Leigh Ann Schell

Appellate Litigation, Litigation, Construction, Energy, Renewable Energy, Toxic Tort

Drawing on a practice that spans more than three decades, Leigh Ann Schell represents clients in complex litigation, including environmental matters, toxic torts, product liability and commercial litigation. Leigh Ann’s appellate work covers all of these areas and more. She is a certified appellate specialist by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization (LBLS) and currently serves on the LBLS Appellate Practice Advisory Commission. In addition to handling interlocutory writs and appeals after judgment, her appellate work includes participation at trial to preserve error and drafting and arguing significant motions in the trial courts. Leigh Ann also advises on matters involving on and offshore personal injury, land damage, and employment litigation.

Leigh Ann was primarily responsible for the briefing and argument before the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Simoneaux v. DuPont, in which the Court favorably answered a question of first impression in the Courts of Appeals. The case addressed the interaction between the False Claims Act and regulatory penalties, and the ruling is important to all who must comply with regulatory statutes such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Previously, Leigh Ann and other attorneys co-authored legislation that places limits on governmental hiring of outside counsel. She also co-wrote and testified in favor of Louisiana’s Daubert statute, which governs the admissibility of expert opinions. Leigh Ann testified before the Federal Rules Advisory Committee in favor of amendments to Rules 26 and 31 on proportionality and sanctions. Additionally, she testified before a committee of the United States Congress in favor of the FACT Act aimed at bringing transparency to asbestos litigation.

International Association of Defense Counsel- Social Media Chair, Chairman and Vice Chairman of Legislative, Judicial, and Governmental Affairs Committee Defense Research Institute; National Association of Women and Minority Owned Law Firms; Lawyers for Civil Justice; Louisiana State Bar Association; New Orleans Bar Association