Carver, Darden, Koretzky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux LLC is pleased to announce that seventeen lawyers were named to the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers in America and two attorneys were named to the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. 

In addition, the firm is proud to announce that Raymond G. Areaux, Roy E. Blossman, and David F. Waguespack have been named “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers. Each attorney earned this prestigious distinction in their respective practice areas: Raymond Areaux for Litigation - Intellectual Property; Roy Blossman for Financial Services Regulation Law; and David Waguespack for Litigation - Bankruptcy.

The “Lawyer of the Year” award is bestowed upon attorneys who receive the highest peer feedback for a specific practice area and metropolitan region. Only one attorney per specialty and location is recognized in each edition.

Best Lawyers in America (2025 Edition) - New Orleans, LA

Raymond G. Areaux
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Intellectual Property

• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Technology Law

Roy E. Blossman
Lawyer of the Year: Financial Services Regulation Law

• Banking and Finance Law
• Financial Services Regulation Law
• Real Estate Law

M. Hampton Carver

• Oil and Gas Law

Brandon T. Darden

• Commercial Litigation
• Oil and Gas Law

M. Taylor Darden

• Commercial Litigation
• Oil and Gas Law

Matthew J. Fantaci

• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Energy Law
• Oil and Gas Law

William T. Finn

• Banking and Finance Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation - Banking and Finance

Russell L. Foster

• Employment Law - Management

Emily Lippold Gummer

• Litigation - Intellectual Property

David S. Landry

• Banking and Finance Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Energy Law
• Trusts and Estates

Leann Opotowsky Moses

• Commercial Litigation

Philip D. Nizialek

• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Law

Theodore S. Owers, III

• Trademark Law

Susan J. Santa Cruz

• Banking and Finance Law
• Real Estate Law

Robert S. Stassi

• Commercial Litigation

Frank A. Tessier

• Banking and Finance Law
• Financial Services Regulation Law
• Litigation - Banking and Finance

David F. Waguespack
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Bankruptcy

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation - Bankruptcy

Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch – New Orleans (2026 Edition)

Rebecca D. Areaux

• Banking and Finance Law
• Real Estate Law

Conor Lutkewitte

• Banking and Finance Law
• Commercial Litigation

About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.