Fourteen Fishman Haygood Partners Recognized by Benchmark Litigation, Firm Rated “Highly Recommended” for 2026

Benchmark Litigation, the “definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers,” today released its 2026 edition. Fishman Haygood partners Brent Barriere, Tad Bartlett, Jason Burge, Kaja Elmer, Lance McCardle, Kerry Miller, Lori Mince, Benjamin Reichard, Jim Swanson, and Rebekka Veith were recognized as Litigation Stars. Partners Danny Dysart, Blair Schilling, Paul Thibodeaux, and Molly Wells were recognized as Future Stars, and the firm itself received the designation of “highly recommended” in Louisiana. Click here to see the announcement.

Significantly, six of the firm’s fourteen honored partners are new to Benchmark Litigation’s Litigation Stars and Future Stars lists. In 2026, Tad, Kaja, Kerry, and Rebekka mark their first year being recognized as Litigation Stars, while Blair and Danny join the Future Stars list.

Fishman Haygood represents plaintiffs and defendants in all types of complex litigation at home, across the nation, and around the globe.

• Brent represents clients in a wide variety of commercial disputes, including bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, securities litigation, breach of contract, business valuation disputes, director and officer claims, error and omission claims, and class actions. He has developed a national practice niche representing trustees and receivers in varied litigation.
• Tad heads up Fishman Haygood’s Appellate Group and practices more broadly in the firm’s Litigation Section. He is an Appellate Practice Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.
• Jason has experience recovering funds for victims of financial misconduct in single plaintiff, mass action, and class action cases against banks, loan servicers, stockbrokers, and investment firms. Jason is also an Appellate Practice Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.
• Danny has litigated and tried several high-profile and high-impact cases throughout the Gulf Coast. His matters involve personal injury, products liability, breach of contract, unfair trade practices, redhibition, Jones Act, RICO, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act.
• Kaja represents businesses in commercial disputes, investors and borrowers in securities fraud actions, and trustees and receivers in bankruptcy-related litigation in state and federal court. She handles matters involving statutory violations, breach of contract, misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Lance practices in the areas of securities arbitration and litigation, environmental law, and general commercial litigation. He regularly represents investors (both individuals and institutions) in claims against their brokers, investment advisors, and/or investment banks in court or in arbitration proceedings administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
• Kerry’s trial practice is as diverse as it is busy. Kerry has tried cases involving environmental contamination, products liability, breach of contract, breach of lease, redhibition, unfair trade practices, Jones Act, civil and criminal RICO and civil and criminal provisions of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act.
• Lori practices in the areas of commercial litigation, media law, and tax litigation. She is also a certified American Arbitration Association® arbitrator.
• Ben enjoys a diverse practice, including securities arbitration, construction disputes, environmental law, and general commercial litigation. He also heads the firm’s international arbitration practice.
• Blair represents clients in a wide range of commercial matters in federal and state court, with a concentration in environmental law. Her practice spans coastal erosion and restoration, land contamination, land use, clean water, asset retirement, brownfield site cleanup and redevelopment, regulatory and permitting matters, and expropriation issues.
• Jim represents state and local governments, corporations, and individuals in a general commercial and securities practice. He has handled cases involving municipal finance, derivatives, CDOs, Ponzi schemes, corporate tax, coastal land loss, environmental damage, industrial and environmental accidents, and a range of other subject areas.
• Paul is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on environmental and construction litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. He routinely represents business interests, as well as individuals and landowners.
• Rebekka’s diverse practice includes appellate work, class actions/mass actions/MDLs, fraudulent transfer and specialized bankruptcy litigation, and insurance coverage As a young attorney, Rebekka has successfully handled all aspects of litigation, from initiating lawsuits to arguing appeals, having completed five jury trials in the last four years alone.
• Molly has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants across all manner of commercial litigation, and she most frequently represents clients in litigation or arbitration on claims for breach of contract, unfair trade practices, common-law aiding and abetting, violations of securities, antitrust, and mineral laws. Molly is also a member of the firm’s international arbitration

Earlier this year, Danny, Kaja, and Rebekka were also selected to the 2025 Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under List – South, which recognizes the best and brightest young litigators, and Lori was once again named among the Top 250 Women in Litigation for 2025.

Congratulations to these Fishman Haygood attorneys! Click for more information on the firm’s Litigation Practice.