(Main Office)

The law firm of Ungarino & Eckert was co-founded in 1994 by Matthew Ungarino and Bill Eckert based upon a shared commitment to providing an exceptional level of client service. Since that time, the firm has steadily grown from a single office in the Greater New Orleans Area to six offices strategically located throughout Louisiana and Mississippi through which we are able to efficiently and effectively represent our diverse range of clients. Through our continued commitment to providing exceptional client service, we expect this steady growth pattern to continue into the future.

Ungarino & Eckert is a full-service civil defense firm. The firm has established a reputation for effective advocacy with expertise in the following areas: auto/transportation, casualty litigation, commercial litigation, complex litigation, construction defect/construction litigation, contractual/transactional law, corporate law, department of insurance complaints, employment law, environmental/toxic tort, extra-contractual claims, general liability, government relations, insurance defense/coverage, maritime/admiralty, medical malpractice, product liability, professional liability, premises liability, property claims, sexual misconduct and Worker's Compensation.

Statement of Practice

Auto/Transportation, Casualty Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Complex Litigation, Construction Defect/Construction Litigation, Contractual/Transactional Law, Corporate Law, Department Of Insurance Complaints, Employment Law, Environmental/Toxic Tort, Extra-Contractual Claims, General Liability, Government Relations, Insurance Defense/Coverage, Maritime/Admiralty, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability, Professional Liability, Premises Liability, Property Claims, Sexual Misconduct and Worker's Compensation.

Clients

AIG
Albertson's
American Family Ins. Co.
Argonaut Specialty
Assurant Group
AT&T
Bankers Insurance
Burlington Ins. Co.
Checkers
Church Mutual
CNA
ConAgra Foods
Cox Communications
Crum & Forster
Dillard's
Dollar General
Dollar Tree
Dollar Thrifty
Esurance
Everest
FARA Insurance Services
Federated Electric
First Bank & Trust
Gallagher Bassett
Genuine Parts
Guide One Ins. Co.
Hanover
Health Care Indemnity, Inc. (HCA)
J.C. Penney
Kroger
Lexington Insurance Co.
Nationwide
National Indemnity
Nautilus Insurance Co.
Republic Western
Rite Aid Corp.
RLI Insurance Co.
Safeco
Scottsdale, Inc.
Sedgwick CMS
Specialty Risk Services
Stein Mart
SUA Insurance
Swiss Re
Wellington Specialty
Western Heritage Ins. Co. and York.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates

Address

Lakeway Two
3850 N. Causeway Boulevard, Suite 1280
Metairie, LA 70002, (Jefferson Parish)

Phone

Phone: 504-836-7565
Fax: 504-836-7566

Website

http://www.ungarino-eckert.com

Office Hours

Monday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Firm/Affiliate Offices

SENIOR PARTNERS

Matthew J. Ungarino (Senior Partner) born New York, N.Y., 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, New York; 1985, Louisiana; U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Tulane University (B.S.M., 1981); Loyola University (M.B.A., 1984; J.D., 1984). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance; Insurance Defense; Premises Liability; Class Actions; Toxic Torts; Professional Liability; Automobile Insurance Defense; Transportation Liability; Directors and Officers Liability; Extra Contractual Insurance Claims; Workers Compensation.Email: Matthew J. Ungarino

William H. Eckert (Senior Partner) born Tampa, Florida, 1961; admitted to bar, 1988, Louisiana; 2007, Mississippi. Education: Tulane University (B.A., 1983); Loyola University (J.D., 1987). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association. (Also at Lafayette Office). Practice Areas: Premises Liability; Arson and Insurance Fraud; Admiralty and Maritime Law; Insurance Defense; Professional Liability; Workers Compensation.Email: William H. Eckert

Wayne R. Maldonado (Senior Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1963; admitted to bar, 1988, Louisiana. Education: University of New Orleans (B.A., 1985); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1988). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Construction Litigation; Products Liability; Premises Liability; Trucking Liability; Professional Liability; Property Insurance; Transportation Liability; Medical Malpractice; General Liability.Email: Wayne R. Maldonado

Albert D. Giraud (Senior Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, January 3, 1963; admitted to bar, 1988, Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1985); Tulane University of Louisiana (J.D., 1988).Email: Albert D. Giraud

Emile A. Bagneris, III (Senior Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1967; admitted to bar, 1993, Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1990; J.D., 1993). Former Assistant District Attorney, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Member: Louisiana State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Casualty Insurance; Transportation Liability; Property Law; Products Liability; Insurance; Environmental Law; Toxic Torts; General Liability; Extra Contractual Insurance Claims; Commercial Litigation; Workers Compensation; Employment Law; Professional Liability; Medical Malpractice; Maritime Personal Injury.Email: Emile A. Bagneris, III

Pierre M. Legrand (Senior Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1961; admitted to bar, 1991, Louisiana. Education: University of New Orleans (B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1984); Loyola University (J.D., 1991). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Premises Liability; Automobile Liability; Trucking Liability; Professional Liability; Employment Law.Email: Pierre M. Legrand

Brian D. Smith (Senior Partner) born Fayetteville, Arkansas, October 29, 1953; admitted to bar, 1978, Louisiana; 1993, Texas. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1975; J.D., 1977). Member: Shreveport and Louisiana State Bar Associations; Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Products Liability; Premises Liability; Workers Compensation; Medical Malpractice.Email: Brian D. Smith

Stephen M. Gelé (Senior Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, April 16, 1968; admitted to bar, 1993, Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.A., 1990; J.D., 1993). Certified Property Casualty Underwriter. Member: New Orleans, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana State and Federal Bar Associations; New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel; Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Construction Defects; Environmental Law; Transportation; Maritime Personal Injury; Consumer Law; Casualty Insurance.Email: Stephen M. Gelé

Michael J. Tarleton (Senior Partner) born July 1, 1960; admitted to bar, 1991, Louisiana; 2005, Mississippi. Education: University of Southern Mississippi (B.S., 1982); Louisiana State University (J.D. 1991). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association; The Mississippi Bar. Practice Areas: Casualty Insurance; Automobile Insurance; Premises Liability; Workers Compensation; Commercial Litigation; Timber and Logging Law; Federal Practice.Email: Michael J. Tarleton

PARTNERS

Bruce D. Beach (Partner) born El Paso, Texas, May 14, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, Texas; 1998, Louisiana. Education: Baylor University (B.A., 1987; J.D., 1990). (Also at Lafayette Office).Email: Bruce D. Beach

David P. Sullivan (Partner) born Orlando, Florida, 1968; admitted to bar, 1995, Mississippi. (Not admitted in Louisiana). Education: Millsaps College (B.A., cum laude, 1990); University of Mississippi (J.D., 1994). Municipal Prosecutor, City of Gulfport, 2002. Member: Harrison County Bar Association; The Mississippi Bar; Mississippi Prosecutors Association; Gulf Coast Risk Managers Association. Practice Areas: Workers Compensation; Insurance Defense; Automobile Liability; Premises Liability; Products Liability.Email: David P. Sullivan

Robin L. Jones (Partner) born Memphis, Tennessee, August 24, 1972; admitted to bar, 1998, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1994); Texas A & M University (J.D., 1998). (Also at Lafayette Office). Practice Areas: Municipal Law; Civil Rights; Litigation.Email: Robin L. Jones

Alan C. Goodman (Partner) born Memphis, Tennessee, September 6, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, Louisiana; 1993, Mississippi. Education: University of Mississippi (B.S., 1988; J.D., 1992). (Also at Ridgeland, Mississippi Office). Practice Areas: Litigation; Workers Compensation; Professional Liability.Email: Alan C. Goodman

David I. Bordelon (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, April 15, 1960; admitted to bar, 1985, Louisiana. Education: University of New Orleans (B.A., 1982); Tulane University (J.D., 1985). Practice Areas: Insurance; Workers Compensation; Professional Liability.Email: David I. Bordelon

Imelda T. Frugé (Partner) born McAllen, Texas, May 23, 1963; admitted to bar, 1997, Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Education: Pan American University (A.D.N., 1987); Loyola University (B.S.N., 1993); Louisiana State University (J.D., 1997). (Also at Baton Rouge Office). Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice Defense; Professional Liability.Email: Imelda T. Frugé

James M. Benson (Partner) born Metairie, Louisiana, 1969; admitted to bar, 1995, Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.B.A., 1991; J.D., 1995). Member: Louisiana State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Premises Liability; Products Liability; Transportation; Toxic Torts; Construction Defects; Casualty Insurance.Email: James M. Benson

Donald R. Klotz, Jr. (Partner) born New Orleans, Louisiana, August 4, 1964; admitted to bar, 1990, Louisiana and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana; 1996, U.S. District Court, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.B.A., 1986; J.D., 1990). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense.Email: Donald R. Klotz, Jr.

Jason Michael Nash (Partner) born Janesville, Wisconsin, March 26, 1974; admitted to bar, 2000, Louisiana. Education: Louisiana State University (B.A., 1996; J.D., 2000). (Also at Shreveport Office). Practice Areas: Transportation Liability; Premises Liability; Insurance Coverage; Subrogation; Collections; Appellate Practice; Workers Compensation; Professional Liability.Email: Jason Michael Nash

Helen Babin (Partner) born Spirit Lake, Iowa, June 7, 1950; admitted to bar, 1994, Louisiana. Education: Tulane University (B.A., 1982; J.D., 1993; Environmental Law Certificate, 1993). Member: Louisiana State and American Bar Associations; Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association; Louisiana Bar Foundation. Practice Areas: Professional Liability.Email: Helen Babin

ASSOCIATES

Kelly O. Thibeaux (Associate) born New Orleans, Louisiana, September 20, 1965; admitted to bar, 1996, Louisiana; 2003, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Louisiana. Education: Loyola University (B.L.S., 1990; J.D., 1995). Practice Areas: Toxic Torts; Professional Liability.Email: Kelly O. Thibeaux

Daniel G. Collarini (Associate) born Metairie, Louisiana, August 26, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, Louisiana. Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (S.B., 2000); Tulane University (J.D., 2004). Practice Areas: Professional Liability.Email: Daniel G. Collarini

SPECIAL COUNSEL

Rhonda J. Thomas, R.N. (Special Counsel) born Greenville, Mississippi, March 7, 1950; admitted to bar, 1998, Louisiana; 2008, Mississippi. Education: Louisiana State University (A.S.N., 1978); University of Southern Mississippi (B.S., 1991); Loyola University (J.D., 1998). Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice; Insurance Defense; Premises Liability; Casualty Insurance; Professional Liability.Email: Rhonda J. Thomas, R.N.

Arthur E. Garitty (Special Counsel) born New Orleans, Louisiana, 1966; admitted to bar, 1992, Louisiana. Education: University of New Orleans (B.S., Accounting, 1988; B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1995); Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1991; M.B.A., 1991).Email: Arthur E. Garitty