Stephen M. Chouest

Stephen M. Chouest was born in New Orleans in 1955. When he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Orleans “UNO” in 1977, Mr. Chouest was working full time in the family clothing business and as a part time musician in local jazz and rock bands. Steve left the family business and his musical aspirations behind and worked as a law clerk at a New Orleans law firm while attending Loyola Law School. In 1981 he received his Juris Doctorate (JD) from Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans. (1978-81), and thereafter practiced as an associate attorney with the same firm. In 1983 he received his masters of laws (LLM, Admiralty) from Tulane University School of Law.

Mr. Chouest has enjoyed over 38 years of representing clients in State and Federal litigation, contract negotiation, representation of individuals, private businesses, public and quasi-public agencies. Mr. Chouest has negotiated recording and publishing contracts, production agreements, agency and management contracts, partnership agreements, and other entertainment industry contracts since 1981.

Past areas of primary practice have included serving as General Counsel to the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority from 1989 through 1991, serving as associate general counsel to the Authority during its organizational stages, and for the planning, organization and formation of New Orleans Public Facility Management, Inc., a nonprofit corporation which operates the Morial Convention Center. Mr. Chouest also serves as special counsel to the Authority for riverfront development matters.

Mr. Chouest’s primary concentration involves areas of insurance law, including personal injury claims, real estate development, entertainment and intellectual property law, corporate and governmental matters, and general civil law.

Since February of 1996, Mr. Chouest has been the driving force behind the firm’s sponsorship of the community web site, metairie.com. He enjoys working on the site and planning its future. Mr. Chouest has enjoyed serving as Cub Scout CubMaster and WebMaster for St. Martin’s Episcopal School’s Cub Scout Pack 434 and as a member of the Board of Visitors for UNO’s College of Liberal Arts.