The legal profession is the ideal platform in which I can use my writing, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills to serve as the voice for my clients’ needs. For this reason, I believe that practicing law is my calling in life.
Taylor Brett is a seasoned litigator with a diverse portfolio of experience representing clients across multiple industries, predominately in the midstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general casualty, toxic tort, premises liability, products liability, eminent domain, insurance coverage and defense, and commercial litigation. Taylor advocates for his clients at the trial and appellate levels in both state and federal court.
Taylor takes a proactive, immersive approach to understanding the needs of every client and evaluating each one of their cases. He believes that thorough investigation of a case at its outset is essential when it comes to formulating the best litigation strategy. In keeping with this mindset, Taylor dives headfirst into every case that comes across his desk, analyzing the facts, assessing the applicable laws, and identifying the types of evidence needed to support the client’s claims or defenses. Once he develops the appropriate plan of action for a case, Taylor keeps the lines of communication open with the client at all times to keep the client apprised of unexpected case developments, and to work with the client on preparing necessary adjustments to the plan. This method has led to countless favorable outcomes over the course of Taylor’s career.
Taylor believes that attorneys — especially litigators — have an ongoing obligation to stay up-to-date on the law. As part of this duty, Taylor habitually monitors civil litigation-related bills and other measures introduced during legislative sessions and notifies clients of the potential effects of the proposed legislation upon passage. He uses this approach to construct preemptive strategies for clients to put themselves in the best possible position before the impending changes to the law take effect. Taylor also writes extensively on the subject of legislation that impacts civil litigation. The Louisiana State Law Institute cited one of his articles during its deliberations when proposing the recent amendments to Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 966 regarding summary judgment procedure.
Prior to practicing law, Taylor graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he served as a Casenote & Comment Editor for the Loyola Law Review, and was named a William L. Crowe, Sr. Scholar. Taylor regularly gives his time to working with law students by serving on the Loyola Law Review Alumni Advisory Board as well as the Loyola Law Career Development Committee.
“ I take pride in being a lawyer that both my clients and colleagues turn to for help navigating novel and complex legal issues, and also in my ability to distill these complicated issues down and articulate solutions to them in a way that makes sense to both lawyers and business professionals. ”
Education
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Areas of Practice
Acknowledgements
- Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Loyola Institute of Politics, Fellow 2020-2021
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- DRI Center for Law and Public Policy State Legislation and Rules Task Force, Member
- Louisiana Bar Association
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
- New Orleans Bar Association
- The Texas Bar
- Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Alumni Association, Career Development Committee Member
- Loyola Law Review Alumni Advisory Committee, Board Member
Related Knowledge
News
- Obtaining a summary judgment in favor of an oil refinery and two of its employees in a suit filed against them by another refinery employee alleging that she was injured in an “explosion” that occurred while she and other refinery employees attempted to isolate a press relief valve in one of the refinery's units, the cause of which the plaintiff attributed to the defendants' “intentional acts.”
- Obtaining a 12(b)(6) dismissal on behalf of major oil companies in suit brought by ex-spouse of deceased former employee seeking recovery of marital portion of former employee’s 401(k) and pension benefits. 2016 WL 7438315 (W.D. La. Dec. 7, 2016), report and recommendation adopted by 2016 WL 7443679 (W.D. La. Dec. 23, 2016).
- Obtaining a 12(b)(6) dismissal and partial summary judgment on behalf of oil refinery in suit brought by contractor’s employee alleging negligence and retaliatory discharge. 2019 WL 1572670 (E.D. La. Apr. 11, 2019).
- Obtaining a summary judgment on behalf of charter school in suit brought by the estate of former school executive alleging wrongful termination. 274 So. 3d 1266 (La. Ct. App. 4th Cir. 2019).
- Obtaining a 12(b)(6) dismissal on behalf of a major online financial services company in suit brought by two individuals alleging that they were wrongfully arrested and prosecuted based on information reported to law enforcement relating to their use of the online financial services platform. 2020 WL 2319123 (W.D. La. Apr. 2, 2020), report and recommendation adopted by 2020 WL 2309316 (W.D. La. May 8, 2020).
- Obtaining a summary judgment on behalf of natural gas producer in suit brought by contractor’s employee alleging personal injuries arising out of a slip and fall incident that occurred at producer’s compressor station.
- Obtaining a summary judgment on behalf of a local trucking company in a suit brought by a motorist claiming personal injuries arising out of a motor vehicle accident.
- Defending multitude of lawsuits filed against oil refinery by residents in surrounding community asserting claims for property damages, nuisance, and emotional distress arising from ignition event. Successfully secured reversal by Louisiana Supreme Court of trial court’s first three adverse judgments against oil refinery. 2023 WL 533268 (La. Jan. 27, 2023).
Publications
- "Back to the Drawing Board: A Recap of the 2023 Legislative Amendments to Article 966 of the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure", 84 Louisiana Law Review 867 (2024)
- "Clarifying the District Court's 'Gatekeeping' Responsibility", published in Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today (2023)
- "Louisiana Supreme Court Holds That There is No Substitute for a Signature When Probating a Lost Notarial Testament", co-author with Courtney Miller, New Orleans Bar Association Blog (2023)
- "Coming at the King: A Summary of the 2021 and 2022 Amendments to the Rules Governing Recusal of Judges in Louisiana’s Civil District Courts", 69 Loyola Law Review 471 (2023)
- "Louisiana’s Pro Hac Vice Admission Process: What Makes This State (and the Practice of Law Within It) “Different” from the Rest", 71 La. B.J. 16 (2023), June/July issue of the Louisiana Bar Journal
- "Modernizing Civil Litigation in the Unique Landscape of Louisiana’s State Court System", 83 Louisiana Law Review 619 (2023)
- "Another Call to Amend Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 966 to Promote Efficiency, Practicality, and Alignment with the Explicit Purpose of Summary Judgment Procedure", 68 Loyola Law Review 223 (2022)
- "Reconciling the Exercise of General Personal Jurisdiction Over Nonresident Corporate Defendants in Louisiana Courts in the Wake of Daimler", 65 Loyola Law Review 279 (2020)
- "Removal of Class Actions: What Danger Lurks in Shady Grove", 82 Defense Counsel Journal 161 (2015), with Martin A. Stern
- "The Modern Day Stork: Validating the Enforceability of Gestational Surrogacy Contracts in Louisiana", 60 Loyola Law Review 587 (2014)
Presentations
- Panelist, Evidentiary and Procedural Updates from the 2024 Legislative Session, New Orleans Bar Association, December 11, 2024
- Panelist, Third Annual State Court Summary Judgment Practice – Risks and Opportunities, New Orleans Bar Association, September 24, 2024