Michael Wawrzycki’s Team

Michael Wawrzycki

Team Lead Attorney

 

Michael Wawrzycki grew up in the Great Lakes region of New York, obtaining both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Binghamton University, before moving to New Orleans in 2003 to attend Tulane University Law School.  Since graduating in 2006, Mr. Wawrzycki has worked in a wide variety of legal fields, practicing at a large plaintiffs’ personal injury firm, small- to medium-sized defense firms, and as corporate in-house counsel.  The bulk of his experience, however, is in admiralty litigation, including personal injury cases under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), the Defense Base Act (DBA), and the Jones Act.  In November 2020, Mr. Wawrzycki joined Mainstay Law LLC, where he focuses his practice on representing injured workers under the LHWCA and the DBA.

Having worked for both plaintiffs and defendants; individuals, small companies, and large insurers; Mr. Wawrzycki has an advanced understanding of what admiralty claimants need to prove in court, how defense attorneys will go about trying to defeat those claims, and why courts rule as they do on pertinent legal issues.  This provides Mr. Wawrzycki with the capacity to help you with your workplace injury claim and preserve your rights to medical and indemnity benefits under the LHWCA and DBA.  Mr. Wawrzycki is ready to fight for you, no matter where you reside, no matter your circumstance.

Studies:

  • Bachelor’s Degree from Binghamton University in 1998
  • Master’s Degree from Binghamton University in 2001
  • Juris Doctorate from Tulane University in 2006

Admitted to practice in the following:

  • All state courts in the state of Louisiana;
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Louisiana
  • United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana
  • United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional memberships:

  • Louisiana Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • Department of Labor Joint Bar Association
  • Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group

Shelbi Gatlin

Associate Attorney

 

Shelbi Gatlin was born and raised just outside of Dallas, Texas. Prior to law school, she served in various positions as a social worker in the fields of inpatient psychiatric care, early education, elderly care, criminal justice, and public health. After taking a hand in various legislative-reform initiatives, law school became her obvious next step. While pursuing her degree, Shelbi externed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and clerked at a local medical-legal partnership. She also assisted on pro bono cases involving reproductive justice matters and prisoners’ rights. Upon graduation, Shelbi continued working in the public interest, advocating for the legal rights of people with disabilities in all parts of Louisiana. From 2019-2021 she clerked for the Honorable Bernadette D’Souza with the Orleans Parish Civil District Court. She then joined the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, where she learned from distinguished leaders of climate-impacted Gulf Coast communities, and practiced in the areas of environmental law, administrative law, and civil rights protection.

In August 2022, Shelbi joined Mainstay Law, where her unique professional background, especially as it relates to mental health and psychiatric conditions, enhances her abilities to problem-solve, communicate effectively, and best advocate for our clients.

Studies:

  • Bachelor of Science in Social Work, University of Tennessee
  • Master of Social Work, Tulane University
  • Juris Doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

Admitted to Practice in the following:

  • All state courts in the state of Louisiana

Professional Memberships

  • Louisiana Bar Association
  • Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG)

Mahin Ansari

Associate Attorney

Mahin Ansari is from Houston, Texas. Prior to joining Mainstay Law, Mahin worked as an immigration attorney in the non-profit sector. As a recipient of the Association of Women Attorneys Foundation Fellowship, she represented survivors of gender-based violence at the Tahirih Justice Center. At Catholic Charities of Galveston-Houston, Mahin served as the Lead Attorney-Project Coordinator for the Humanitarian Assistance Program, where she represented Afghan asylum seekers and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants. She has successfully filed and received approvals for Asylum, SIV, and other forms of immigration relief. As an attorney and licensed social worker, Mahin uses her interdisciplinary background and a trauma-informed approach when representing her clients. In February 2024, Mahin joined Mainstay Law, where she has shifted her focus to representing injured workers under the Defense Base Act.

Studies:

  • Bachelor of American Sign Language Interpreting and History, University of Houston
  • Master of Social Work, University of Houston
  • Juris Doctorate from University of Houston

Admitted to Practice in the following:

  • All state courts in the state of Texas
  • All state courts in the state of Minnesota

Professional Memberships

  • Texas Bar Association

Bryan Scruggs

Paralegal

 

Bryan Scruggs is a paralegal with Mainstay Law. Mr. Scruggs was born in Petaluma, California, but grew up in Mississippi, where he attended Mississippi School of the Arts. He went on to receive a full scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi, and eventually, moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where he now resides. Mr. Scruggs was the General Manager of one of the most reputable establishments in the French Quarter until 2021, at which point he shifted career paths and joined the team of Mainstay Law as a Legal Assistant. Although he had no prior experience in litigation, through hard work and quick study, Mr. Scruggs was promoted to Paralegal in March of 2022.

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