Mediator Resume

Over 40 years of experience in commercial transactions and litigation with a focus on construction, real estate, and insurance matters. Chambers ranked since 2010 in Construction Law and Real Estate Law since 2024. Recognized in the 2026 Benchmark Litigation Guide. Listed in Best Lawyers for Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Litigation - Real Estate, Real Estate Law, and Administrative / Regulatory Law (listed in publication since 2017). Served as Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans for over 15 years and currently work with various City entities on litigation and transactional matters.

Gordon, Arata, Montgomery, Barnett, McCollam, Duplantis & Eagan, LLC - Senior Partner

Arbitrator, Attorney, Mediator

Member, Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett McCollam Duplantis & Eagan LLC, 2003 - Present; Deputy City Attorney, City of New Orleans, 1988 - 2003; Attorney, Self-Employed, 1980 - 2003; Associate, Steeg Law Firm, 1975 - 1980.

Certified mediator with more than 40 years of experience in commercial litigation. Practice encompasses transactions, real estate, contracts, and corporate law, as well as trusts and estates. Over 30 years practicing construction law and handling litigation cases involving commercial disputes, while gaining recognition in one of the top attorney directories. Served as Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans from 1994-2003. Responsible for the negotiation, drafting and preparation of all public bid, professional, and personal service contracts for the City. Also, assisted all City departments in the drafting of contracts and served in an advisory capacity to these departments. During this time, chaired the committee responsible for reviewing all contracts, leases, capital projects, professional and personal service contracts for compliance with policy and legal requirements before submission for the mayor's consideration and signature. From 1993-1994, served as Director of Economic Development for the City of New Orleans and as the City's lead counsel for the 1988 Republican National Convention, the Pope John Paul II visit, the $800 million Harrah's Casino project, and in various complex and high-profile state and federal litigation. Represented the City of New Orleans, landlords, public and private developers, lending institutions, a publicly traded real estate investment trust, real estate companies and brokers. Represented various real estate companies handling matters involving negotiating and preparing commercial leases for warehouses, shopping centers, hospitals, office buildings and tenants. Assisted with zoning, permitting, and licensing issues; reviewing, drafting, and negotiating construction agreements, development agreements, service contracts and related agreements; and closing purchases and sales of apartment complexes. Acts as one of the managers and licensed title agents for Current Title Agency, L.L.C., a Louisiana licensed title insurance agency, which is owned and operated by Gordon Arata.

Served as designated Administrative Officer for 15 years for all public bid and competitively selected contract disputes during tenure as Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans. Presided over more than 30 cases involving construction, real estate, leases, capital projects, professional and personal service contracts. The monetary value of these disputes ranged from approximately $50,000 to over $10 million. The parties involved included companies and individuals in the public and the private sector. The hearings required analysis and interpretation of public construction matters, complex cooperative endeavor agreements, and public/private sector economic development initiatives. A majority of these hearings involved multiple competing developers, contractors, and vendors submitting complex, voluminous bids and proposals that required a detailed competitive selection process. The parties were permitted to have the award of a contract reviewed to determine the substantive, responsive and responsible merits of the contract to be awarded. The hearing process involved a detailed review of the proposals and submissions to determine the validity of the award based on the law and evidence presented. Certified mediator since 2015 and AAA panelist, serving as a member of the construction panel. Court appointed mediator for Hurricane Ida disputes.

Primary issues of cases mediated involved various multi-party, complex commercial construction matters in New Orleans and Louisiana, including contractor-subcontractor disputes, defect cases, change-order disputes, payment disputes, and delay and scheduling disputes. Additional issues handled include environmental toxic tort, boundary dispute, and personal injury matters. The environmental toxic tort involved unearthed radioactive material. The personal injury disputes involved various automobile accidents and slip and fall incidents.

Before the mediation, the mediator should contact participating counsel to determine what relationship exists between the parties and whether an initial joint session is desirable or should be avoided. Although joint sessions are nearly always beneficial, in some instances, it may not be helpful because the relationship between the parties is volatile and would prejudice the process. It is also of utmost importance that someone be present from each side having the necessary settlement authority for the process to be successful. The absence of such authority is fatal to reach a settlement. Concise and relatively short position papers should be submitted by each party, describing the factual details which are the basis of the conflict, the current status of the dispute, and each of the parties' desired result, as well as the legal basis of their position. An initial joint session is desirable (barring a volatile relationship) to enable the parties to become familiar with and embrace the process. It is helpful to encourage and congratulate them on agreeing to participate. Explaining that a majority of cases do reach a settlement and further emphasizing that the participating parties control the outcome is also useful. To facilitate communication between the parties, emphasize that mediation is not bound by the same rules and strict structure as litigation. Assuring the parties that all the information is strictly confidential enables them to make a good faith effort to participate and use their best efforts to reach the desired settlement. The initial joint session offers the parties direct face-to-face communication, which is not available in any phase of the litigation process. The mediator should observe the interaction of the parties and counsel, setting a favorable tone for the process and endeavor to develop the trust of the participants to create a productive learning conversation. Importantly, emphasize the value of using the security of resolving the dispute “today” with certainty as opposed to the risk and uncertainty of the “future.” While direct dialogue between the parties in a joint session is preferable, a private caucus is often needed to aid the parties in moving forward to a settlement. When and if the joint session reaches an impasse or becomes stressful, a closed caucus between the mediator and each party in tandem can facilitate more open discussion of sensitive and highly confidential matters. If this information is offered, it is necessary to obtain permission to convey it and proposals to the parties at the end of the caucus. Once a settlement has been reached, it is necessary to enter into a detailed agreement to formalize the settlement.

Proficient in meeting/conference platforms, including, but not limited to, Zoom, LoopUp, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, and GoTo meeting Utilize time, billing, document management, and conflicts software, including SurePoint and iManage Proficient in basic office software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe

Tulane University (JD); University of New Orleans (Law School Admission)

Admitted to the Bar: Louisiana and U.S. Supreme Court

Construction Lawyers Society of America (Inaugural Member), American Arbitration Association, Louisiana State Bar Association; New Orleans Bar Association; and New Orleans Academy of Trial Attorneys; Association for General Contractors; Association of Builders and Contractors; Association of Corporate Growth.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $3,600.00 Study Rate: $450.00/hr Cancellation: $3,600.00/Day Cancellation Period: 2 Days Comment: Cancellation rate is $3,600.00 if cancelled within 48 hours of the hearing and no fee if cancelled prior to 48 hours. Other Compensation: Expenses.

English

United States of America

New Orleans, Louisiana