Richard Cortizas

Richard Cortizas is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the Jones Walker board of directors. He focuses on transactional matters, representing clients in complex land use and zoning matters, public finance, and economic development projects. Richard has extensive experience representing corporate clients, developers and individuals before local planning commissions, boards of zoning adjustments, and governing authorities of political subdivisions throughout the state. Richard also represents clients before local and state regulatory bodies on a wide range of governmental matters. As the firm's chief diversity officer, Richard collaborates with firm leadership and the firm's Diversity Committee, whose mission is threefold: to increase awareness of the importance of diversity within the firm, to foster mutual respect and appreciation for different perspectives and experiences, and to develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain, and advance lawyers and staff from diverse backgrounds. Prior to returning to Jones Walker in 2013, Richard served as executive counsel to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu from 2010 to 2011 and as city attorney for the City of New Orleans for three years. As city attorney, Richard was responsible for directing and supervising legal affairs for the City of New Orleans and was part of the team that negotiated the New Orleans Police Department consent decree. Prior to his public service, he practiced law with Jones Walker for six years. Before practicing law, Richard served as regional director for US Senator Mary L. Landrieu.