PAUL M. LAVELLE is a shareholder with Abbott, Simses & Kuchler. Mr. Lavelle graduated from the University of Scranton with a B.S. degree in 1978. He attended Loyola University School of Law earning a J.D. degree in 1981. While attending Loyola, he was a Member of the Loyola Law Review and the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Constitutional Law and the American Jurisprudence Award in Corporations. He also successfully completed the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy in 1986.

Mr. Lavelle practices and has extensive trial experience in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Products Liability, Construction, Environmental Law and General Civil Litigation. He is licensed to practice in all Louisiana State and Federal Courts and has handled cases in a number of other jurisdictions on a Pro Hac Vice basis. Mr. Lavelle is also responsible for the day-to-day case management of a national commercial litigation docket.

In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Lavelle has been active in the Defense Bar. He currently is a member of the Board of Directors of the Defense Research Institute (DRI). He has been a long time active member of DRI's product liability committee with involvement in its specialized litigation groups in the areas of Construction Equipment, Consumer Products, Juvenile Products and Toxic Torts. Additionally, he is a past chair of DRI's Technology Committee as well as its Electronic Discovery Task Force. Mr. Lavelle is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. He has been part of the CLE faculty of both organizations several times lecturing in the areas of Product Liability, Technology, Insurance Coverage, Electronic Discovery and General Liability. He was a member of the faculty of the Joint International Defense Conference Sponsored by DRI, ADTA, FDCC & IADC in Barcelona, Spain in May 2004 where he spoke on privacy issues related to electronic discovery.

Locally, Mr. Lavelle is a member of the Board and Past President of the Jefferson Bar Association, a bar association whose members practice before the courts in the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson Parish. He is also involved in several community organizations.