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.
Bar Admissions
Admitted to Practice Law before:
The Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of Louisiana – Including all Courts of Appeal, Louisiana District Courts, and all Parish Courts
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
The United States Department of Labor – Office of Administrative Law Judges.
Higher Education
Masters of Law (LLM) 1984
– Tulane Law School
Juris Doctorate (JD) 1981
– Loyola Law School
Bachelor of Arts (BA) 1977
– The University of New Orleans
Memberships
Louisiana State Bar Association
Louisiana Association for Justice (including Maritime, Automobile Torts, and Insurance sections)
Past and/or present:
New Orleans Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Maritime Law
Auto Torts (including insurance issues)
Louisiana Public Governmental Law (including public contracts)
Whistle Blower
Contracts (advice, drafting, interpretation, and enforcement)
General Civil Litigation