Linda Perez Clark Named Managing Partner; Michael deBarros, Zoe Vermeulen and Devin Ricci Elected to the Partnership

Kean Miller is pleased to announce that Linda Perez Clark has been named Managing Partner of the 156-attorney law firm. Ms. Clark is the first woman to lead the firm in its 35-year history. Effective January 1, 2019, Ms. Clark will oversee all business, financial, and operational aspects of the firm’s offices in Louisiana and Texas. She succeeds Blane Clark, Jr. (no relation) who served as the firm’s Managing Partner from 2013 to 2018. “Blane has truly positioned the firm for long-term success. Under his leadership, we have experienced significant growth and adopted smart business practices for the good of our firm and clients. I look forward to continuing that mission,” said Linda Perez Clark.

Ms. Clark joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2000 and is currently a partner in the Baton Rouge office. She earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Louisiana Tech University in 1988, and her J.D., cum laude, in 1991 from Tulane University Law School. She has been instrumental in diversity and inclusion initiatives at Kean Miller, founding the Kean Miller Connection program which focuses on undergraduate minorities who are interested in entering law school. Ms. Clark will maintain her active business, corporate, M&A, and transactional practice while serving as the firm’s chief executive. “Kean Miller is extremely fortunate to have a person of Linda’s caliber as its new Managing Partner,” said G. Blane Clark, Jr., who steps down from the role effective December 31, 2018. “Her knowledge of our clients and business acumen will help lead Kean Miller into the future,” added Clark.

Kean Miller is also pleased to announce that Michael J. deBarros, Zoe W. Vermeulen and R. Devin Ricci have been elected to the partnership effective January 1, 2019.


About Michael J. deBarros
Michael deBarros is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices with the insurance coverage and recovery and business disputes and litigation teams. Prior to joining the firm, Michael clerked for Judge Ralph E. Tyson at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana and Justice Nkabinde at South Africa’s highest Court. Michael also externed for Justice John J. Weimer at the Louisiana Supreme Court. Michael earned his J.D., cum laude, from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2009. He earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University in 2005. Michael is a long-time member of the board of directors of the Big Buddy program.

About Zoe W. Vermeulen
Zoe Vermeulen is a partner in the New Orleans office of Kean Miller and practices with the admiralty and maritime and labor and employment teams. Zoe earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Tulane University Law School in 2012, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and Moot Court Board. She earned her B.A. from Louisiana State University in 2008. Zoe serves as a committee member for the New Orleans American Cancer Society Belles and Beaus Ball.

About R. Devin Ricci
Devin Ricci is a partner and registered patent attorney in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller and practices primarily with the intellectual property team, but also practices with the pipeline and expropriations, commercial litigation and transaction teams. Devin earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2012. He also earned an additional diploma in Civil Law while attending the Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Devin earned his B.S. from Louisiana State University in 2009. Devin serves as founding director and secretary of the Louisiana Pet Pantry.

About Kean Miller
With more than 150 lawyers, Kean Miller serves the legal needs of Louisiana and Texas businesses and Fortune 500 companies. The firm maintains offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Houston and The Woodlands. The firm serves clients in numerous industries including energy, petrochemical and chemical, technology and telecommunications, transportation, media and advertising, financial services, insurance, gaming, government and education, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, retail, construction and leasing. The firm combines the talent and expertise of its lawyers into multi-disciplinary client and industry teams. These teams are comprised of seasoned legal professionals from a variety of disciplines who are equipped to identify legal and business needs and to develop superior service strategies that provide unmatched support to the client.

For more information, contact Denise Duszynski-Trahan at 225.389.3753 or denise.duszynski@keanmiller.com