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Jones Walker LLP

Jones Walker LLP

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United States • M&A/corporate and commercial

4

Corporate governance

Jones Walker LLP assists clients with corporate governance, securities issues, executive compensation and ESG disclosures. The team is chaired by Alexandra Clark Layfield from Baton Rouge, she advises public and private companies on corporates governance, securities law and corporate law. Co-head Clinton Hansford Smith resides in New Orleans and is well-versed in capital markets, IPOs, shareholder issues and corporate governance. Also part of the New Orleans team, Kelly Simoneaux is the go-to for SEC compliance and disclosure requirements, while Victoria Bagot centers her work on securities disclosures, shared holder activism, corporate governance and ESG matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Victoria Bagot is an outstanding attorney. Extremely reliable and responsive. Highly recommended.’

  • 'Jones Walker’s corporate governance practice provides excellent, research-based advice and offers thoughtful pathways for clients to consider. Its understanding of our industry and the work we do is extensive. We view it as an important extension of our team. Its support strengthens our work and enhances our company’s credibility through sound guidance and careful reviews of our disclosures.'

  • 'The individuals I work with at Jones Walker have consistently demonstrated exceptional diligence, reliability, and professionalism. Victoria Bagot, Alexandra Clark Layfield, and Emily Gauthier operate with remarkable coordination and efficiency. Their ability to work seamlessly together by maintaining accuracy and responsiveness even during periods of heightened activity reflects both their individual strengths and their collective commitment to excellence.'

  • 'The team is made of very capable diverse disciplines of attorneys. They always did a good job of coordinating the effort holistically.'

  • 'Most of the attorneys that we work with are pragmatic. Curt Hearn on our deal side has been a good sounding board and listens to our perspective as he considers the legal impact. Similarly Alexandra Clark Leyfield and Kelly Simoneaux have been great partners in their field of expertise bringing valuable insights. Finally, Etienne Balart has provide sound legal advise as we navigate our the most efficient approach to our litigations.

  • 'The team brings a practical perspective to delivering its services. I believe the team is as good as any team from other larger firms.'

  • 'Alexandra Clark Layfield, Curt Hearn, Etienne Balart, Thomas Kimball, Ben Woodruff, Bret Beter, Remy Donnelly, Tyler Hays, Kelly Simoneaux - I have worked extensively with the above individuals and all perform at an extremely high level. I would use any of them over representation from another firm.'

Key clients

  • Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
  • On Semiconductor, Inc.
  • Pool Corp
  • Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.
  • Lumen Technologies, Inc.
  • ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc./ServisFirst Bank
  • Cal-Maine Foods Inc.
  • Globalstar, Inc.
  • AMERISAFE, Inc.
  • Red River Bancshares, Inc./Red River Bank
  • Brightview Holdings, Inc.
  • Parke Bancorp
  • Orion Group Holdings, Inc.
  • Norwood Financial Corp.
  • Stratus Properties Inc.
  • Investar Holding Corporation
  • MainStreet Bancshares, Inc.
  • Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.
  • Peoples Financial Corporation
  • Conrad Industries

Work highlights

Represented Southern States Bancshares, Inc. in connection with its $368.4m sale and merger with and into FB Financial Corporation.
Advised Amerisafe on corporate and board governance matters, including, during 2025, a full review and update of its bylaws and corporate and board governance documents.
Represented Globalstar, Inc.in implementing a 1:15 reverse stock split and the simultaneous transfer of the listing of its common stock from the NYSE American to the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Practice head

Alexandra Clark Layfield; Clinton Hansford Smith

Other key lawyers

Victoria Bagot; Emily Gauthier; Curt Hearn; Kelly Simoneaux; Etienne Balart; Thomas Kimball; Ben Woodruff; Bret Beter; Remy Donnelly; Tyler Hays