Born in Montclair, New Jersey (1964), J. P. graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Louisiana Tech University in 1987. He subsequently earned his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law in 1990. While at Tulane, J.P. was a member of the J. Braxton Craven, Jr. Memorial Moot Court Competition and a finalist in the Tulane Moot Court Junior Appellate Competition. Upon obtaining his law degree, J. P. moved to Monroe and began practicing with Hudson, Potts & Bernstein, L.L.P.

J. P.’s professional affiliations have included American Inns of Court, NELA Bar Foundation, Louisiana State Bar Association, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (Director), NAPSLO, Claims Litigation Management Alliance, Louisiana Claims Association, Baton Rouge Claims Association and the Defense Research Institute. He served as the District Representative for the Young Lawyers Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and as a member of the House of Delegates of the Louisiana State Bar Association. J.P. has also completed training at the Hastings School of Law Trial Academy in San Francisco, California, and the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy in Boulder, Colorado.

J. P. is licensed to practice in both State and Federal court in Louisiana. His practice has reached virtually every parish and appellate court in Louisiana. He has tried over one hundred cases to Judgment in both State and Federal courts throughout Louisiana and has in excess of forty reported appellate decisions.

J.P. is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell (their highest rating) and has spoken at conferences in various venues in the areas of insurance law and workers compensation.

J.P. is a member of the New Iona Presbyterian Church of West Monroe, is married to Karla Kaye Christiansen, and is the proud father of three children: Emily, Anna and Jakob.