Kim Boyle practices in the areas of labor and employment, civil rights, constitutional law, commercial, tort and general litigation. Her employment practice includes representing employers in employment related claims, such as retaliation and discrimination claims as well as workplace harassment. She also handles EEOC charges and other administrative complaints through the administrative and judicial process. Her practice also includes the representation of public and private clients in a variety of commercial disputes, including breach of contract, business torts, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair trade practices and class actions, as well as representation of a number of governmental entities on an array of legal issues. Kim is known for her persuasive oral argument skills in both trial and appellate courts, and for her ability to take a matter from inception through verdict at trial by jury or judge. Many of the matters Kim handles have been resolved through trial, and she has completed a number of oral arguments before state and federal appellate courts. She speaks often on employment-related topics, litigation and issues of procedure, as well as ethics and professionalism issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Kim served as Judge Pro Tempore, Division I, for the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish. She is also a former assistant professor of law at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans.
Kim is very active in local, state, and national bar activities, as well as community organizations and initiatives. She served as the first female African-American President of the Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) for the 2009-2010 term and formerly served as Treasurer as well as a member of the LSBA Board of Governors. She also previously served as the first African-American President of the New Orleans Bar Association (NOBA). Kim served as pro bono legal counsel to Covenant House of New Orleans. She was the first African-American woman to serve as Co-Chair of the NO/AIDS Task Force Board of Trustees, and also previously served as a board member of Aids Law Louisiana. She formerly served on the board of trustees for Princeton University, and currently serves on the boards of trustees for Touro Infirmary, Tulane University and Dillard University. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. In addition, she was a member of the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) and served as Chair of the LRA Healthcare Committee. Kim previously served on the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, which focused upon rebuilding the city post-Katrina, and served as Chair of the Health/Social Services Committee of the Commission.
Derrick is a father of four (4) and the husband of Chasity Kee. He is a native of Chicago, Illinois, but first came to Louisiana when he enrolled in Grambling State University in 1997. While at Grambling, Derrick excelled both academically and athletically as a baseball player and outstanding student. In 2000, he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.57 G.P.A. in Political Science. In 2005, Derrick received his Juris Doctorate degree from Southern University Law Center. While attending Southern, he was elected President of the Student Bar Association, Vice President of the Louisiana Council of Student Body Presidents, a National Delegate for the American Bar Association: Law Student Division, a member of the Association for Trial Lawyers in America (ATLA) Trial Advocacy Team and was inducted as a Pupil of the American Inns of Court. Derrick is a former district judge of the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. As District Judge, he presided over both criminal and civil cases. He also presided over Re-entry Court and Behavioral Health Court, both specialty courts which contribute to the rehabilitation and anti-recidivism goals of the criminal justice system. Judge Kee was a member of the Louisiana District Judges Association, where he served on the Legislative Committee, and the Louisiana Judicial Council/National Bar Association. Upon leaving the bench, Derrick joined the Cox Law Firm, in Lake Charles, LA, where he adds valuable experience and legal acumen to their talented legal team. Prior to being elected to the bench, Derrick was a partner at the Hawkins Kee Law Group in Lake Charles, LA., practicing in the areas of Civil Rights, Personal Injury Criminal Defense, and Civil Litigation. He is also very proud of his service as a former public defender in Calcasieu Parish. He has practiced in over 20 parishes in Louisiana, and 3 counties in Illinois, where he was born and was also barred to practice. Over the years, Derrick has become a prolific motivational speaker, mentor, youth baseball coach, former radio show host, and has served as moderator for numerous public forums. In 2015, Derrick was the recipient of the LSBA Citizen Lawyer Award for his community service efforts. In 2023, he was selected as a Top 100 National Black Lawyers and also became a member of the Masonic Temple Ionic 26. Areas Of Practice Personal Injury Civil Rights Workers’ Compensation General Litigation Bar Admissions Louisiana 2005 U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana 2006 Illinois 2009 Education Southern University Law School Juris Doctorate, 2005 Honors: President of the Student Bar Association American Inns of Court Pupil American Trial Lawyers Association Trial Team Grambling State University B.A. Political Science Honors: Magna Cum Laude Mr. Windy City Baseball Team Professional Associations And Memberships Louisiana State Bar Association (LSBA) 2005-Present Illinois State Bar Association 2009-2010 Cook County Bar Association 2009-2010 LSBA Committee on Diversity and Inclusion 2016-2019 Southwest Louisiana Bar Association 2011-Present Louis A. Martinet Society of SWLA 2015-Present (Past President) Louisiana District Judges Association 2021-2023 Louisiana Judicial Council/National Bar Assoc. 2021-2023
Attorney S.P. Davis, Sr. is the founder and senior attorney of DAVIS LAW OFFICE, LLC. Attorney S.P. Davis, Sr., is a 1967 graduate of Carrie Martin High School in Plain Dealing, Louisiana. He is a 1971 graduate of Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a 1973 graduate of the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he graduated top student and first in his class. He was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in October 1974. He has won the overwhelming majority of his civil and criminal trials throughout his career. Attorney S.P. Davis, Sr. has established a scholarship foundation at his home church, which awards scholarships to all college bound high school church graduates. He is the founder and president of Coalition For Social Justice, a pioneering civic social organization that awards scholarships to selected low-income college bound high school graduates. Attorney S.P. Davis, Sr. believes in providing all of his clients with the best competent, professional, personal and courteous service. He believes that without satisfied clients there is no Davis Law Office. He also believes that no case is too big or too small. Everyone deserves Justice and Just Compensation. Affiliations: Louisiana State Bar Association National Bar Association Shreveport Bar Association Shreveport/Bossier Black Lawyers Association Prince Hall Mason United States Supreme Court United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal Caddo Parish Industrial Development Bond Board (Former Board Member) The Supreme Court of Louisiana Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity U.S. District Court for the Western District of LA Coalition for Social Justice, President Louisiana Pardon 1988-1992 (Former Board Member) Former Adjunct Paralegal Instructor for Southern University Shreveport The Arc (Former Board Member)
Jeanette Riggins is a trial attorney with a wealth of experience. In addition to serving as the partner-in-charge of MG+M’s New Orleans and Mississippi offices, she currently serves on the National Trial Team for multiple clients and regularly appears in state and federal courts in various states. Beyond this work, Jeanette is also a member of the National Coordinating Counsel and Regional Coordinating Counsel teams for several of the firm’s clients, managing and supervising local counsel in the defense of companies. Jeanette has received Martindale Hubbell’s prestigious AV Preeminent Rating and was also recognized as one of the 2020 Best Lawyers in America. Her practice primarily focuses on products liability, general liability, toxic tort, construction litigation, insurance defense, and premises liability claims. Jeanette has defended an extensive array of clients including product manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, employers, premise defendants, executive officers, and insurance companies. In the context of products liability, she has defended a diverse group of clients including manufacturers and/or suppliers of friction products, gaskets, packing, pumps, joint compound, asbestos containing pipe, explosion proof fittings, circuit breakers, arc chutes, and cosmetic talcum powder products. Jeanette has also defended against environmental litigation claims, including claims related to benzene exposure, as well as environmental contamination from dry cleaning operations.
Jeanette earned her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 2000. While in law school, she was a member of the Tulane Moot Court Board, and winner of the 2000 Phelps Dunbar Senior Trial Competition. Upon graduation, she served as a law clerk to The Honorable J. Sterling Snowdy, Madeline Jasmine, and Mary Becnel of the 40th Judicial District Court, State of Louisiana.
Jeanette is admitted to practice law in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, as well as before the United States District Courts for all Districts of Louisiana, the Southern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
In addition to being a member of the bar associations for all states in which she is admitted to practice, Jeanette is a member of the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Lawyers Association, the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Association, and the Defense Research Institute. She is also a member of the distinguished Trial Advocacy faculty at Louisiana State University.
Trial Experience
Over the past decade, Jeanette has served as trial counsel for a number of clients, including contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers in asbestos lawsuits across the country.
Recently, Jeanette and her trial partner won a motion for a directed verdict for the defense in an asbestos trial in Baltimore City Circuit Court by focusing at trial on the plaintiff’s assumption of risk, a novel legal tactic in Maryland asbestos litigation.
Shortly thereafter, Jeanette also won a motion for summary judgment on behalf of a mechanical contractor client in an Orleans Parish, Louisiana asbestos lung cancer lawsuit. Plaintiff’s counsel alleged that the plaintiff had been exposed to asbestos from various products as a result of working around pipefitters employed by the defendant contractor. At the close of discovery, Ms. Riggins moved for summary judgment on behalf of her client. Ms. Riggins outlined for the court that summary judgment was warranted, because the defendant contractor’s work at the plaintiff’s worksite involved only the installation of new piping. Importantly, the plaintiff admitted at his deposition that he did not know if the defendant engaged in any activity that exposed him to asbestos and further acknowledged that he was only "guessing" as to whether the defendant contractor was even at the specific worksite where he claimed asbestos exposure. Finally, Ms. Riggins argued that even if defendant performed work at the worksite in question during the same time period that the plaintiff worked there, the mere presence of defendant at the facility was not sufficient evidence to establish that defendant’s activities exposed the plaintiff to asbestos, and was therefore not sufficient to defeat summary judgment. The court, after considering the oral argument and briefs of both parties, granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment, finding that the plaintiff's counsel did not present evidence sufficient to establish that he will be able to satisfy his burden of proof at trial that the defendant’s activities were a substantial factor to the plaintiff’s development of lung cancer.
Practice Areas
Asbestos Litigation
Construction Litigation
Environmental Litigation
General Liability
Premises Liability
Products Liability
Toxic Tort Liability
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court -Middle District of Louisiana
- U.S. Court of Appeals -5th Circuit
- Texas
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Louisiana
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court - Southern District of Texas
Education
- Tulane University School of Law, J.D., 2000
- Louisiana State University, B.A., 1997
Penny Malbrew is an environmental litigator focused on defending oilfield legacy litigation and regulatory issues. She is a diverse lawyer with experience at all phases of litigation and has served as assistant trial counsel in jury trials. In addition to legacy issues, Penny’s experience includes defending oil and gas companies in product liability suits and personal injury and property damage suits. Penny’s experience includes having served as in-house counsel at Stone Energy Corporation where she managed the company's litigation docket, advised on a wide variety of regulatory, environmental, and safety matters, negotiated contracts, and assisted with other corporate matters. Professional Louisiana, Texas, and American Bar Associations - Member Lafayette Bar Association Women’s Energy Network - Member Recognition Acadiana Profile “Top Lawyer” in Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, 2019 - 2020 Acadiana Profile “Top Lawyer” in Environmental Law, 2018 Louisiana Super Lawyers , "Rising Star," 2014, 2016-2020