Joe’s list of recent clients includes family members embroiled in business and succession disputes with one another, business partners in conflict over contractual, fiduciary, or other corporate responsibilities, and investors and owners – often in the oil and gas or real estate industries.

“I’m known around here as a problem-solver,” Joe said. For example…

• In a recent suit for termination of a trust agreement, Joe represented the trustee. The plaintiff had asserted that she was a beneficiary and wanted her money now. “It was not in the best interest of my client to entirely terminate the trust, so I advised my client to consider a partial distribution. When that was proposed to the plaintiff, the problem went away.”

• In another case, family disputes threatened the vitality of a long-time successful local business. Joe recommended mediation of the disputes, which resulted in a corporate restructure. The family avoided litigation that would have devastated their company.

Joe represented the executor of a will where one family member claimed the will was invalidly executed. “I helped come up with a plan to address the family’s needs and mediated the case to settlement, saving a lot of time and money for our client.”

Joe has resolved hundreds of business, corporate, real estate and succession disputes through mediation, litigation or arbitration. “Estate planners in South Louisiana have me on their referral short-list when their clients have contentious issues and disputes.” In addition to succession-related litigation and mediation, Joe has handled law suits involving a wide variety of corporate and commercial issues in the Lafayette area.