Mr. Mercante, a partner in the firm, practices commercial litigation, focused in the areas of contract disputes, construction, professional liability and products liability. Mr. Mercante has substantial experience handling complex cases before federal and state courts, as well as through the use of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. Mr. Mercante joined Shaw Norton Degan, L.L.P. in December 2000, having previously practiced in the Commercial Litigation Section of the New Orleans office of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L.L.P. Mr. Mercante is a native of Hammond, Louisiana.

PRACTICE AREAS

• Commercial Litigation
  
• Construction
  
• Professional Liability
  
• Appellate Practice
  
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
  
• Products Liability
  
• Insurance Defense and Coverage

EDUCATION

• Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana (J.D., 1995, Cum Laude); Member, Loyola Law Review, 1993-1995;
  
• Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas (B.B.A. 1992)
  

MEMBERSHIPS

• Louisiana State Bar Association
  
  • Corporate and Business Law Section
    
  • Fidelity, Surety & Construction Law Section
    
• New Orleans Bar Association
  
• Federal Bar Association
  
• American Bar Association
  
  • Litigation Section
    
  • Forum on the Construction Industry
    
• Covington Bar Association
  
• Associated Builders and Contractors (Associate Member)
  

RECENT PUBLICATIONS/PAPERS

• "Defending Against Owner Claims," Construction Disputes: Representing the Contractor, Third Edition (Aspen Law and Business, 2001)
  
• "One Size Fits All" – Not! Customizing ADR for Your Dispute: Modifying Standard Form Arbitration Clauses and Procedures, American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, Annual Meeting, "Guess Who's Coming to Town? Stadiums, Arenas, Malls, and More: the Community Impact Project" April 26-27, 2001 – New Orleans, LA
  

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Louisiana