future-focused

Practices

Assistant

Karen East

504.556.4061

“My varied experience as a trial lawyer, judge, and mediator allows me to view legal matters in a unique and comprehensive way. I can quickly identify clients’ needs and advise them on a plan of action to achieve the best results.”

Overview

Cherrell is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and a trial lawyer who assists commercial clients, non-profit organizations, public entities, maritime companies, and major energy clients in all areas of litigation. She represents companies in matters related to construction disputes, contract and quasi-contracts, director and officer liability, tort liability, insurance coverage disputes, labor and employment matters, tax litigation, unfair trade practice/business torts, and unjust enrichment claims. She regularly handles construction matters for clients, including compliance with the Louisiana Public Works Act, Construction Management at Risk procurements, and public bids, zoning, and variances. She is also qualified as a mediator and arbitrator through the Mediations Arbitration Professional Systems, Inc. (“maps”) on its prestigious Panel of Neutrals.

Prior to joining the firm, Cherrell worked as a partner in private practice, served as Judge Pro Tempore in state court, and served as the Senior Chief Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans. In 2011, she became the first Black woman partner at a major law firm in New Orleans. There, she represented insurance companies, businesses, and corporate clients in both federal and state courts throughout Louisiana. In 2013, Cherrell was appointed Senior Chief Deputy City Attorney for the City of New Orleans. Her role was as second-in-command to the City Attorney and included the position – Chief of Litigation. As Chief of Litigation for the City of New Orleans, Cherrell managed over 1000 cases that involved litigation in state, federal, and municipal and traffic courts. The matters that she handled were diverse and included: personal injury, contract, construction, land use, public bid, employment, code enforcement, public records, administrative appeals, and civil rights litigation. She also represented the City of New Orleans in several high-profile cases.

In April 2017, the Louisiana Supreme Court saw fit to appoint Cherrell to serve as Judge Pro Tempore in Division J of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Cherrell served as a judge and presided over judge and jury trials, summary proceedings, and hundreds of motions.

Cherrell is an Adjunct Professor teaching Negotiation and Mediation at Tulane University Law School and she is a Skills Instructor for Negotiation and Mediation at Loyola University College of Law. She was recently named the New Orleans CityBusiness’ Women of the Year Class of 2020 and she was selected to join The National Black Lawyers’ Top 100. As the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Cherrell is devoted to increasing diversity and inclusion at Liskow and in the legal profession. She is also the diversity relationship partner for one of the firm’s national oil and gas clients, and in this role, she identifies opportunities for the firm to partner with its clients on diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Talks about

#triallawyer #construction #disputeresolution #commerciallitigation #diversity

Highlights

Experience

Appointed to the Panel of Neutrals for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana Hurricane Ida Streamlined Settlement Program.

Experience

Mediated and resolved hundreds of cases for a major insurance client following Hurricane Katrina.

Experience

Served as Judge Pro Tempore in Division J of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans.

Notable Experience

Trial Lawyer Wins

Counsel for Exxon Mobil Corporation

  • Billy Olivier v. Exxon Mobil Corporation
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, Docket No. 18-568.
  • Jury trial in an offshore platform accident injury case with significant medicals and multi-million-dollar demand; complete defense verdict in favor of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Counsel for Vector Media Holding Corp.

  • Go-Graphics, LLC v. The Parish of Jefferson and the Jefferson Parish Council
  • 24th Judicial District Court, Division N, Docket no. 827-211.
  • Evidentiary hearing on petition for permanent injunction, declaratory relief and damages; decision favorable to Vector Media.

Counsel for AECOM | Hunt Broadmoor, Joint Venture

  • The Lemoine Company, L.L.C., Metro Service Management Group, LLC, and the McDonnel Group LLC v. The Ernest N. Morial Exhibition Hall Authority, et al.
  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division M, Docket No. 2021-7651.
  • Evidentiary hearing on Plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction on a Construction Management at Risk bid dispute for New Orleans Convention Center renovation project; decision favorable to AECOM | Hunt Broadmoor, JV.

Counsel for Mitchell Landrieu, as Mayor, and the City of New Orleans

  • Monumental Task Committee, Inc. et al. v. Landrieu et al.
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Docket No. 15-6905.
  • Motion for Summary Judgment granted in favor of Landrieu and the City of New Orleans against plaintiffs’ declaratory and injunctive relief action to declare the City Ordinance deeming confederate monuments nuisances as unconstitutional and in violation of federal law, and to prevent the subsequent removal of four prominent confederate monuments. The decision was upheld by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Counsel for City of New Orleans

  • Scott Laurent v. City of New Orleans, et al.
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Docket No. 14-2022
  • Motion for Summary Judgment granted in favor of the City of New Orleans in an asbestos survival action.

Counsel for City of New Orleans and employees

  • Damian Brown v. City of New Orleans, et al.
  • 24th JDC, Division P, Docket No. 742-241.
  • Bench trial in motor vehicle negligence case; verdict in favor of the City of New Orleans and its employees.

Counsel for City of New Orleans and employees

  • Walter Penton, et al v. City of New Orleans, et al.
  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division F, Docket No. 2012-3095.
  • Bench trial in motor vehicle negligence case with significant medicals; verdict in favor of the City of New Orleans and its employees.

Counsel for City of New Orleans

  • Delta Staff Leasing v. City of New Orleans
  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division M, Docket No. 11-5493.
  • Bench trial on breach of contract claims; verdict in favor of the City of New Orleans.

Counsel for City of New Orleans

  • Walter Powers, et al v. City of New Orleans, et al.
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Docket No. 13-5993.
  • Bench trial in declaratory action to declare City Ordinance on Office of Police Secondary Employment unconstitutional; verdict in favor of the City of New Orleans.

Counsel for Zurich American Insurance Company

  • Tim Sosebee v. Steadfast Insurance Company, et al.
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, Docket No. 09-4138
  • Motion for Summary Judgment granted in favor of Zurich American Insurance Company on the issue of insurance coverage in a maritime personal injury case.

Counsel for The Cato Corporation

  • Gloria Smith Bell v. The Cato Corporation.
  • United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana, Docket No. 10-0908.
  • Jury trial in premises liability personal injury case with significant medicals; mixed verdict in favor of The Cato Corporation.

Presiding Judge

Upscale Fashions, Inc., et al. v. Underwriters at Lloyd’s London, et al.

  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division J, Docket No. 2008-8563.
  • Bench trial on insurance agent negligence in failure to procure sufficient insurance; plaintiff verdict (total judgment for $59,909 – defendant 100% liable).

Coastal Cargo v. Lamco Transport, et al.

  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division J, Docket No. 2015-1686.
  • Jury trial on complex property damage and bad-faith claims; mixed verdict in favor of plaintiff (total judgment for $538,759 – defendant found 80% liable).

Christopher Causey, et al. v. New Orleans Regional Transit Authority, et al.

  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division J, Docket No. 2015-0534.
  • Bench trial on personal injury negligence claims; defense verdict (case valued at $30,000).

Betty Ann Breaux Difiore v. Huntington Ingalls, Inc. et al.

  • Orleans Parish Civil District Court, Division J, Docket No. 2016-10800.
  • Jury trial in asbestos exposure case; settled on the third day of trial (case valued between $5-7mil).

Other Experience

  • Resolved hundreds of cases for a major insurance client following Hurricane Katrina.
  • Represented the Orleans Parish School Board in all aspects of defense litigation, as well as novel issues specific to education. She litigated hundreds of cases and was able to expand her litigation experience to include all insurance law (property and casualty, liability and coverage, and bad-faith claims), maritime law, commercial litigation, general liability, construction defects, environmental/toxic tort liability, subrogation, and workers’ compensation matters. The cases that she handled often included complex and high-exposure litigation.

Involvement

Professional

  • U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel by appointment of the United States Eastern District of Louisiana, Member, Present
  • Liskow’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
  • Mediations Arbitration Professional Systems, Inc. ("Maps"), Panel of Neutrals
  • Tulane University Law School – Adjunct Professor, Negotiation and Mediation
  • Loyola University College of Law – Skills Instructor, Negotiation and Mediation
  • Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals
  • Association for Women Attorneys
  • The National Black Lawyers
  • American Arbitration Association
  • Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society
    • President, 2007 – 2008
    • Board of Governors, 2006 – 2009
  • National Bar Association
    • Annual Convention Planning Committee Co-Chair, 2010
    • National Board of Governors, 2008 – 2009
    • Regional Board of Governors, 2006 – 2007
  • American Inn of Court, A.P. Tureaud Chapter
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Diversity Planning Committee, 2007
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association

Community

  • French Quarter Festival, Board of Directors, 2021 – Present
  • The Pro Bono Project, Board of Directors, 2023
  • The Pro Bono Project’s Justice for All Ball, Planning Committee, 2022 – present
  • Bridge House/Grace House, Board of Directors, 2020 – Present

Recognition

  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Civil Litigation, 2022, 2023 
  • New Orleans CityBusiness Women of the Year Class of 2020 
  • New Orleans Magazine “Top Lawyer," 2022
  • The National Black Lawyers, "Top 100," 2020 
  • American Bar Association, Fellow, 2020-Present 
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, “Rising Stars,” Civil Litigation, 2012, 2014 
  • Loyola University College of Law, Black Law Students Association (BLSA) Distinguished Alumni Award, 2009 

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Credentials

Education

  • Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (J.D., 2002)
  • Loyola University (B.A., Psychology, 1998)

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 2002

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Louisiana, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District, Louisiana, 2008
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Louisiana, 2007

Presentations

  • "Second Movement – Direct and Cross Examination," LSBA CLE during Jazz Fest, April 28, 2023
  • "Professionalism: Diversity? Past, Present, and Future," LSBA Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, December 7, 2022
  • “Post Pandemic Litigation, National and Louisiana Judicial Counsel,” May 22, 2021 
  • “The Impact of Social Media: Benefits, Burdens & Legal Implications,” Louisiana State Bar Association, December 8, 2020 
  • “Conflicts of Interest: When Do You Need Separate Counsel?,” Louisiana State Bar Association, December 10, 2019 
  • “Professionalism: High Impact Opening and Closings,” Louisiana State Bar Association, December 6, 2019 
  • “Malcolm Monroe Federal Practice Seminar: Recruiting and Self Marketing,” December 4, 2019 
  • “How to Try a Case in Ten Days, Louisiana Bar Association, December 20, 2017 
  • Professionalism in the Judiciary,” Louisiana Bar Association, December 1, 2017 
  • “Summary Proceedings,” City of New Orleans, July 26, 2017 
  • “Everything You Don't Know About E-Discovery (But Wish You Did),” National Bar Institute, May 15, 2015 

After Hours

Cherrell was born and raised in New Orleans, is a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy, Loyola University, and Loyola Law School. She is married to a New Orleans musician and has two children. She loves to travel and enjoys all things that New Orleans has to offer, especially Saints games, Mardi Gras, and all the festivals that she can attend.

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