Kelly Theard

Practice Areas

For Kelly's full bio, please go to: deutschkerrigan.com/kelly-e-theard

Kelly Theard is the firm’s Managing Partner and Head of the Construction Practice Group. Her practice focuses on representing clients in the construction and hospitality industry. Over the course of her career, she has successfully represented contractors, architects, engineers, suppliers, and a wide range of other clients in construction related litigation, arbitrations, and pre-claim project disputes. She also has experience in contract negotiations and drafting of construction contracts for a variety of private, public, and federal projects.

While Kelly’s practice is primarily focused on construction and professional liability matters, she also has extensive experience handling general liability matters for local restaurants and retail businesses. Her general liability clients have included well-known regional restaurant chains with Louisiana and Mississippi locations, the nation’s largest broad-line closeout retainer and one of the largest food retailers in America. She has additional litigation experience in the areas of products liability, transportation, and commercial dispute resolution.

Kelly has been recognized by various local and national organizations including CityBusiness, Best Lawyers in America, and Chambers USA, to name a few, for her accomplishments in the field of construction litigation and contributions within the community. She regularly lectures on construction and other legal issues to clients, industry groups and associations. She has served on the board for the LADC and New Orleans Federal Bar Association. She has been actively involved in the community through various non-profit organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Louisiana Children’s Museum, Hogs for the Cause, Junior League of New Orleans, and Henry Aucoin Foundation.

A New Orleans native, Kelly attended St. Mary’s Dominican High School and worked in television before attending law school at Louisiana State University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, party planning and traveling with her husband.

Education