National insurance defense firm Tyson & Mendes has announced the opening of an office in New Orleans, signaling its entry into Louisiana with its ongoing commitment to stopping nuclear verdicts.
“New Orleans has long been recognized as a jurisdiction prone to delivering nuclear verdicts and posing immense risk to corporate defendants,” Founding Partner Robert Tyson said in a press release about the opening of the New Orleans office. “Our clients face unique risks here, and opening this office ensures we are strategically positioned to deliver the same exceptional representation they expect from Tyson & Mendes, even in the most difficult venues.”
Managing Partner Lara DiCristina will lead the New Orleans office.
“The legal environment in Louisiana is unique, and demands a tailored, proactive approach to defense strategy,” DiCristina said. “I am excited to bring Tyson & Mendes’ proven method to the region, helping clients navigate these challenges and defend against nuclear verdicts.”
The firm calls DiChristina “a distinguished trial attorney with a stellar record in high-exposure litigation.” It also says she also is known for her strategic approach, courtroom excelling and expertise in insurance defense.
“DiCristina brings deep expertise in complex insurance defense matters and an intimate familiarity with the nuances of practice in Louisiana, making her the ideal leader for the firm’s expansion into the state,” the firm said in the press release.
DiCristina has been nationally recognized in “The Legal 500 United States” for Transport: Shipping – Litigation and Regulation. Her work has earned her a spot in Best Lawyers since 2024, highlighting her peer-recognized legal abilities in her field. She focuses her practice on admiralty and maritime law, commercial litigation, construction law, energy and environmental law, insurance coverage and defense, and mass tort and class action cases.
Louisiana is known for presenting challenges for insurance defense practitioners, as the state is notorious for its complex legal landscape and plaintiff-friendly courts. The firm says that makes the need for a strong defense counsel even greater for insurance companies and corporations even more imperative.
The firm recently has opened other offices in other high-risk jurisdictions across the country. It says it is one of the fastest growing civil defense firms in the country, now serving 23 states.
The firm was founded in 2002 by Tyson and Patrick Mendes, and it boasts one of the fastest and clearest paths to partnership for its attorneys of any mid-sized law firm in the United States.