Team
Salvador I. Bivalacqua
Sal Bivalacqua is a founder of the firm and has been a partner since 2005. In 2025, he became the managing partner of Bivalacqua, Gelé + Ellis. Outside the courtroom, Sal enjoys a full life with his wife, Eileen, and their dogs, Ronin and Oliver, in New Orleans. He is an avid traveler who has explored destinations as far as Australia and New Zealand, where he and Eileen were married in 2014. Sal has a passion for cars—especially Porsche 911s—and a love of building intricate model kits. He values time outdoors, whether diving the Great Barrier Reef or planning adventures closer to home, and he balances his professional drive with a deep appreciation for family, creativity, and exploration.
Stephen M. Gelé
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Stephen M. Gelé is committed to the culture and institutions of Southeast Louisiana. He grew up in the Gelé family’s generational hunting and fishing store, earned a degree in Political Science from Loyola University, and then a law degree at Loyola School of Law.
Robert J. Ellis
Bob Ellis is the principal attorney for Bivalacqua, Gelé + Ellis in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he serves various businesses as General Counsel and provides in-house counsel to client companies on corporate law, government compliance, and business development. As an expert litigator, he fights to earn client victories. His successful litigation garnered multi-million-dollar awards and favorable settlements for clients in state and federal court.
Gabrielle A. Wilson
Gabrielle Wilson is a litigation-focused attorney with extensive experience defending public entities and resolving complex disputes. Known for her practical judgment and steady advocacy, she brings clarity and focus to every case – prioritizing communication, efficiency, and results for her clients.
Medlock M. Harbison
If you asked anyone who’s worked alongside Medlock Harbison, they’d tell you he’s at his best in the middle of a challenge – whether it’s untangling a complex business dispute or standing in front of a jury. Calm under pressure and exceptionally thorough, Medlock has built a reputation as a steady, strategic advocate for his clients in civil litigation and trial practice.
Nicolas Kase
Born in Santiago, Chile, Nick Kase has spent most of the last thirty years in New Orleans.
Nick received a BA in History from Tulane University, a Master of Mass Communication in Journalism degree from the University of Georgia, and Juris Doctor and Diploma in Comparative Law degrees from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University, where he received the CALI award for the Punishment and Post-Conviction Procedure seminar and completed the Immigration clinic.
Eileen S. Bivalacqua
Eileen is the Office Manager at Bivalacqua, Gelé + Ellis, ensuring that daily operations run smoothly and efficiently. Since joining the firm in 2011, her keen business acumen and administrative expertise quickly led her into a leadership role overseeing a broad range of operational functions.
Jennifer E. Drown
Jennifer Drown is an experienced J.D. Paralegal at Bivalacqua Gelé + Ellis. She began her legal career in 2003 after earning her Juris Doctorate magna cum laude from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Jen’s legal practice focused on intellectual property and commercial litigation in Florida federal and state courts, in addition to pro hac vice admissions in California and New York. In late 2011, Jen paused her practice of law to move near her aging father and to start a family, returning to the legal field as a paralegal in 2023.
Jodi Lynn de'Melo
Jodi DeMelo plays an integral role in the firm’s political and non-profit compliance division, where she oversees the creation, management, and regulatory guidance of political action committees, 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) organizations, and other advocacy-based entities. Her work bridges law, strategy, and public service – helping clients operate confidently within the complex intersection of politics, fundraising, and compliance.
