Rivera, Clara L.

Brett is a lifelong resident of Hammond, LA and currently represents his community as an elected member of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board.

     After graduating from Hammond High in 1994, he joined the Louisiana Army National Guard where he served for ten years helping to lead operations of the 205th Engineer Battalion. His service included a tour of duty to Afghanistan in support of "Operation Enduring Freedom." While serving his country in combat is one of his proudest achievements, he is quick to tell anyone who will listen that this tour of duty was also the time that he was most proud of his hometown. Brett had asked his hometown to "Adopt" three Afghan villages near the base where he was stationed, and the city came through in a huge way. He was never more proud to be an American and Louisianan. For his service in combat, Brett received: Army Commendation Medal, Louisiana War Cross, Army Achievement Medal (3rd), National Defense Service Medal (2nd), and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medal.

     Brett graduated cum laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a B.A. in History and Government in 1999. While at Southeastern, he was a member of Theta Xi Fraternity, as well as, Gamma Sigma Alpha and Order of Omega honor societies. He also served as Interfraternity Council President and Chief Justice of the Student Body. Upon his year of graduation, Brett was the recipient of the Lieu Award, the highest honor for academic excellence in his major.

     After graduation, Brett began pursuing a Masters in Business Administration and joined the Management team of ARAMARK Corporation, the company in charge of food service operations at Southeastern Louisiana University.

     On April 7, 2001, Brett married his college sweetheart, the former Regina M. Lamb. The couple has two beautiful children, Kendall Haleigh Duncan and Robert Cameron Keller Duncan.

     He obtained his Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Civil Law in 2005 from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. Thereafter, he began an active law practice in his hometown of Hammond, Louisiana.

     Brett describes the focus of his practice as "helping people find practical solutions to their legal problems." A common complaint of his is "I've always been frustrated with attorneys who take a simple legal problem and make it complicated simply for the purpose of making money off another's difficult situation." While his practice areas are extensive, his passion is representing and assisting "families in crisis."

     In addition to his busy private practice, Brett has represented over one thousand abused and neglected children and troubled youths through his role will the Juvenile Public Defenders Office. Brett is a member of "The Mission Church" in Hammond, LA. He enjoys volunteer work and has worked with organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America and the American Cancer Society. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association and the Twenty-First Judicial District Bar Association.