Board of
Directors of the Crohn’s
and Colitis Foundation
of America
Vance Gibbs was named General Counsel of
the Board of Directors of the Crohn’s and
Colitis Foundation of America. The Crohn’s
and Colitis Foundation of America is a
non-profit, volunteer-driven organization
dedicated to finding a cure for Crohn’s
disease and ulcerative colitis.
Karen Waters
Shipman Named
to Women of the
Year List
Karen Shipman was selected
by New Orleans CityBusiness
magazine as a recipient of
its 2012 Women of the Year
award. This award recognizes
50 women who have helped
move the Greater New
Orleans region forward with
their energy, innovative
ideas, achievements, and a
commitment to excellence.
Kean Miller Receives
Human Rights Award
From The Louisiana State
Bar Association
Kean Miller was selected as the 2012 recipient
of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s
Human Rights Award. The award recognizes
the firm’s many contributions in promoting
diversity and inclusion in the legal profession,
and in particular efforts with the Kean Miller
Connection and Diversity Forum to ensure
the full and equal opportunity of all persons
for entry and advancement in Louisiana’s
legal profession.
Kean Miller Recognized for Client Service
Kean Miller was recognized by its clients for a second year in
a row in The BTI Client Service A-Team 2013: The Survey of
Law Firm Client Service Performance as an exceptional law
firm with regard to the delivery of client service. This survey is
the only law firm ranking based solely on direct, unprompted
feedback from corporate counsel and C-level executives. The
2012 survey and analysis relied on 240 one-on-one interviews
with corporate counsel to determine precisely how more than
332 law firms perform in key activities that drive unparalleled
client relationships. The BTI survey categorizes the relationship
between law firms and corporate counsel in numerous
relationship-driving activities, including a law firm’s ability to
understand each client’s particular business and anticipate client
needs, to its ability to control project scope and budget.

Kean Miller Attorneys Recognized By
Peer-Review Publications
Five attorneys have been named by Best Lawyers, the oldest and
one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal
profession, as the Baton Rouge Lawyers of the Year for 2013.
In addition, thirteen Kean Miller attorneys were selected for
inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013.
Twelve attorneys were listed in the 2012 edition of Chamber
USA-America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Chambers USA is
widely regarded as the preeminent European referral guide for
the U.S. legal profession.
Twenty-seven attorneys are listed in the 2013 edition of Louisiana
Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding
lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who attained a highdegree
of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Kean Miller Connection
The sixth-annual Kean Miller
Connection, a law school preparatory
program for minority college students,
was held in July 2012 at Kean Miller’s
Baton Rouge office. Attorneys from
Kean Miller, along with others,
provided an intense overview of the
law school experience. The goal was
to “connect” potential law students
with information helpful to their
decision to attend law school and
become an attorney.
Kean Miller Recognized
As One of New Orleans
CityBusiness Best Places
to Work
Kean Miller was named as one of New
Orleans Best Places to Work by New
Orleans CityBusiness magazine. Best Places
to Work recognizes New Orleans 50 top
employers, including 35 large companies
and 15 small. The team evaluates businesses
in the Greater New Orleans area on factors
such as how well employees are treated, salary
information, insurance, vacation days, leave
policies, and other benefits. CityBusiness also
evaluates each company’s contributions to
the community, perks, and company culture.
Kean Miller
Profiled in
the National
Law Journal
The National Law Journal
published a profile of Kean
Miller in its National Law
Journal 350 section, a listing
of the top 350 law firms in the
United States.
Kevin Curry
Appointed
Chairman of
THE Trust Code
Committee Of The
Louisiana State
Law Institute
Kevin Curry has been
appointed Chairman of the
Trust Code Committee of the
Louisiana State Law Institute.
The Louisiana State Law
Institute exists to promote and
encourage the clarification and
simplification of the law of
Louisiana and better adapt the
law to present social needs.