For more than a decade, Leopoldo J. Yanez has represented clients in all stages of litigation and arbitration. He has appeared in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the U.S., including in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, and Puerto Rico. His clients include Fortune 100 companies, major U.S. financial institutions, and multinational manufacturing, logistics, and energy companies, among others.
Mr. Yanez's practice is broad-ranging. He has substantial experience defending clients in complex tort litigation matters involving major environmental disasters. Most recently, he was a key trial team member in one of Louisiana's most significant environmental disaster cases, which was arguably the largest in the last two decades. Previously, Mr. Yanez defended a multinational oil and gas company against hundreds of personal injury and breach of contract claims relating to oil spill response operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, he represents member firms in customer disputes before FINRA as well as wholesale and retail insurance brokers in errors and omissions claims.
Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Mr. Yanez practiced in the New York office of Kirkland & Ellis, LLP where he represented clients in shareholder derivative suits and securities class actions and managed several internal investigations for pharmaceutical and financial companies with significant operations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, primarily focusing on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance.
Originally from Nicaragua, Mr. Yanez is fluent in Spanish and regularly counsels Spanish-speaking clients in their native language.
A strong advocate of immigrant and LGBTQ rights, he was honored with Immigration Equality's Safe Haven Award several years in a row for his pro bono work representing LGBTQ migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.