Please join the Baton Rouge-New Orleans Local Group of the Legal Marketing Association for a General Counsel panel discussion and networking happy hour. Hear directly from in-house counsel about key challenges in-house legal teams are facing, how law firms can add value and enhance the client service experience, and what firms can be doing to maintain and strengthen existing relationships with GCs and the in-house counsel teams.
Opportunity to Invite Your Attorneys:
You and your attorneys will have the opportunity to learn from a fantastic panel of in-house counsel. Encourage your attorneys to register for this event to gain insights on building trusted relationships with clients. One hour of CLE credit has been approved for this program.
LMA Body of Knowledge: Client Services and Business Development
Moderator:
Jennifer Bankston
Founder & Marketing Strategist, Bankston Marketing
Jenn Bankston heads Bankston Marketing where she serves as CMO to law firms and technology companies. Both a marketing and business development strategist, and an experienced communications professional, she leads all manner of initiatives – from growing new practice areas and initiatives to the delivery of issues-based and event-driven campaigns. A Big Four alumnae, Jenn has engineered change in law firms and companies both large and small, as well as managing crisis communications for CEOs. A storyteller, she creates distinctive and memorable narratives that advance clients’ goals. Jenn has had her own work, and her clients’ stories, published in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fast Company, The Chicago Tribune, People, Newsweek, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Law.com among others. She is a sought-after/frequent author and speaker on legal industry, business development, and marketing issues.
Panelists:
Melissa DeBarbieris
General Counsel, Ballard Brands
Melissa DeBarbieris serves General Counsel for Ballard Brands, a position she has held since January 2018. Ballard Brands is a family-owned, privately held hospitality company based in Mandeville, Louisiana. Ballard Brands’ portfolio includes franchising sales, and retail coffee sales and services, through PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans, and wholesale coffee sales through its sister company, New Orleans Roast. In 2018, Ballard Brands formed IdEATion Hospitality when it acquired the Philadelphia, PA-based Garces Restaurant Group, a restaurant and catering group founded by Iron Chef Jose Garces. Prior to joining Ballard Brands, Melissa served as outside general counsel for the company, as well as outside counsel for various other privately held companies. She also practiced general civil litigation with the New Orleans-based firm Bruno & Bruno.
Philip Dore
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, myLaurel
Philip Dore serves as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for myLaurel, a pioneering healthcare organization specializing in providing acute care in the comfort of a patient's home. As the head of Legal, Philip is responsible for managing the full panoply of legal issues facing an industry innovator like myLaurel, including regulatory compliance, business contracting, labor and employment, dispute resolution, corporate governance, and intellectual property. Philip is a trusted business advisor counted on to distill complex legal issues into practical advice that drives business success. Philip is a dynamic senior attorney with a wealth of experience. Philip began his legal career as a judicial law clerk for two federal judges. Philip brought those skills with him to private practice at one of the preeminent law firms in the region. Philip’s practice was diverse and spanned the full spectrum of legal issues, including wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, toxic tort, commercial liability, products liability, and labor and employment.
Amanda Messa
General Counsel, LEMOINE
Amanda is General Counsel for LEMOINE – a Louisiana-based ENR Top-400 Contractor since 2011 with a core practice in commercial construction as well as service lines in disaster services, building construction, program services, infrastructure, and fuel logistics. In her capacity as General Counsel for LEMOINE, Amanda serves as a member of the Executive Team and oversees all legal matters for the company including contract review and negotiation, claims resolution, employment matters and general corporate law. She advises Senior Management on issues of policy and procedure, supports the Project Management Teams, and works to mitigate company risk. Prior to joining LEMOINE in June 2021, Amanda was a partner with the law firm of Phelps Dunbar where she focused her practice in the area of construction litigation representing owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in a variety of construction-related disputes on both public and private projects across the state of Louisiana.
Location:
Hotel Fontenot
501 Tchoupitoulas St
New Orleans, LA 70130
Cost:
LMA Members: $30
Prospective LMA Members: $40
Drinks and light bites will be served.
