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Tracey Roper

504.556.4044

Overview

Leon Rittenberg III is a New Orleans native. His practice focuses on serving the needs of businesses and their owners; including taxation, finance, private equity, estate planning, probate, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, maritime and vessel transactions, philanthropy and non-profit law, and related matters. Leon represents the interests of a number of private investors, oil service businesses, family offices, marine transportation companies and physician groups. He is a Board Certified Tax Specialist and Board Certified Estate Planning & Administration Specialist, as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He frequently lectures in areas such as taxation, estate planning and maritime transactions.

Leon is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. He has been recognized by Chambers USA (Louisiana Marine Finance – 2021; Louisiana Corporate/M&A: Tax section – 2017), Louisiana Super Lawyers (Tax, Estate Planning & Probate and Business/Corporate), and the Best Lawyers in America (Non-Profit/Charities Law and Trusts & Estates), and by New Orleans Magazine as one of their “Top Lawyers of New Orleans” for his work in Equipment Finance Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law and Tax Law. New Orleans City Business selected him for their Leadership in Law class of 2014, which “identifies and honors 50 outstanding legal professionals whose successes in law and contributions to the community have set the pace for the legal community.”

Leon is active in the New Orleans community, serving on the Boards and Executive Committees of numerous non-profit organizations. In 2015, he served as chairman of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization’s Tax Law Advisory Committee. Leon also contributes to many philanthropic efforts. He and his family opened the “Rittenberg Family Food Pantry” in 2024 at the Ochsner Cancer Institute in New Orleans to provide free, healthful meal options to cancer patients and their families. He is also a recipient of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana’s 2024 Young Family Award for Professional Excellence, which is awarded for outstanding leadership within the community.

Leon attended the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania where he studied economics and graduated magna cum laude. He returned home to attend Tulane University School of Law where he graduated magna cum laude. Leon was a summer associate at the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel in Washington, D.C., and also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Will Garwood of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Prior to joining Liskow, Leon was a partner at Baldwin Haspel Burke & Mayer. 

Insights

Highlights

Notable Experience

Involvement

Professional

  • Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization’s Tax Law Advisory Commission
    • Chair (2015)
    • Vice-Chair (2013-2014)
    • Secretary (2012-2013)
    • Member (2011-2017)
  • Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel
  • Tulane Tax Institute Planning Committee
  • The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Louisiana Fellow

Community

  • Rittenberg Family Food Pantry
  • Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life
    • Board Member (2016-present)
    • Vice Chairman (2024)
    • Investment Committee Member
    • Development Committee Member
    • Executive Committee Member
  • Jewish Children’s Regional Service
    • President (2013-2015)
    • Third Vice President (2012)
    • Board Member (2010-present)
    • Endowment Committee Member
  • Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana
    • Board Member (2021)
  • Louisiana Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth
    • President (2009)
    • Board Member (2004-2020)
  • Associated Neighborhood Development
    • President (2009-2013)
  • Chabad at Tulane
    • Advisory Board (2013-2015)
  • Congregation Gates of Prayer
    • Executive Vice President (2023-2024)
    • Treasurer (2022)
    • Board Member (2021- Present)
  • Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
    • Board Member (2013-2015)
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals
    • Allied Professionals Committee (June 2002-2020)
  • Planned Giving Committee of Tulane University
    • Past Committee Member
  • Neighborhood Development Foundation
    • Board Member (2002-2014)
    • Secretary (2004-2011)
  • New Orleans Council for Community and Justice
    • Past Board Member
  • Hillel Foundation of New Orleans
    • Director (1999-2001)
    • Past Executive Committee Member
  • Young Leadership Council
    • Past Treasurer
    • Past Board Member
  • Planned Giving Committee of Touro Infirmary
    • Past Committee Member
  • Touro Synagogue
    • Past Vice President
    • Past Secretary and Treasurer
    • Past Board Member

Recognition

  • Young Leadership Council's 2025 Role Model Class
  • Chambers USA, Louisiana – (Band 2) Marine Finance, 2021-2025, Corporate/M&A: Tax, 2017
  • Jewish Endowment Foundation's Young Family Award for Professional Excellence
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, Mergers and Acquisitions 2007-2026
  • Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year", Nonprofit/Charities Law, New Orleans, 2024
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, Tax, Estate Planning & Probate and Business/Corporate, 2007-2023, 2025-2026
  • Top 50: 2018 New Orleans Super Lawyers
  • New Orleans Magazine's List of "Top Lawyers," Equipment Finance Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, and Tax Law
  • New Orleans CityBusiness' Leadership in Law, Class of 2014

Credentials

Education

  • Tulane University Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 1992)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Tulane Law Review
  • University of Pennsylvania (B.S., Economics, magna cum laude, 1989)

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1993

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, 1993
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1995
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2002

Clerkships

  • Law clerk to the Honorable Will Garwood of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal

Presentations

  • "Limitations of Louisiana Trust Law," CPE@UNO, March 19, 2026, New Orleans, LA 
  • "Recent Federal Developments, Including OBBBA," Liskow's CPA Seminar, October 21, 2025, Metairie, LA
  • “Developments and discussions in 2025 Federal Tax Legislation, including updates on the tax changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other related issues," ACC CLE Luncheon, September 19 2025, New Orleans, LA
  • "Estate Planning under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act & Using Trusts for Income Tax Savings," New Orleans Estate Planning Council, September 9, 2025, New Orleans, LA
  • "Developments and Discussions in 2025 Federal Taxation," Liskow Trustee Seminar, July 19, 2025, New Orleans, LA
  • "Developments and Discussions in 2025 Federal Taxation," Liskow Estate Planning Seminar, May 21, 2025, Metairie, LA
  • "Updates from the Louisiana Tax Bill and the Tax Implications from the Presidential Election," OMSA Winter Conference 2024
  • "Limitations of Louisiana Trust Law – What Other States Have to Offer," Tulane Tax Institute, November 15, 2024, New Orleans, LA
  • "Recent Developments in Federal and State Tax," Liskow CPA Seminar, October 21, 2024, Metairie, LA
  • "The Basics - Indemnity and Insurance," Liskow Maritime Seminar, October 15, 2024, Houston, Texas
  • "Legislative and Regulatory Round-Up," Association of Corporate Counsel Louisiana Chapter CLE Luncheon, September 18, 2024, New Orleans, LA
  • “Developments and Discussions in 2024 Estate Planning," Liskow’s 2024 Tax & Trust Seminar, July 25, 2024, New Orleans, LA
  • “Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act and Connelly Decision,” United Wealth Advisors Group, July 2024
  • "Corporate Transparency Act & Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting," Society of Louisiana CPAs, May 30, 2024
  • "Corporate Transparency Act: Changes to the U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Regime," Liskow's 2024 Estate Planning Seminar, May 28, 2024, Metairie, LA
  • "Recent Developments in Federal and State Tax," Liskow's 2023 CPA Seminar, October 17, 2023
  • "Corporate Transparency Act – Changes to the U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Regime," Louisiana Association of Corporate Counsel "ACC" CLE Luncheon, New Orleans, LA, October 5, 2023
  • "Corporate Transparency and CCFs," Offshore Marine Service Association's Fall Regulatory Meeting, September 20, 2023
  • "Recent Developments including the Corporate Transparency Act," Liskow's 2023 Trustee Seminar, July 25, 2023
  • "Corporate Transparency Act," FEG Summer Conference, June 2023
  • "Duties of and Claims Against Financial Professionals, the Secure Act and other 409(A) and ERISA Updates, Tax Updates, Louisiana Law Updates, and the Corporate Transparency Act," Liskow Estate Planning Seminar, New Orleans, Louisiana - May 31, 2023
  • “Changes to the U.S. Anti-Money Laundering Regime,” Offshore Marine Service Association's Spring Regulatory Meeting, March 2023
  • "Recent Developments Including the Corporate Transparency Act, State and Local Taxes, Crypto Security and Other Matters," Liskow's 2022 CPA Seminar, October 19, 2022
  • "Case Study: Getting a Business Ready for Sale," Liskow's 2022 CPA Seminar, October 19, 2022
  • "Recent Fiduciary Litigation and Tax Updates," Liskow's 2022 Trustees Seminar, August 24, 2022
  • “Practical Drafting under the Trust Code, 2020 Developments,” LSU Estate Planning Seminar - November 19, 2021
  • “Recent Developments,” BHBM Seminar for Trustees - August 24, 2021
  • “Minimum Wage and Related Issues Effecting OMSA Membership,” Offshore Marine Service Association - March 9, 2021
  • Strafford (live webinar): “Private Foundations in Estate Planning: Overcoming IRS Scrutiny, Structuring Tax-Efficient Charitable Legacies” - January 12, 2021
  • Association of Corporate Counsel CLE: “Recent Tax Law Updates in the COVID Era” - July 16, 2020
  • ACG University: “Venture Capital Investing in the Current Market” - moderator; January 7, 2020
  • “Federal and State Tax Update,”BHBM 36th Annual CPA Seminar, Mandeville and Metairie, October 23 and November 5, 2019
  • “Recent Developments,” BHBM Seminar for Trustees, July 18, 2019
  • :“Choice of Business Entity Including In-Depth Review of 199A,” BHBM 36th Annual CPA Seminar – Lafayette, June 13, 2019
  • “Updating Estate Plans After Tax Reform,” Strafford (live webinar), May 21, 2019
  • BHBM 36th Annual Estate Planning Seminar for Life Underwriters: “Tax Law Update” - May 15, 2019
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals New Orleans Chapter Sections Day Seminar: “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” - March 19, 2019
  • ACG University: “Life as a Portfolio Company: What it’s like to be a portfolio company of a private equity firm” - moderator - January 10, 2019
  • Strafford (live webinar): “Year-End Charitable Planning After Tax Reform,” December 11, 2018
  • “Choice of Business Entity Including In-Depth Review of 199A Guidance,” BHBM 35th Annual CPA Seminar, October 17 & November 1, 2018
  • National Business Institute Estate Administration Boot Camp: “Portability and Estate, Gift, GST Taxes,” September 12, 2018
  • BHBM 35th Annual Estate Planning Seminar for Life Underwriters: “Tax Law Update” - May 16, 2018
  • Jefferson Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) Business Workshop: “Small Business Succession Plan” - April 25, 2018
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals New Orleans Chapter Sections Day Seminar: “2017 Tax Reform Act” - April 18, 2018
  • Offshore Marine Service Association Louisiana Tax Conference: “Making the Changes Work for your Business / Don’t Let the ‘Pay-Fors’ be Pitfalls / Providing for the Future” - March 28, 2018
  • Association of Corporate Counsel: “Planning to Take Advantage of the Trump Tax Bill” - March 21, 2018
  • WorkBoat Professional Series – New Orleans: “Recent Developments in Taxation” - November 30, 2017
  • BHBM 34th Annual CPA Seminar – Metairie: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - November 8, 2017
  • BHBM 34th Annual CPA Seminar – Covington: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - October 18, 2017
  • National Business Institute: “Income and Estate Tax Essentials for Wills and Trusts” - September 14, 2017
  • Strafford: “Private Foundations in Estate Planning: Structuring Tax-Efficient Charitable Legacies” - September 5, 2017
  • BHBM Seminar for Trustees: “Recent Developments” - July 19, 2017
  • BHBM Estate Planning Seminar for Life Underwriters: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - May 10, 2017
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals Sections Day Seminar: “Passing on the Keys to the Family-Owned Business: The Dynamics” - March 22, 2017
  • BHBM 33rd Annual CPA Seminar – Metairie: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - November 16, 2016
  • BHBM 33rd Annual CPA Seminar – Covington: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - October 19, 2016
  • National Business Institute (NBI): “Estate Planning from A to Z: Grantor Trusts” - September 15, 2016
  • Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) Louisiana Tax Conference: “A Legal Perspective of the Louisiana Tax Updates” - May 20, 2016
  • BHBM 33rd Annual Estate Planning Seminar for Life Underwriters: “Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts – Fixing Broken Trusts” - May 18, 2016
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals New Orleans Chapter Sections Day Seminar: “Business Succession Planning” - March 2, 2016
  • WorkBoat Professional Series – New Orleans: “Planning for Acquisitions and Divestitures” - December 2, 2015
  • BHBM 32nd Annual CPA Seminar – New Orleans: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - November 17, 2015
  • Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Taste of New Orleans Panel – “Post-Closing Transaction Issues” - November 4, 2015
  • BHBM 32nd Annual CPA Seminar – Covington: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - October 28, 2015
  • Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) 4Q Membership Meeting: “Recent Changes in Louisiana Tax and Corporate Statutes” - September 30, 2015
  • WorkBoat Strategic Leadership Development Program Webinar: “Tax Issues Regarding Marine Maintenance” - July 22, 2015
  • BHBM 32nd Annual Life Insurance Seminar: “Federal & State Tax Law Updates” - May 14, 2015
  • WorkBoat Maintenance & Repair Conference: “Tax Issues Regarding Marine Maintenance” -  April 15, 2015
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals New Orleans Chapter Sections Day Seminar: “Estate Planning After ATRA and Compliance Issues” - March 11, 2015
  • WorkBoat Professional Series – New Orleans: “Financing Jones Act Vessel Assets” - December 4, 2014
  • BHBM 31st Annual CPA Seminar – New Orleans: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - November 11, 2014
  • BHBM 31st Annual CPA Seminar – Covington: “Current Events: State and Federal Income Tax, Gift and Estate Tax Updates” - October 28, 2014
  • BHBM 31st Annual Life Insurance Seminar: “Federal Tax Law Updates” - May 14, 2014
  • Society of Financial Service Professionals New Orleans Chapter Sections Day Seminar: “Business Succession Planning” - March 26, 2014

Publications

Certifications

  • Board Certified Estate Planning & Administration Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization
  • Board Certified Tax Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization

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