Summary of Experience

Former state senator Julie Quinn’s vast experience spans business, law, and government, allowing her a global perspective to problem solving and crisis management.  An AV-Preeminent rated attorney who was both a business owner and general counsel to Louisiana businesses, Julie is known as a problem solver skilled in general litigation, negotiations,  expansions, contracts and leases.  Julie enjoys a large clientele of developers, business owners, health care providers, and property damage cases, assisting clients with general litigation, employment law disputes, expansion, contracts, licensure, zoning, permitting, government compliance and  government relations.  Ms. Quinn works with all state and local agencies including ATC, DEQ, LA Economic Development, Division of Adminstration, Louisiana Board of Contractors, Office of Motor Vehicles, and many others.  She has been named as one of the country’s top lawyers for zoning and planning.

Elected twice by the parishes of New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa to represent them as their state senator in Baton Rouge, Julie chaired the Judiciary Committee, managing the needs of judges and courthouses, changes to the Civil Code and related statutes on contract law, domestic law, and many other issues.   Julie passed a constitutional amendment in her first year, and served as a member of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s Judicial Council, Louisiana Law Institute, and the Louisiana Attorney Fee Review Board.

Background

After graduating from law school in 1992 having been selected for Law Review and Moot Court, Ms. Quinn began her career as a commercial litigator at the then-largest law firm in the state. In 2001, she was elected (and re-elected) to the state’s largest school board with over 75,000 students and managing an operating budget of over $4 million.    In 2005, she was elected (and re-elected) to the Louisiana State Senate in the most populous areas of the state, covering the parishes of New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa.  Julie was sworn in to her initial term in the legislature three (3) weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina, largely the result of the 17th street canal levee breach which occurred in her district.

Despite the total and long-term devastation in her district, as a freshman state senator, Ms. Quinn was appointed to the chair Senate Judiciary A, the committee that handles more legislation than any other committee in the legislature, and which manages all legislation relating to and the judiciary (needs of judges), clerks of court, notaries, Louisiana Civil Code, statutory changes, and numerous other areas. In short, former Senator Quinn was charged with an enormous task of managing Louisiana’s “law for lawyers.”  She also served on the involved Senate Insurance Committtee, managing the aftermath of Katrina and related major overhauls in the insurance code and legislation.    During her tenure, she was named as “Legislator of the Year” by numerous organizations, including the esteemed “Alliance for Good Government”, Louisiana Nurse Anesthetists, Louisiana Orthopedic Association, Louisiana Family Forum, and many others. She also served as an adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School teaching “Legislative Policy”, a course geared on teaching law students on the methods for changing law and arguing “legislative intent” in the courtroom.

Ms. Quinn has a long history of distinguished service in positions of leadership on corporate, civic, and charitable boards. She currently serves as a board member on the Audubon Institute, and previously served on the boards of Jefferson Dollars for Scholars, Methodist Home for Abused Children, Friends of Jefferson the Beautiful (former President) and Juvenile Diabetes.  She remains involved in politics, serving as a political consultant to various candidates during election season and served an alternate delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention.  Julie is married to Thomas Summerville, with whom they share four children.