Judy Y. Barrasso

Judy Y. Barrasso: Leading Commercial Litigator in New Orleans

Judy Y. Barrasso is a distinguished and highly respected legal professional, recognized as a founding member of Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver, L.L.C. With a distinguished career built on a foundation of fierce advocacy and strategic legal expertise, Ms. Barrasso specializes in complex commercial litigation, consistently delivering exceptional results for her clients. She is a recognized leader in her field, repeatedly ranked among the nation’s top commercial litigators and earning numerous accolades for her exceptional legal skills and dedication.

For over three decades, Ms. Barrasso has championed the rights of individuals and businesses navigating intricate legal challenges. Her practice focuses on providing strategic legal counsel and aggressive representation in a broad range of commercial disputes, including complex litigation matters and class actions. She possesses a deep understanding of intricate commercial contracts, director and officer liability, securities fraud, and insurance coverage and bad faith claims – areas where her meticulous approach and unwavering determination have consistently secured favorable outcomes.

Ms. Barrasso’s commitment to excellence has garnered her widespread recognition within the legal community. She is consistently ranked by prestigious organizations such as Chambers USA as a top commercial litigator and by Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star. Her achievements have been formally recognized by the Diversity Journal as among 200 corporate executives deemed “Women Worth Watching,” and she was named a Lawdragon Legend in 2020, a testament to her longstanding contribution to the legal profession and her continued success. In 2017 and 2018, she was ranked Number One among lawyers in the State of Louisiana by Louisiana Super Lawyers, underscoring her unparalleled expertise within the Louisiana legal landscape. Chambers USA aptly describes her as “having a reputation as a formidable trial lawyer,” noting that she “stands ‘head and shoulders above much of the competition,’ and is ‘considered one of the state’s finest litigators.’”

As a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a fellow and Past President of the International Society of Barristers – organizations that select their members based on rigorous standards – Ms. Barrasso represents the pinnacle of legal skill and professionalism. Her leadership extends beyond the courtroom, evidenced by her past presidency of the New Orleans Bar Association and her induction into Tulane Law School’s Hall of Fame in 2018. She received the John R. “Jack” Martzell Professionalism Award in 2017, presented by the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Louisiana Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Attorney Award in 2016. She’s also an adjunct professor, sharing her expertise at Tulane Law School, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, and through continuing legal education programs nationwide.

Ms. Barrasso’s dedication to service extends beyond her legal practice. She currently serves on the boards of the Innocence Project New Orleans and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, alongside Isidore Newman School, reflecting her strong commitment to community engagement and social justice. Her previous roles as a Past Chair and Commissioner of the New Orleans Downtown Development District and on the Boards of the Contemporary Arts Center, Isidore Newman School, the New Orleans Pro Bono Project, Summerbridge, Dress For Success, and the Anti-Defamation League (South Central Region) further demonstrate her multifaceted leadership and commitment to impactful service.

Recognized for her leadership and impact, Ms. Barrasso received the prestigious Hannah G. Solomon award, given to individuals who have helped change the lives of others through leadership efforts and service. She has also been named a Young Leadership Council Role Model in 2004, a YWCA Role Model in 2000, and a CityBusiness ‘Women of the Year’ honoree in 2001 and 2014.

Practice Areas: Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Awards: Lawyer of the Year: Bet-the-Company Litigation, New Orleans (2024), Lawyer of the Year: Bet-the-Company Litigation, New Orleans (2021), Lawyer of the Year: Insurance Law, New Orleans (2020), Lawyer of the Year: Bet-the-Company Litigation, New Orleans (2018), Lawyer of the Year: Bet-the-Company Litigation, New Orleans (2015), Lawyer of the Year: Bet-the-Company Litigation, New Orleans (2012), Recognized: Appellate Practice, Recognized: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Recognized: Commercial Litigation, Recognized: Insurance Law, Recognized: Litigation - Insurance, Recognized: Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Special Focus: Complex Litigation, Special Focus: Covenants Not to Compete, Special Focus: Fiduciary Duties, Special Focus: Insurance, Special Focus: Large Case Litigation

Affiliations: American College of Trial Lawyers, Member; International Society of Barristers, Past President

Recognized Since: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2001

City: New Orleans, State: Louisiana, Country: United States

Education: Juris Doctor, Tulane University Law School

Bar Admissions: Louisiana State Bar, United States District Court (Eastern District of Louisiana)