Pioneer Family Lawyers

The truth is, no lawyers win all their cases because legal matters vary on the merits. However, you deserve a lawyer you can trust who knows the law inside and out. We do not claim to be better than other law firms. It is your job to determine which lawyer is best for you and your case.

Aaron is a Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Attorney in Ruston, Louisiana. He received his Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. He received his Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences from the University of North Texas. Before attending law school, Aaron, as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, served overseas as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Aaron was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2011. Aaron is an active advocate for Veterans, a lifetime member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW), and currently...

I am passionate about helping people solve their issues. In addition to running my own law firm, I also own other business ventures in various industries, which ownership at times has pushed me to think outside the box to solve more complex issues. This gives me an added depth of problem solving that my clients need. I fight hard to provide my clients with competent and efficient representation in my full-service firm.

Kathryn Lawrence is a Criminal Defense and Family Law attorney in Ruston, Louisiana. She received her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from Louisiana State University. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Steve Harrelson is licensed to practice law in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, and his practice areas include catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. Steve practices throughout the three state region in state and federal courts. In addition to litigating complex issues inside the courtroom, Steve is also experienced in private negotiations, mediations, and seeking remedies at the administrative level. While Steve enjoys many areas of the legal arena, his passion is preparing for and engaging in the trial by jury. Steve believes in the constitutional right to trial by jury and is willing to protect and preserve this...

Choose Attorney Stephen Rue. FREE CONSULTATION* CALL 24/7 (504)529-5000 (985)871-0008 Voted "BEST ATTORNEY" in Gambit Weekly "Best of New Orleans" 5-STAR YELP, GOOGLE, AVVO and Lawyers.com Reviews. Stephen Rue is selected as the 2021 "TOP ATTORNEY" by New Orleans Magazine. Stephen Rue is selected as a 2021 SUPER LAWYER. He is the founder of BEST ATTORNEYS OF AMERICA. HAPPY CLIENTS have given testimonials saying, "Mr. Rue is the Best!" "Extremely Competent" "Truly a Blessing." "A Beast in the Courtroom" "Extremely Happy!" "Highly Recommend" "Powerful Attorney" "Beyond Expectations" "Great Results" Attorney Stephen Rue and his associated attorneys have handled thousands of cases with over 35 years of personal injury, ...

At the Claire Edwards Law Firm, we focus on family law tailored to each client's needs. Whether the client needs ex parte emergency custody or is simply finalizing a divorce after having lived separate and apart for several years, we are happy to help handle your legal matter.

We believe in legal excellence and focus on getting the best outcome for each client. We keep clients in the loop during the course of court proceedings, and whenever clients call, they are likely to have a chance to speak with an attorney promptly.

Divorce and custody is a very...

Mr. Weiser is a Partner at the Weiser Law Firm, LLC and practices Civil Ligation, Family Law and Consumer Law. Mr. Weiser is a member of the Louisiana State Bar, he is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, Jefferson Parish Bar Association, and National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers He practices law in the Southern District of Texas, Northern Illinois, Tax Court Eastern District of Louisiana & the Western District. Mr. Weiser is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law in Civil Law with a Certificate International Law. His Bachelor's degree is from Loyola University in New...

Louis J. Cosenza is a skilled litigator with experience in diverse areas including tort law, medical malpractice, lawyer disciplinary proceedings, and criminal defense and prosecution in state and federal courts and military Courts Martial. In his 40+ years as a lawyer, Mr. Cosenza has also represented clients in a wide variety of civil disputes, notably in the areas of contract and property law.

A native of New Orleans who has spent over 20 years practicing law in a large town, Louis also lived and practiced law for 10 years in rural west Louisiana. This life experience has given him a valuable...

As a sole practitioner, our firm's founder, Carl Henry Franklin, dedicates his practice to working one-on-one with each client. Although there are thousands of lawyers and law firms throughout Louisiana, few can match the personalized attention, access to resources, wealth of local knowledge and decades of experience our firm offers.

Ellen put herself through both undergraduate and law school. She a married, mother of two. Both her husband and daughter are also attorneys as are a nephew, father-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law and one brother-in-law who was elected judge. She was drawn to the areas of family law, criminal defense and plaintiff personal injury and has never changed course. She has practiced in Ascension, East Baton Rouge Jefferson, Livingston, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes for her entire 28 years of legal experience including, Amite, Baton Rouge, Chalmette, Covington, Denham Springs, Franklinton, Gonzales, Gretna, Hammond,...

As one of the founders of Lowe Stein, Mr. Lowe is a top-rated attorney in New Orleans who has revolutionized family law matters. For over 40 years, he has been the trusted name for individuals in need of legal representation. As a Board Certified family law specialist, Mr. Lowe helps clients with issues such as child visitation, custody, spousal and child support, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, divorce actions, property partitions, and more. He has practiced before all six Louisiana appellate courts, the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal, the United States Supreme Court, and federal district courts in Louisiana. In...

Author and attorney Morgan Allison earned a Juris Doctorate from the LSU Hebert Law Center in 2001. He practices family and estate law in Houma, Louisiana with his wife and law partner Elizabeth Allison. In addition to his legal skills, Mr. Allison brings extensive technological skills from years of computer software coding and forensic computer investigation to the service of his clients. Mr. Allison has served the community as a volunteer EMT/firefighter, District Chairman for the Boy Scouts of America, and currently as a member of the board of directors of the Houma Rotary Club.

Oskar is originally from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. He has been practicing law in the New Orleans metro area since 2005. He has a diversified background in law, engineering, finance, marketing and accounting. Oskar has a BS in International Relations and Electrical Engineering from Boston University, graduated Magna Cum Laude and as a Crowe Scholar from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, and has a Master of Health Administration in Health System Management from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. During his time at Loyola, Oskar was the Managing Editor of the Loyola...

I am Sarah Pfeiffer, single mom, attorney, and fiercely positive legal advocate for all types of families. I work with families to build a pathway through conflict that creates lasting peace, more financial security, space for personal and parental growth, and allows the adults involved to model healthy relationships for their children.

Gissel is originally from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. She has been practicing law in the New Orleans metro area since 2004. After working as an Assistant District Attorney for Orleans Parish and as an Associate at a local insurance defense firm, she joined her husband, Oskar Pérez, in 2011 and founded Ferriol Pérez, LLC, a Hispanic-owned, full service law firm specializing in client-focused legal representation for the local community. Gissel has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Classics from the University of Arizona, and a law degree, with a Certificate in International Law, from Loyola University School of...

Attorney Doug Bryan has been serving the local community since 1991 with individualized, experienced legal counsel. As a lifelong resident of Louisiana, he understands the needs of clients and their families. You can rely on his knowledge and compassion throughout your case, whether you were in a car accident, injured at work, want to adopt a child or were charged with a traffic offense. The Bryan Law Firm L.L.C. provides representation in a range of areas of law with a focus on personal injury and work injuries. Doug Bryan began his legal career with a personal injury law firm and...

Robert T. Weimer is a partner of the firm and oversees its estate/succession litigation division. He holds in-depth experience with mental health disputes and family law matters, offering clients his expertise on complicated successions as well as conflicts among executors, legatees, and heirs. With extensive experience in family law, Robert is a reliable attorney who has successfully represented clients on numerous issues including but not limited to custody, visitation, divorce, tutorship and curatorship. Moreover, he regularly speaks at conferences related to estate matters in Louisiana. Licensed by both Texas and Louisiana Bar Associations as well as being an active member...

Kim Ngan Nguyen brings dedication and passion for family law to Lowe, Stein, Hoffman Allweiss, & Hauver, LLP. She attended the University of New Orleans, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She went on to earn her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Loyola University College of Law. Her commitment to helping people and families pushed her to focus on family and domestic law. As a New Orleans family lawyer, Ms. Nguyen’s practice includes complex divorces, child custody, property disputes, dissolution of business entities in a divorce, and more. An avid member of the legal community, she frequently lectures at...

John P. "Johnny" Barron is a native of the Lafayette, La. area. He graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1995. He later went to Law School at Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge. where he received his MBA and Law Degree in 2011. Johnny is dedicated to the probate of estates throughout Louisiana and is licensed to appear in all Louisiana probate courts. He handles probate both large and small. He has dedicated himself to helping people efficiently and effectively navigate the Louisiana probate process. When you reach out to him, he provides you with...

Peggy Gonsoulin Vallejo graduated from Tulane Law School in May 1999 and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar in October 1999.

Her practice consists of civil litigation with a strong focus on personal injury, divorce, child support, spousal support, and succession matters. She has clients in all of the surrounding parishes in the Greater New Orleans Metro Area including St. Tammany, Orleans, Jefferson, Washington, Tangipahoa, Livingston and East Baton Rouge.

James Graham has worked as an educator in New Orleans. He then served in executive positions in real estate and education. After earning a degree from Loyola Law School, Mr. Graham sought to use his real world experience to benefit clients in his community. He is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Mr. Graham is admitted to practice before state and district courts in Louisiana.

A shining moment for Mr. Graham came when he assisted his first client to secure incorporation papers so that he could legally operate his new business in Louisiana. Another...

Laurel Salley was born and raised in the New Orleans area. She attended St. Martin's Episcopal School, the University of Miami, Louisiana State University and Tulane Law School.

While at St. Martin's, Laurel was very involved in the Key Club, a community service organization for high school students. During her years at LSU, she was involved with many campus organizations, including Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. After graduation from LSU, Laurel joined the Lakeside Kiwanis Club, the same community service organization that sponsored her high school's Key Club. She is a member of the Lakeside Kiwanis Club to this day.

While attending Tulane...

Melanie Lockett is an experienced litigator in diverse areas of law including insurance coverage and defense, education, commercial litigation, employment law, professional liability, and family law. She has litigated a vast array of legal issues in Louisiana state and federal courts. She has also successfully appealed cases to Louisiana Courts of Appeal and Louisiana Supreme Court. Melanie’s innovative and diligent approach to representing clients has led to notable successes for insurance companies, insurance agents, tenured professors, university students, and victims of discrimination. Melanie is an involved member of several professional organizations. She is an active member...

Jeffrey S. Wittenbrink is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He handles difficult and complex custody and community property cases associated with divorce; adoptions, paternity and grandparent custody cases. He also handles personal injury cases, wills and successions and general civil and criminal litigation. He is most recently associated with First Amendment litigation on behalf of Pastor Tony Spell, of Central, Louisiana, and has defended Firehouse BBQ in Watson, Louisiana in litigation against Governor Edwards' Covid-19 restrictions.

Wade Visconte is a life-long Louisiana resident with decades of experience in civil and criminal litigation. He graduated from Caddo Magnet High School. Wade attended Louisiana Tech University and majored in English; he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in 1992. He then attended law school at LSU and graduated in 1996. He was admitted into the Louisiana Bar in 1997. He is licensed in the state courts of Louisiana and Texas. He is also licensed to practice in the federal district courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana, as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court...

(taken from firm website: RichardsonAndGuarisco.com):
Nick graduated from St. Paul’s High School in Covington, Louisiana, in 2008, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, with a concentration on Public Relations and Journalism, as well as a minor in Business Administration, at Louisiana State University. He was a Cum Laude Honors Graduate who finished third in his graduating class at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication in December 2012.

While attending Tulane University Law School, Nick was elected as the Senior Managing Editor of The Sports Lawyers Journal, Vol. 23. He graduated in 2016 and was admitted to the...

Jon Bethune’s extensive knowledge and resolute style of litigation makes him one of the most sought-after independent attorneys in Louisiana. Jon has tried countless cases on both the State and Federal level all the way from initial consult through trial. His award-winning practice has garnered him both local and national attention, as well as received extremely high client satisfaction ratings. Jon Bethune is licensed to practice law in Louisiana, and specializes in Personal Injury and Family Law litigation. Our insistence on providing excellent communication between Jon Bethune and his clients sets us apart from...

Jeffrey Hoffman first joined Lowe Stein in 2004 as an associate attorney. His success and hard work earned him the title of partner in 2013. As a New Orleans family law attorney, Mr. Hoffman has a comprehensive understanding of the complications involved with domestic disputes. He can litigate and negotiate matters such as custody, spousal support, child support, prenuptial agreements, community property partitions, and more. Mr. Hoffman has had tremendous success in litigating child custody jurisdiction cases. In 2013, his dedication in family law earned him recognition as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers® Magazine and he has maintained...

Mitchell J. Hoffman earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tulane University. He received his JD in 1976. He has been in private practice since that time representing individuals and companies throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Over the years, Mr. Hoffman developed an expertise in family law and his practice now includes significant involvement in divorce, custody, community property issues, pre and post-nuptial agreements, partitions and a host of other family law related matters. Mr. Hoffman also has experience trying cases involving insurance defense, mergers and acquisitions, corporate and business law, and general litigation. He qualified to become...

Marynell Piglia exudes confidence in her practice and epitomizes the effectiveness of hard work and tenacity. Practicing civil litigation, family law, and employment law, she represents clients in matters such as discrimination, sexual harassment, workers’ compensation, divorce, and related family law matters. Ms. Piglia earned her undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, magna cum laud. She was the recipient of a President’s Medal for Academic Excellence. She went on to receive her law degree from Loyola University, where she served on the Loyola Law Review, as chair of the Moot Court Board, and a member of the Moot Court teaching...

David Prados is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in New Orleans who dedicates his career to helping families in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. His focus lies in matrimonial and domestic law, helping clients with matters such as divorce, spousal and child support, child custody and visitation, division of marital property, tutorship, wills, successions, appeals, general civil litigation, and more. He has experience working with mediators, custody evaluators, family counselors, and financial experts, always trying to obtain the best outcome for his clients. Mr. Prados is a graduate of the University of New Orleans with an undergraduate...

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Jennifer M. Bonneau has represented individuals, insurers, small businesses, insurance companies, and corporations in a variety of cases. She has extensive experience in helping clients resolve disputes through negotiations, trials, mediation, arbitration, and appeals.

Jennifer has served as both lead and assistant counsel in litigation resulting in millions of dollars in recovery to clients injured as a result of others. She represents clients in state and federal courts in matters both simple and highly complex. Jennifer is a Qualified Family Law Mediator and has also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for...

Scott was recently selected as a 2018 Super Lawyers Rising Star, awarded to 2.5% of attorneys under 40. He was selected for the 2016 and 2017 “Top 10 under 40” award by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, as well as the 2016 and 2017 Louisiana “10 Best Attorneys” by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys for client satisfaction. He was also named as a Louisiana top 10 Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine for 2017.

Scott graduated cum laude from the Paul M. Hebert LSU Law center in 2015. During law school, Scott prepared for a career...