Phelps Elects Seven Partners in 2025 Class

NEW ORLEANS — January 7, 2025 — Phelps is pleased to announce the election of its newest partners. The Firm welcomes seven lawyers to its partnership to strengthen the business and litigation support it provides businesses across the Gulf South.

“This class of partners exemplify professional excellence with a proven track record of driving client success through their ongoing thoughtful counsel, said Marshall Redmon, managing partner of Phelps. “These new partners are part of the Firm's long-term strategy with a focus on our commitment to the next generation of Phelps and our clients."

Phelps’ 2025 partner class includes:

• Sean P. Doran (Jackson, Business) partners with clients to help them realize their goals in growing, optimizing and protecting their businesses. Sean advises clients in a range of industries on issues involving commercial transactions, contract drafting, entity formation and structure, finance and disposition, land use and zoning, mergers and acquisitions and regulatory compliance. 
• Anthony J. Gambino, Jr. (Baton Rouge, Litigation) advises owners, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in disputes involving private and public construction projects across the country. Anthony’s construction practice includes negotiating contracts, preparing liens and representing construction clients in litigation and arbitration. In addition to his construction practice, Anthony has experience prosecuting and defending matters in various areas of law, including real estate and property disputes, breach of contract claims, toxic exposure cases and collection matters.
• E. Barrett Hails (Mobile, Litigation) counsels businesses in casualty, property and commercial disputes in the marine and transportation industries. His multistate practice in Florida and Alabama equips him to advise vessel owners and marine businesses with operations across the northern Gulf Coast. Barrett regularly advocates for clients in federal court in limitation of liability proceedings on behalf of livery operators and clients in the recreational boating sector. He frequently handles maritime products liability, injury and death claims.
• Raquel Ramirez Jefferson (Tampa, Labor and Employment) helps clients navigate complex legal disputes across federal and state courts and in administrative proceedings. She represents companies and individuals facing allegations by whistleblowers and federal and state governments in criminal and civil fraud cases, including False Claims Act, qui tam and similar private action statutes, as well as employment disputes. Raquel is skilled in managing internal and external investigations and responding to inquiries from administrative agencies. She regularly defends clients in high-stakes corporate disputes, including employment litigation, collective and class actions, contract negotiations and breaches, restrictive covenants and other business-to-business disputes.
• Lisa M. Kaufmann (Houston, Litigation) is a seasoned litigator who represents marine and energy companies, terminals, logistics companies, trucking companies, freight carriers, and their insurers.  Lisa has extensive experience defending dredging and oilfield service companies against claims involving inland waterway and offshore activities, including platform production, dredging and drilling.  Her practice also focuses on transportation, including catastrophic trucking accidents, and regulatory compliance.  Lisa is counsel for both private trucking companies and excess carriers insuring motor carriers and freight brokers.  She defends and manages cases involving significant exposure in multiple jurisdictions.  Her multistate practice in Texas and Louisiana allows her to counsel clients on marine and transportation matters along the Gulf Coast.
• Molly C. McDiarmid (Baton Rouge, Labor and Employment) guides employers through litigation and administrative proceedings for complaints related to compensation, leave, discrimination, retaliation and restrictive covenants. Her practical, easy-to-apply advice helps employers design proactive policies and defend against claims brought in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, including the EEOC. Molly helps clients structure employment and severance agreements that protect their business, including confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions. She also keeps clients on top of the opportunities and risks that emerging issues like artificial intelligence bring to employment practices.
• Kasi G. Schuelke (Dallas/Fort Worth, Insurance and Reinsurance) advises on a comprehensive range of insurance issues for third-party liability claims including coverage evaluations, proper claims handling, managing risk exposure, excess monitoring and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. She guides domestic and international insurers through mediation and litigation on complex liability and bad faith claims. When disputes arise, Kasi's litigation experience enables her to explore all options and develop tailored solutions for each client. She is licensed in Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado and counsels clients on claims nationwide.