News Release
McGlinchey Announces New Office, Practice Group Leaders
Read Time: 3 minsMcGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the following new attorney leadership positions:
- José R. Cot is Office Managing Member of McGlinchey’s New Orleans office.
- Marcelle P. Mouledoux is Chair of the Enterprise Litigation and Investigations practice group.
“We believe in continually investing in and developing our leadership pipeline,” said Michael Ferachi, Managing Member. “We are so fortunate to have José and Marcelle take on these roles to continue guiding us #McGlincheyForward. Going into our 52nd year of operation, we are excited to see the firm grow during their tenure.”
José has litigated maritime personal injury and property claims, and insurance matters throughout the Gulf South for over 35 years. There is rarely an accident, damage claim, or natural disaster that José has not encountered. In his insurance coverage practice, José navigates breach of contract, bad faith and direct actions brought against insurers in first-party and third-party claims and handles coverage analysis and litigation. José practiced as Associate at McGlinchey in the 1980s and rejoined McGlinchey in 2024.
José is involved with numerous professional organizations, including the Lawyer Disciplinary Committee of the Eastern District of Louisiana, the Federal Bar Association’s New Orleans and Baton Rouge Chapters, the American Inn of Court, the Maritime Law Association and Global New Orleans. At his alma mater Tulane University School of Law, he is an Adjunct Faculty member and serves on the Tulane Admiralty Law Institute’s National Advisory Board. José is licensed in Louisiana and Texas, and has been recognized among the Best Lawyers in America in Admiralty and Maritime Law and Insurance Law.
José assumes leadership of the firm’s first and largest office, which houses more than 100 employees across every team and function of the firm. He takes the reins of New Orleans office leadership from Magdalen Blessey Bickford, who held the position for five years and steered the office through the Covid-19 pandemic, an office renovation consolidating to one floor, increased collaboration with the Baton Rouge office. Under Mag’s leadership, the office grew by 25 new attorneys and 22 staff and business professionals. Mag emphasized collaboration and culture and focused on growing an inclusive and collegial office environment during her tenure. As a result, the office has been named among New Orleans CityBusiness’s Best Places to Work for the past five years.
With more than 20 years of experience, Marcelle primarily represents vessel owners and marine terminal owners in collision, allision, property damage, and personal injury cases. Additionally, she provides coverage opinions and represents insurance companies and insureds in declaratory judgments and direct actions, and assists agents facing professional liability allegations. Marcelle joined McGlinchey in December 2022 with Kevin Frey and Morgan Kelley.
Licensed in Louisiana and Texas, Marcelle is recognized among the Best Lawyers in America in Admiralty and Maritime Law. She has served on the Board of Directors for the A.P. Tureaud American Inn of Court for many years, including currently serving as the Vice President. In her previous role as Achieving Excellence Coordinator, the Inn achieved platinum status for the first time in 2024. She is also a member of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, Maritime Law Association, Federal Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
McGlinchey’s Enterprise Litigation and Investigations practice has increased by 32 attorneys since 2021. The team spans a wide array of civil commercial litigation, representing clients in the transportation, manufacturing, construction, insurance, retail and restaurant, and commercial and residential real estate contexts. With roots in the Gulf South, the team also has particular depth in handling a wide variety of claims following natural disasters. McGlinchey’s Government and Internal Investigations team, a sub-section led by former U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown, assists clients in interacting with local, state, federal, and industrial regulatory bodies, as well as offering counsel for proactive and responsive internal matters.
McGlinchey updated its governance structure in 2020. In accordance with the #McGlincheyForward initiative and with Midsize Mansfield certification, which McGlinchey has achieved every year since 2023, McGlinchey has embedded transparency into its advancement processes through written job descriptions for and clearly defined pathways to leadership roles. With these updates, 60% of McGlinchey’s Policy Committee and 93% of its Office Managing Members are Gen X and Millennial leaders.