Leake has a diverse commercial litigation practice representing corporations, trade associations, non-profits, financial institutions, insurers, and individuals in numerous substantive areas, including securities, banking, business torts, non-compete, contract, joint venture, fraud and unfair competition/trade practice, and trade secret matters. Our clients’ business interests and goals motivate and influence our trial strategy, regardless of the nature of the dispute or how success is measured.
Securities litigation has been one of our firm’s significant practice areas since the late 1980’s. We represent clients in FINRA arbitration proceedings, and other arbitral forums as well as in administrative, state and federal proceedings and litigation. Our attorneys routinely advise and litigate issues involving the duty of care owed by brokers, broker-dealers, financial advisers, financial institutions, insurers, registered representatives and other financial professionals as well as individuals and companies involved with the exchange, offering, purchase and sale of securities. We also represent individuals and companies in investigations and other proceedings initiated or conducted by various regulatory and governmental agencies and entities.
The complexity of banking and business insurance law is ever-increasing in response to both macro and micro domestic and international economic events. Our lawyers represent insurers who underwrite and indemnify financial institutions and business entities, including coverage for director and officer liability, employment and professional liability, fiduciary liability, lender liability, general partner liability, employee dishonesty and infidelity, securities claims and various types of errors and omissions coverage.
Our attorneys frequently provide advice to clients regarding real estate and lease transactions, which services include negotiating leases, subleases, amendments and lease extensions, and counseling clients on proposed real estate purchases and sales. We also represent parties in lease-related litigation, disputes over real estate transactions, immovable property ownership, and developments, and litigation and administrative proceedings involving allegedly improper foreclosures, code violations, boundary disputes, and other commercial ventures.
Local, state and federal agencies and departments administer laws, promulgate innumerable regulations, issue interpretative letters and guidelines, and conduct investigations, hearings and other administrative proceedings that directly impact a company’s business. Our attorneys consult on administrative rulemaking, appear before agency and government authorities, and participate in full scale administrative hearings and proceedings. We also provide preventative strategic counseling to clients on compliance with local, state and federal regulations, ordinances and procedures.
Local, state and federal agencies and departments administer laws, promulgate innumerable regulations, issue interpretative letters and guidelines, and conduct investigations, hearings and other administrative proceedings that directly impact a company’s business. Our attorneys consult on administrative rulemaking, appear before agency and government authorities, and participate in full scale administrative hearings and proceedings. We also provide preventative strategic counseling to clients on compliance with local, state and federal regulations, ordinances and procedures.
Clients often need advice and counsel on extra-judicial matters relevant to their business operations. Our government relations practice provides clients with a broad range of local, state, federal, and international services, including lobbying, legislative drafting, congressional testimony, issue monitoring, participation in industry trade associations, and access to government officials for advocacy purposes.
Our attorneys regularly represent individual corporate and insurance clients in regulatory and administrative proceedings before multiple state and federal agencies, including:
- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
- Louisiana Department of Insurance
Our attorneys are routinely engaged for the recovery of past due amounts, contract balances, late payments, open accounts, or enforcement of negotiable instruments against debtors. We are well versed in various collections strategies, both pre-suit and through litigation, in recovery of debts as well as domesticating foreign judgments and making them executory in Louisiana.