ATTORNEYS
Samuel R. Ducote
Trial Attorney & Managing Member
Sam is the founder and managing attorney of the Firm, where he is committed to delivering honest, compassionate, and determined legal representation to his clients.
Born and raised in Hackberry, Louisiana, Sam is the seventh of nine children and a proud product of rural Cameron Parish. From an early age, he learned the importance of perseverance and community through long days spent hunting, fishing, and shrimping. He is a first-generation college graduate and the first in his family to earn a law degree—milestones that continue to shape his deep sense of purpose and gratitude for the opportunity to serve others through the practice of law.
Sam earned both his Juris Doctor and Diploma in Civil Law from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2022, along with a Graduate Certificate in Energy Law & Policy. He completed his undergraduate studies at McNeese State University in 2018. Before attending law school, Sam served as a Deputy Clerk of Court for the 14th Judicial District Court in Calcasieu Parish.
During law school, Sam served as a tutor and research assistant for Professor Lecia Vicente and also gained hands-on experience as a summer associate at two respected Louisiana law firms: Stockwell, Sievert, Viccellio, Clements & Shaddock, L.L.P., and Keogh, Cox & Wilson, Ltd.
Since completing Law School, Sam’s professional experience includes serving as a Staff Attorney at the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal and as an Associate Attorney at both Scofield, Gerard, Pohorelsky, Gallaugher & Landry, LLC and O’Dowd Law Firm, LLC—where he handled complex litigation, family law, succession disputes, and appellate matters before founding his own firm.
Sam lives in Lake Charles with his wife, Kayleigh Kohnke Ducote, an art teacher at St. Margaret's Catholic School. Sam and Kayleigh have two beloved pups—Beau, a black lab, and Momma, a border collie.
Robert D. Guidry
Trial Attorney & Member
Robert was born in Eunice and lived in Louisiana for most of his life. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Robert graduated magna cum laude from LSU Law School. While in law school, he was elected to the Order of the Coif, the highest honor a law student may receive. Robert was also a member of the Board of Advocates, participated in internal and external moot court competitions, and externed for The Honorable Shelly D. Dick, Chief Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Following law school, Robert practiced for three years at a prominent defense firm in Acadiana representing national insurance companies and corporations in high-stakes litigation. Through this work, Robert sharpened his litigation skills and gained extensive pre-trial experience, including obtaining multiple successful dismissals through motions for summary judgment and other dispositive pleadings. Robert now fights for the little guy, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, employment, and civil rights law. Robert lives near Lafayette with his wife, MacKenzie, and son, John Robert.
Robert joined the firm in 2025 as a member, working together with Managing Member Samuel Ducote. Robert is ready to fight for justice and you.
Robert "Rick" Bryant
Trial Attorney & "Of Counsel"
Rick Bryant is a highly respected trial attorney and former three-term District Attorney for Calcasieu Parish, bringing over thirty years of prosecutorial and courtroom experience to Ducote Law Firm, LLC. Known for his integrity, legal acumen, and deep commitment to justice, Rick spent the majority of his distinguished career trying major felony cases—many of them among the most challenging in Southwest Louisiana history.
With a near-unmatched trial record, including only one loss in over three decades, Rick has long been recognized for his effectiveness before juries, his command of criminal law, and his passion for protecting victims. His work on landmark prosecutions—including the KK’s Corner triple homicide and the cases against Ricky Langley and Jason Reeves—underscored his ability to handle the most sensitive and complex matters with diligence and resolve.
Rick now serves Of Counsel to Ducote Law Firm, LLC, where he collaborates closely with Managing Attorney Samuel Ducote. In this role, he advises on litigation strategy, lends his trial insight to both civil and criminal matters, and remains committed to public service through private practice.
"SWLA is a special place. We have great food, rich culture, a thriving economy, beautiful wetlands, and abundant wildlife—but what truly makes our area unique is our people. The people of SWLA are honest, hardworking, and hospitable. We are a compassionate and resilient people. We know how to enjoy life and laisser les bons temps rouler. We share a strong sense of community and a collective commitment to being good neighbors. It is these traits, and more, that unite the people of our five-parish area. It is these traits that make us, the people of SWLA, truly special.
Having such extraordinary people in our area is what makes Rick and me both proud and humbled to serve—and to fight for those who call SWLA home—each and every day.
Through hurricanes, floods, and everything Mother Nature has thrown at us, SWLA has fought back. SWLA has persevered. SWLA still stands—and continues to build back stronger with each challenge we face together. This is why we at Ducote Law Firm are proud to say we are a SWLA business. This is why we will forever remain #SWLAStrong."
— Samuel Ducote
