Port Allen, LA

Tony Clayton

Tony Clayton is a founding partner at Clayton, Frugé & Ward, with over 35 years of experience advocating for people in Louisiana. He has secured over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements, including some of the most famous cases in Louisiana history, both as a Special Prosecutor and a private personal injury attorney. He graduated from Southern University’s Law Center in 1991 and has served as a District Court Judge and Special Prosecutor for East Baton Rouge Parish. Tony is also known for his successful prosecution of serial killers Derrick Todd Lee and Sean Gillis. He is committed to preserving Louisiana's wetlands and represents the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries in cases against pipeline companies. He was recognized in the 2024 Louisiana Super Lawyers® Magazine and has been a Super Lawyer since 2018.

Michael Frugé

Michael Frugé is a managing partner at Clayton, Frugé & Ward, specializing in serious personal injury litigation, particularly cases involving 18-wheelers, wrongful death, and plant explosions. He has achieved record-setting verdicts and, along with his partners, has secured over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, including the largest jury verdict in Louisiana for a single injured plaintiff. He was recognized in the 2017 National Verdict Reporter for having one of the top 100 jury verdicts in the nation. Michael previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for over twelve years and is the current President of the 18th Judicial District Court Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana State and Federal Courts. He graduated from Louisiana State University and received his J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

D'Ann Penner

D'Ann Penner, also known as Dee Penner, is an attorney at Clayton, Frugé & Ward, specializing in civil litigation matters for companies, state agencies, and landowners in Louisiana. She focuses on land-loss cases for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and represents clients in unfair trade practice claims, pipeline trespass cases, property damage, and toxic torts. Dee has a diverse background as an academician and historian, holding a Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and two LL.M. degrees from Tulane University and Baylor Law School, in addition to her J.D. from Loyola New Orleans in 2012. She has been recognized as a Louisiana Super Lawyers Rising Star (2018-2023), a Super Lawyer (2025), and named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers and Top 10 Business Tort Trial Lawyers lists.

Michael Hendry

Michael Hendry is an attorney at Clayton, Frugé & Ward, focusing on aggressively representing plaintiffs in automobile, trucking, plant explosion, and catastrophic personal injury cases. A Louisiana native, he graduated from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge and earned his bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University, where he was an NCAA Division I All-American in Track and Field. He received his Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center in 2014 and was admitted to the Louisiana State Bar the same year. Michael clerked at Clayton, Frugé & Ward during law school and joined the firm as a lawyer after graduation.

Chandler Agee

Chandler Agee is an attorney at Clayton, Frugé & Ward, dedicated to guiding clients through difficult moments. Raised in Kennett, Missouri, he values hard work, integrity, and treating people right. Chandler earned his undergraduate degree from Lincoln University of Missouri in 2018, where he co-founded 'Step into Law' to mentor aspiring lawyers. He received his J.D. magna cum laude from Southern University Law Center, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Southern University Law Review and earning multiple CALI Awards. His prior experience defending petrochemical companies in toxic tort litigation provides him with unique insights he now uses to strengthen cases for his clients.

Rick Ward

Rick Ward is an attorney at Clayton, Frugé & Ward and a former Louisiana State Senator. He was the youngest serving member of the Louisiana State Senate, elected in 2011 at age 29, and served until 2022. During his legislative career, he championed transparency in state spending with the 'Louisiana Checkbook' initiative and authored legislation to ensure free speech rights on college campuses. He also successfully addressed Baton Rouge's traffic issues by authoring legislation for a new Mississippi River bridge and southern bypass. Rick chaired the Senate Judiciary A Committee and was a member of the Insurance and Natural Resource committees. He is a graduate of Bethany Christian School, LSU, and Southern University Law Center.

Burgundy Hammond

Burgundy Hammond is an attorney at Clayton, Frugé & Ward, passionately representing clients severely injured in motor vehicle accidents. A native of Alexandria, Louisiana, she is a proud graduate of Grambling State University and Southern University Law Center. Burgundy is also a bestselling author of 'The HBCU Experience Grambling State University Edition'. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Baton Rouge Bar Association, and the Louisiana State Bar Association, and serves as the West Baton Rouge Bar Association Treasurer. In 2020, she established her family law practice.