Jeffrey D. Kessler

A native Michigander, Jeff graduated magna cum laude from Duke University in 1998, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and he graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2002. At Virginia, he was inducted into the Order of the Coif, was a Lile Moot Court quarterfinalist, served as an Articles Editor for the Virginia Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, and won the Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award. Jeff practiced in New York City prior to moving to New Orleans in the fall of 2005.

Licensed to practice in Louisiana and New York, Jeff handles a wide variety of commercial litigation disputes. He has handled several labor and employment matters, including but not limited to claims of discrimination, retaliation, noncompetition agreements, and wage payment claims. In addition, his practice also includes complex commercial cases, environmental class action litigation, real estate litigation, insurance litigation involving claims for property damage and business interruption losses, and various forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration and mediation. Jeff has experience in oral argument before various state and federal courts including the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jeff has also lectured on the public accommodations requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act before the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, on employee hiring and firing issues for the Louisiana Medical Group Managers Association, and antitrust implications of tax lien auctions for Bespoke Capital Markets Group.

Representative Cases

• Ripoll v. Dobard, 2014 WL 1389659 (E.D. La.)
• Gulf States Real Estate Services of La., L.L.C.v. Dominion Centre, L.L.C., 2010 WL 2265243 (E.D.La)
• Touro Infirmary v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of America, 2008 WL 3975605 (E.D.La)
• Sauce It Up, L.L.C. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., 2008 WL 1711545 (E.D.La)
• Sauce It Up, L.L.C. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc., 2008 WL 544181 (E.D.La)
• Kreger v. General Steel Corp., 2008 WL 544517 (E.D.La)
• Nassar v. Academy Sports & Outdoors, 227 Fed.Appx.392 (5th Cir. 2007)

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Complex Commercial Cases
• Environmental Class Action Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation
• Insurance Litigation
• Employment Litigation or Labor & Employment

LITIGATION PERCENTAGE

• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

BAR ADMISSIONS

• New York, 2003
• Louisiana, 2005
• U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 2006
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 2006
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 2006
• U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 2006

EDUCATION

• University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia
  J.D.
  Honors: Order of the Coif
  Law Journal: Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal, 2000 - 2002
• Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
  B.A. (Magna Cum Laude)
  Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
  Major: Political Science

Honors and Awards

• Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award, 2002

Professional Associations and Memberships

• North Rampart Community Center, Member of the Board of Directors

Past Employment Positions

• Proskauer Rose LLP, Associate, 2002 - 2003
• Feldman Hay & Ullman LLP, Associate, 2004 - 2005

See Library Tab for articles, publications and presentations by Jeffrey Kessler