Steve Herman and Sharonda Williams to Serve as New Orleans Bar Association 2025 Bench Bar Conference Panelists

Fishman Haygood attorneys Steve Herman and Sharonda Williams will speak at the New Orleans Bar Association’s 2025 Bench Bar Conference, which takes place March 28-30 in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Taylor Swift-themed conference, dubbed the “Legal Eras Tour,” will explore the latest developments in the legal community, including updates on Louisiana’s summary judgment procedure, trial strategy and recent verdicts and case quanta, and the divergence of the Jones Act analysis in state and federal court. Throughout the weekend, lawyers will also have the opportunity to engage with both state and federal judiciary members, including during a rapid-fire, round-robin session of Meet the Judges. The firm is proud to be a Platinum Gavel Patron of this year’s Bench Bar Conference. Click here to learn more.

On the first day of Bench Bar, Steve will speak as part of “The Discovery Era: Is It Worth Filing the Motion?” panel. Chaired by the Hon. Karen Wells Roby (Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court – EDLA), the panel, which also includes the Hon. Marcus O. DeLarge (Orleans Criminal District Court), will discuss the topic of discovery in legal proceedings and strategies involved when filing motions.

Steve regularly speaks on topics like complex discovery, electronic discovery, and spoliation. Learn about Steve here.

On day two, Sharonda will take part in “The Professionalism Era: Lawyers as Politicians, Good or Bad?” discussion. The esteemed panel, composed of former and current public officials, also includes the Hon. Jay C. Zainey (U.S. District Court – EDLA), Louisiana State Senator Royce Duplessis, New Orleans City Councilmember Joe Giarrusso III, former Louisiana State Representative Walt Leger III, and Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Professor Monice Hof Wallace. Together, the panelists will delve into the topic of the pros and cons of lawyers entering the world of politics.

Sharonda is very active in professional and civic organizations at the state and local levels and currently serves as the secretary-treasurer of the Port of New Orleans. Read more about Sharonda here.

Our attorneys regularly lend their time and talent to scholarship and teaching of continuing developments in the law. Click to learn about the firm’s dedication to civic engagement.