Phelps Dunbar Welcomes the 2009 Fall Associates

October 23, 2009

Phelps Dunbar LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has recently hired 16 new associates in five of its regional offices.

NEW ORLEANS:

Michael S. Blackwell is an associate in the firm's regional tort litigation practice group. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2009 from Loyola University, where he was the managing print editor of the Loyola Law Review and a member of the Loyola Moot Court. Mr. Blackwell received his B.A. in English from the University of South Alabama in 2005.

Meredith Wilson Blanque is an associate in the firm's regional admiralty practice group. She received her J.D. in 2009 from Loyola University, where she was the sub & cite editor of the Loyola Maritime Law Journal. Ms. Blanque received her B.A. in Government from the University of Texas in 2005.

Walter Gabriel, Jr. is an associate in the firm's regional commercial litigation practice group. He received his J.D., cum laude, in 2009 from Southern University, where he was the managing editor of the Southern University Law Review. Mr. Gabriel received his B.A. in Mass Communication in 2006 from Louisiana State University, where he was the editor-in-chief of the LSU Daily Reveille.

William J. Nielsen is an associate in the firm's regional insurance and reinsurance practice group. He received his J.D. in 2009 from the University of Alabama, where he was the senior editor of the Alabama Law Review and the treasurer of the Tax & Estate Planning Law Association. Mr. Nielsen received his B.S., with distinction, in Commerce & Business Administration (Major: Finance, Minor: Economics) from the University of Alabama in 2005.

Sarah E. Vandergriff is an associate in the firm's regional commercial litigation practice group. She received her J.D., cum laude, in 2009 from Loyola University, where she was a William Crowe Scholar and a member of the Trial Advocacy Program. She also attained a Certificate of International Law. Ms. Vandergriff received her M.A., cum laude, in Religious Studies from Loyola University in 2009 and her B.A. in Religion (Minor: Psychology) from The University of the South in 2003.

Stephen D. Wadsworth is an associate in the firm's regional commercial litigation practice group. He received his J.D. in 2009 from the University of Alabama, where he was the notes editor of the Alabama Law Review and a member of the John. A. Campbell Moot Court Board. Mr. Wadsworth received his B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University in 2003.

Katie A. Whitman is an associate in the firm's regional insurance and reinsurance practice group. She received her J.D./D.C.L., cum laude, in 2009 from Louisiana State University and her B.A. in Political Science from Louisiana State University in 2006.

BATON ROUGE:

Kelly Kromer Boudreaux is an associate in the firm's regional litigation practice group, and she will focus her practice in the area of environmental law. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable James J. Brady of the United States District Court, Middle District of Louisiana. Ms. Boudreaux received her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2008 from Louisiana State University, where she was on the board of editors, an articles editor (2007-2008) and a junior associate (2006-2007) for the Louisiana Law Review, as well as a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her M.A. in English Literature in 2005; her B.A. in English Literature, summa cum laude, in 2002; and her B.S. in Psychology, summa cum laude, in 2002; all from Louisiana State University.

Brandi B. Cole is an associate in the firm's regional labor and employment law group. She received her J.D./D.C.L., magna cum laude, in 2009 from Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Order of the Coif. Ms. Cole received her B.S. in Accounting, summa cum laude, from Louisiana Tech University in 2005.

W. Bradley Kline is an associate in the firm's regional business practice group. He received his J.D./D.C.L. in 2009 from Louisiana State University, where he was the senior editor (2008-2009) of the Louisiana Law Review and a member of Order of the Coif. Mr. Kline received his B.S. in Accounting from Louisiana State University in 2006.

JACKSON:

G. Todd Butler is an associate in the firm's regional labor and employment practice group. Before joining the firm, he was an adjunct professor at Mississippi College of Law, and he served as a clerk for the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Jackson and as a judicial extern to the Honorable Daniel P. Jordan at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Mr. Butler received his J.D., summa cum laude, in 2008 from Mississippi College, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Mississippi College Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. He received his B.S. in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from Mississippi State University in 2005 and his A.A. in Business Administration from East Central Community College in 2003.

TUPELO:

William M. Beasley, Jr. is an associate in the firm's regional commercial litigation practice group in the Tupelo office. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2009 from the University of Mississippi, where he was the associate notes and comments editor of the Mississippi Law Journal. Mr. Beasley received his M.A. in History from the University of Mississippi in 2009 and his B.A. in History, magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi in 2004.

TAMPA:

Marci E. Britt is an associate in the firm's regional insurance and reinsurance practice group. She previously served as an intern for the Honorable L. Clayton Roberts at the Florida First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee. Ms. Britt received her J.D. in 2009 from Vanderbilt University, where she was the managing editor of the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. She received her M.S. in Applied American Politics and Policy in 2003 and her B.S. in Political Science and Sociology, summa cum laude, in 2002, both from Florida State University.

Wesley W. Levins is an associate in the firm's regional insurance and reinsurance practice group. He received his J.D. in 2009 from Duke University and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Central Florida in 2006.

Jason A. Pill is an associate in the firm's regional labor and employment practice group. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2009 from the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif, the executive articles editor of the Journal of Law and Public Policy and a member of the Entertainment Law Review. Mr. Pill received his B.A. in Economics, cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2005.

Sarah B. Van Schoyck is an associate in the firm's regional insurance and reinsurance practice group. She previously served as an intern for the Honorable Patrick Cherry at the 54-A District Court in Lansing, Michigan. Ms. Van Schoyck received her J.D., cum laude, in 2009 from Stetson College of Law and her B.A. in Political Science & Organizational Communications, cum laude, from Western Michigan University in 2004.

Phelps Dunbar is a regional law firm of over 250 attorneys, with offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Tupelo, and Gulfport, Mississippi; Houston, Texas; Tampa, Florida; and London, England.

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