This year marks 100 years since Deutsch Kerrigan opened its doors in New Orleans. Anniversaries invite reflection, and they also create an opportunity to look forward. A century in business does not happen by accident. It is a result of steady leadership, strong relationships and a willingness to evolve while staying grounded in core values.
When I think about what sustains any organization over time, relationships stand out.
Long-Term Thinking With Each Client
Experience has shown us that enduring relationships are the foundation for long-term business success. Clients stay with people they know, people who understand their businesses and people who show up consistently. That kind of loyalty is earned slowly through performance, honesty and reliability. It takes a long time to build and can be lost quickly.
From its earliest days, the firm placed relationships at the center of our practice. Many client relationships span decades and, in some cases, generations. That continuity exists because the work has never been treated as transactional. The focus has always been on collaboration and long-term partnership.
Another lesson that applies broadly across the legal profession is that adaptability matters.
Tradition Does Not Ensure Relevance
We have not resisted change; we have worked with it. Adaptability is not simply about being tough. It is about being willing to pivot. Over the past century, like the city we call home, our firm has navigated economic downturns, natural disasters, technology shifts and major changes in industries we serve. One of our biggest lessons has been that resilience is not just about bouncing back. It is about coming back better based on what we learned.
Tradition has value, but tradition alone does not ensure relevance. We try to take the experience and judgment built over decades and apply it in ways that reflect today’s realities. That mindset has allowed the firm to grow alongside the region’s evolving economy and the needs of our clients.
Culture Plays a Central Role In Growth
Culture has long been one of Deutsch Kerrigan’s most valuable assets. It influences which colleagues the firm attracts and retains, how teams collaborate and how clients experience our work. That culture is shaped by people who return each day with professionalism, energy and a shared sense of purpose. Even after a century of service, the firm feels forward-looking and engaged — grounded in its values, confident in its people and unafraid to evolve as the legal profession and the communities it serves continue to change.
One of the most important cultural choices the firm has made over time is consistently investing in the next generation of leadership.
Long before I became managing partner, the firm established a clear path to partnership and a philosophy that potential matters. Attorneys who demonstrate skill, work ethic, judgment and leadership are given opportunities. They are encouraged to take ownership.
I started as a law clerk with Deutsch Kerrigan. I became an equity partner at 35, started serving on management at 37, and made managing partner at 41. That did not happen by accident. It happened because leaders before me believed that giving younger attorneys a seat at the table strengthens the organization, doesn’t threaten it. When people feel valued, they invest themselves in the enterprise. They think differently. They care deeply about outcomes. They see their future intertwined with the firm’s future. I did then, and I still do.
That philosophy continues today. We make partners when we see potential, not simply when a calendar says it is time. We create opportunities for attorneys to grow their practice and step into leadership roles. We view succession planning as an ongoing process, not a one-time event. And we put our clients first with every decision that we make.
Age has not slowed Deutsch Kerrigan down. Rather, it has given us a platform to grow in a smarter, more intentional way.
We benefit from the perspective that only time can provide. Today, our leadership is not defined by one individual or moment — it’s driven by the collective strength of our team. Attorneys and professionals bring together deep institutional knowledge with fresh ideas and modern approaches. This balance of experience and forward momentum creates a dynamic that feels energized, collaborative and unmistakably focused on the future.
Relationships matter. Culture matters. Adaptability matters. Investing in people matters.
Those principles are not unique to any one firm. But they are essential for any organization that hopes to build something lasting.
This is how we reached 100 years, and it’s with that same drive, excitement and readiness that we step confidently into the next.
Kelly Theard is managing partner at Deutsch Kerrigan. She may be reached via email at ktheard@deutschkerrigan.com.
