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Leopoldo J. Yanez

Shareholder

Leopoldo J. Yanez is a shareholder in the Firm's Logistics, Energy, and Manufacturing Litigation Group.

Featured Experience


Successfully defended a leading insurance brokerage firm in a multimillion dollar breach of contract declaratory judgment action, resulting in full dismissal of claims against client.

Represented a FINRA member firm and associated person in arbitration involving claims of aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty and alleged FINRA and securities violations, resulting in a favorable settlement.

Defended a leading major oil and gas company in multiple state and federal personal injury suits arising out of oil spill response efforts, resulting in multiple suits being dismissed pre-trial.

Professional Biography


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.

  • Successfully defended a leading insurance brokerage firm in a multimillion dollar breach of contract declaratory judgment action, resulting in full dismissal of claims against client.

  • Represented a FINRA member firm and associated person in arbitration involving claims of aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty and alleged FINRA and securities violations, resulting in a favorable settlement.

  • Ongoing representation of the nation's largest aggregates company in numerous state and federal court actions related to the Bayou Corne Sinkhole.

  • Represented a major solar energy provider in a breach of contract declaratory judgment action arising out of an agreement to provide energy services to customers in New York, resulting in a settlement on favorable terms for the client.

  • Defended a leading major oil and gas company in multiple state and federal personal injury suits arising out of oil spill response efforts, resulting in multiple suits being dismissed pre-trial.

  • Represented a major media audience measurement company in a suit for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duties and misappropriation of trade secrets against a potential market competitor and company board member, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client.

  • Represented a major national broadband and telecommunications provider in a fraudulent transfer action arising out of a spin-off and merger agreement to sell and purchase telephone landlines in Northern New England.

  • Represented a publicly traded health care revenue cycle management company in an appeal before the U.S. Seventh Circuit involving a class member objection to a securities class action settlement approved by the District Court, resulting in a judgment affirming the District Court's settlement approval.

  • Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Commercial Litigation (2021 – 2024); Litigation - Banking and Finance (2021 – 2024); Litigation - Securities (2022 – 2024)
  • Selected to 2023 CityBusiness Leadership in Law
  • Member – Greater New Orleans, Inc. NextGen Council (2024 – 2025)
  • Member – Contemporary Arts Center Board

Education

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., 2010
    • Co-Managing Editor, Review of Law and Social Change
    • Recipient, Dean's Scholarship Award
  • University of Virginia, B.A. in Foreign Affairs, 2004

Admissions

  • Louisiana, 2016
  • New York, 2011
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • First Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Languages

  • Spanish

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