Baton Rouge Business Report Honors Five Phelps Lawyers on Capital Region 500 List

BATON ROUGE - May 7, 2024 - The Baton Rouge Business Report selected five Phelps lawyers and numerous firm clients and community partners to its second annual Capital Region 500 list. The list highlights powerful and influential community leaders in the greater Baton Rouge area. Phelps lawyers were recognized in the following sectors:

Real Estate

• Randy Roussel was honored as one of the top real estate attorneys in the Capital Region, regularly helping clients obtain project approvals. He focuses his practice on mixed-use real estate development and has represented Wampold Companies, Hancock  Whitney National Bank, Carmouche Construction, Kindle Energy and several other multifamily and commercial developers. He is active in civic and social causes and volunteers his time to nonprofit organizations, including the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Center for Planning Excellence and Friends of Burden.

Professional Services

• Dennis Blunt serves as Vice-Managing Partner of Phelps’ Baton Rouge office and has developed a solid reputation across the Capital Region for guiding clients through complex legal disputes. Dennis focuses his practice on commercial litigation, representing companies in class actions and mass torts in state and federal courts. He represents clients in a variety of industries including public utilities, education, health care, insurance and financial institutions. “Plan as much as you can,” Dennis advises. “The plan isn’t real if it’s not written. Execute the plan and plan to pivot. Don’t be afraid to fail.”
• Recognized as a 2022 Construction Law Trailblazer by the National Law Journal, Kelsey Funes has made a name for herself representing owners and contractors in public and private construction projects throughout the Gulf Coast Region. The current leader of the Dispute Resolution Division of the American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law, Kelsey is also a certified mediator. She focuses on the resolution of construction disputes and serves as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s construction panel. She has been recognized locally for her efforts mentoring young lawyers and has served on the faculty of LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center’s Apprenticeship Week (Construction) and Trial Advocacy program. Kelsey is committed to serving her community and is an active board member of numerous local non-profit organizations including the Center for Planning Excellence. “Don’t despair­— what you see as setbacks or failures are teaching you the things you need to know to reach your greatest potential,” Kelsey advises her younger self.
• Walt Green focuses his practice on data privacy and governmental investigations. He served as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana and the Executive Director for the National Center for Disaster Fraud from 2013-2017, retiring from the U.S. Department of Justice with over 20 years of federal experience. Walt served in the Marine Corps for over 30 years and served in Iraq in 2004 and 2007. Since entering private practice, Walt has been a sought-after speaker and commentator on fraud, cybersecurity and data privacy issues. He earned a spot on the National Law Journal’s 2017 Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Trailblazer’s list, which recognizes the top 25 lawyers who have helped make a difference in the fight against criminal cyber activity.
• Baton Rouge Managing Partner Ragan Richard concentrates his practice on corporate transactions, real estate and finance, as well as matters involving corporate governance and organization. He also serves as the Regional Practice Coordinator of the firm’s business group. Ragan was instrumental in the Nicholson Gateway Project near Louisiana State University and facilitated the university’s public-private partnership that paved the way for development. He is dedicated to the local community and has served on the boards of Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

The Baton Rouge Business Report conducted nearly a year of research to highlight key influencers representing a broad spectrum of sectors in business, government and nonprofits. The Capital Region 500 aims to help readers connect, one of the publication’s core missions.