William E. Steffes

Member

William E. Steffes has been practicing complex bankruptcy law since 1978. Mr. Steffes received both a B.A. and a J.D. from Louisiana State University and graduated Order of the Coif. In addition, Mr. Steffes was a member of the Louisiana State University Law Review and Phi Kappa Phi Honor fraternity. Mr. Steffes is licensed to practice in the United States Supreme Court, all Louisiana and Texas state and federal courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In addition, Mr. Steffes has appeared pro hac vice in many bankruptcy courts, including: Mississippi, California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and New York in connection with various reorganization proceedings. In 2005, Mr. Steffes was inducted to the American College of Bankruptcy. In addition, he is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, and American Bankruptcy Institute. Mr. Steffes has held the highest attorney rating by Martindale-Hubbell, an AV rating, and has been included in Who’s Who in American Law and Best Lawyers in America for many years. Mr. Steffes was recognized as one of the Top 50 Lawyers by Louisiana Super Lawyers 2007 and as one of the preeminent specialists in the field of Bankruptcy Creditor/Debtor Rights.

Arthur A. Vingiello

Of Counsel

Arthur A. Vingiello was one of the founders of the firm in 2001, withdrew as a member in 2018, and now actively practices from the firm’s offices on an “Of Counsel” basis.

He graduated from Millsaps College, cum laude, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor fraternity. He then graduated from Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1978.

Mr. Vingiello has represented individual and corporate debtors-in-possession, creditors and creditors’ committees in numerous Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 reorganization cases and in cases under Chapters 7 and 13. In addition, he handled the only Chapter 9 bankruptcy case ever confirmed in Louisiana. He frequently lectures in the area of business bankruptcy law. From 2000-2018 he was a board certified business bankruptcy law specialist recognized by the American Board of Certification and the Louisiana Bar Association. In 2019, he voluntarily withdrew from that designation. He has been recognized as one of the preeminent specialists in the field of Business Bankruptcy by Louisiana Super Lawyers.

For over 20 years, Mr. Vingiello has held the highest attorney rating by Martindale-Hubbell, an AV rating. In addition, he is an active member of the pro-bono panel of the Baton Rouge Bar Association, accepting representation for indigent parties through that panel. He has served as an assistant editor of the Baton Rouge Bar Association monthly magazine, “The Baton Rouge Lawyer,” for many years. Mr. Vingiello is the author of “Fifth Circuit Symposium: Oil and Gas,” 33 Loyola Law Review 831 (1987). He was a member of the Panel of Practitioner Contributors to Black’s Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009).

Gary K. McKenzie

Of Counsel

Gary K. McKenzie was one of the founders of the firm in 2001, retired as an active member in 2018, and now practices from the firm’s offices on an “Of Counsel” basis.

Gary K. McKenzie has been practicing bankruptcy law, business litigation and commercial litigation since 1989. Mr. McKenzie received his B.A. from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and his J.D. from Louisiana State University. He is licensed to practice in the United States Supreme Court, all Louisiana state and federal courts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Mr. McKenzie is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the Baton Rouge Bar Association, and American Bankruptcy Institute. Mr. McKenzie has held the BV rating by Martindale-Hubbell for many years, indicating a very high legal ability and standard of ethics. Mr. McKenzie has long been recognized in Louisiana Super Lawyers for his bankruptcy law practice.

Barry W. Miller

of counsel

Barry W. Miller has been practicing Bankruptcy law and conducting Bankruptcy and Commercial Litigation since 1979. He has been “Of Counsel” to The Steffes Firm, LLC since 2018.

Mr. Miller received his B.S. from the University of Arizona in 1975 and J.D. from Louisiana State University in 1979. He is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, all Louisiana state and federal courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Mr. Miller is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and Baton Rouge Bar Association. He has held the BV rating by Martindale-Hubbell for many years, indicating a very high legal ability and standard of ethics. Mr. Miller brings to the law firm many years of experience in bankruptcy law and litigation

Noel Steffes Melancon

associate

Noel Steffes Melancon joined the firm in 2005 after receiving her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mrs. Melancon received a B.A. from Louisiana State Univeristy in 2002, with a concentration in Public Relations. She is licensed to practice in all Louisiana state courts. Commercial litigation, bankruptcy, and general corporate law are among Mrs. Melancon’s areas of practice.

Mrs. Melancon is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Barbara B. Parsons

Associate

Barbara B. Parsons received her J.D. and M.B.A. from Loyola University of New Orleans in 2002, after receiving her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University. Since joining the firm in 2008, her practice has focused primarily on bankruptcy law and commercial transactions and litigation. Her prior experience includes a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Richard D. Anderson.

Ms. Parsons is licensed to practice in all state and federal district courts of Louisiana, as well as in the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. She is a member of the Baton Rouge and Louisiana State Bar Associations; as well as the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation and Sunrise Rotary Club of Baton Rouge.