The Firm: The New Orleans office of this international firm is recognized for its expertise in employee benefits and ERISA litigation, in addition to its general labor and employment work. In one notable matter, the firm represented an entrepreneur in a putative class action that claimed an employee stock ownership plan had overpaid by $500 million in the purchase of a hotel owned by his company; the case was settled before trial for $15 million. The group counts Foot Locker, Honeywell International, Fidelity Management Trusts, Met Life Insurance and Chevron among its distinguished client base.

Sources Say: "They are very creative and strategic-minded, always thinking of alternative ways to approach litigation in order to get the best results."

Key Individuals: Howard Shapiro is a nationally renowned employee benefits attorney described as "the ERISA guru and Mr New Orleans." His ERISA litigation practice includes defending clients in cases related to 401(k) matters and fiduciary misrepresentation claims. Sources say: "Everyone in the ERISA arena knows Howard Shapiro – just having his name on a pleading means a ton."

Clients highly praise Robert Rachal's abilities as an ERISA litigator, with one interviewee commenting: "He has an encyclopedic knowledge of ERISA litigation and he is very good at the economics of a case." Rachal's practice also covers employment and traditional labor matters. In a recent highlight, he represented Cajun Sugar Co-Operative in grievance and collective bargaining negotiations.