Chair Melanie Mabile Mulcahy  Melanie Mabile Mulcahy is an associate with The Derbes Law Firm, L.L.C., in Metairie. She received a BA degree in 1994 from Tulane University’s Newcomb College and her JD degree in 1999 from Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. She was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 2000. She served as the Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) Young Lawyers Section chair-elect in 2008-09 and secretary in 2007-08. She also has served as a LSBA young lawyer delegate to the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates, as the LSBA Young Lawyers Section delegate to the ABA Young Lawyers Division, and as a member of the Louisiana State Law Institute. Melanie is a member of the American Bar Association and Jefferson Bar Association. She received the LSBA President’s Award in 2003, the Young Lawyers Section’s Bat P. Sullivan Chair’s Award in 2002 and 2007, and the ABA YLD Star of the Quarter Award in February 2003. She and her husband, Randy, have been married for eight years and are the parents of two children. 3027 Ridgelake Dr. Metairie LA 70002  Phone: (504)837-1230  Fax: (504)832-0326

Chair-Elect Alainna R. Mire  Alainna R. Mire is assistant attorney for the city of Alexandria. She received a BA degree in political science in 2000 from Louisiana State University and her JD/BCL degree in 2004 from LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. She was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 2004. Alainna served as the Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) Young Lawyers Section secretary in 2008-09 and District 6 representative. She also serves as the 2009-2010 Chair of the Alexandria Young Lawyers Council and is a Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow. She is a member of the Alexandria Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Council, the American Bar Association and the Crossroads American Inn of Court of Alexandria/Pineville. She also serves as a member of the Central Louisiana Pro Bono Project board and as an attorney member of the city of Alexandria Human Relations Commission. P.O. Box 71 Alexandria LA 71309  Phone: (318)449-5046  Fax: (318)441-6085

Secretary Shayna L. Sonnier  Shayna L. Sonnier is an associate in the Lake Charles firm of Hunter & Blazier, A.P.L.C. She received a bachelor's degree in 2000 from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and her law degree in 2003 from Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University. She was admitted to practice in Texas in 2003 and in Louisiana in 2005. Shayna has served as District 4 representative on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section Council and was co-chair of the Wills for Heroes Committee. Shayna serves on the board of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and was the 2008-09 president of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. In her community, she serves as a board member of the Greater Lake Charles Rotary Club. 1807 Lake St. Lake Charles LA 70601  Phone: (337)436-1600  Fax: (337)439-2505

Immediate Past Chair Valerie Briggs Bargas  Valerie Briggs Bargas is a senior associate in the Baton Rouge firm of Seale, Smith, Zuber & Barnette. She received a BA degree, cum laude, in 1998 from Smith College and her JD degree in 2001 from Tulane Law School. She was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 2001. Valerie served as the Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) Young Lawyers Section chair in 2008-09, chair-elect in 2007-08, secretary in 2006-07 and District 5 representative in 2005-06. She serves on the LSBA’s Continuing Legal Education Committee (2004-present) and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel and the Baton Rouge Bar Association. She is also a Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow. In her community, she serves on the board of directors for the Capital Area CASA. Valerie and her husband, Gordon “Trey” Bargas III, have been married for four years and are the parents of two children. 8550 United Plaza Blvd. Ste. 200 Baton Rouge LA 70809  Phone: (225)924-1600  Fax: (225)924-6100

District One Representative Eve M. Sarco  1819 Barrymore St. Slidell LA 70461  Phone: (504)228-7159  Fax: (504)617-7779

District One Representative Justin M. Chopin  201 St. Charles Ave. 45th Floor New Orleans LA 70170  Phone: (504)582-1229  Fax: (504)582-1233

District Two Representative Allison L. Becknell  3445 North Causeway Blvd. Ste. 736 Metairie LA 70002  Phone: (504) 833-7325  Fax: (504) 833-1160

District Two Representative Brad J. Gegenheimer  238 Huey P. Long Ave. Gretna LA 70053  Phone: (504)368-7888  Fax: (504)368-7263

District Three Representative Maggie Trahan Simar  415 St. Martin St. St. Martinville LA 70582  Phone: (337)394-6133  Fax: (337)394-6166

District Four Representative Claude "T-Claude" Devall Jr.  1111 Ryan St. Lake Charles LA 70601  Phone: (337)433-2053  Fax: (337)433-2055

District Five Representative Kyle Ferachi  301 Main St. 14th Floor Baton Rouge LA 70825  Phone: (225)383-9000  Fax: (225)343-3076

District Five Representative Christopher K. Jones  701 Main St. Baton Rouge LA 70802-5527  Phone: (225)383-3796  Fax: (225)343-9612

District Six Representative Barbara Bell Melton  3709 Masonic Dr. Alexandria LA 71301  Phone: (318)442-9533  Fax: (318)442-9532

District Seven Representative Jefferson B. Joyce  200 Breard St. Monroe LA 71201  Phone: (318)325-3200  Fax: (318)325-3482

District Eight Representative Karelia R. Stewart  501 Texas St. Shreveport LA 71104  Phone: (318)226-6832 ext. 3044  Fax: (318)226-6878

At-Large Representative Franchesca L. Hamilton-Acker  1020 Surrey St. Lafayette LA 70502-4823  Phone: (337)237-4320  Fax: (337)237-8839

ABA YLD Representative Maurice Ruffin  701 Poydras St. Ste. 4500 New Orleans LA 70139  Phone: (504)585-0216  Fax: (504)566-0210

YLS Representative to the ABA House of Delegates Lawrence J. Centola  338 Lafayette St. New Orleans LA 70130  Phone: (504)581-9065  Fax: (504)581-7635