NEW ORLEANS — On Monday, Oct. 14, Walt Leger, III became the senior vice president for Strategic Affairs and General Counsel for New Orleans & Company. Stephen Perry, the president and CEO of New Orleans-based marketing agency, made the announcement. Details were shared in a press release.
“We are laying the groundwork that will ensure future growth and prosperity and deep community commitment for the entire hospitality industry, our 1,100 member companies and tens of thousands of hospitality workers,” Perry said. “The hospitality and tourism industry is New Orleans most important economic driver, largest employer and most significant revenue generator for the city’s budget. Acquiring talent for the future is critical for our company in leading this key industry. Walt has an unparalleled career representing New Orleans’ interests in the legislature and at the local level as well.”
In the Legislature, Leger was elected by acclamation in 2012 and again in 2016 to serve as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives, the youngest member to ever serve in this 2nd highest-ranking position in the Louisiana House of Representatives. He was first elected to be the State Representative for District 91 with 65-percent of the vote in the fall of 2007 and re-elected without opposition in 2011 and 2015. Leger represents parts of Uptown, Central City, the Lower Garden District, the Irish Channel, Broadmoor, Marleyville Gert Town and Hollygrove in New Orleans.
For twelve years, Leger has carried many of the significant pieces of legislation, advancing the tourism industry and driving the growth of the New Orleans economy. Leger has been widely recognized and acclaimed as a problem solver, a consensus builder and someone who gets results. Since 2008, Leger has passed over one-hundred pieces of legislation. His support for tax, revenue and budget reform and stabilization, strategic infrastructure investments particularly for our ports, rail and multi-modal facilities, criminal justice reform and reinvestment, early childhood care and education, education reform and economic development have been recognized nationally and across the state with dozens of awards naming him a legislative champion, legislator of the year and advocate of the year.
Leger is a senior member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, as well as the House Education Committee, House Executive Committee, House Select Committee on Homeland Security, The Energy Council, the Justice Reinvestment Task Force, Multimodal Commerce Advisory Commission, Executive Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference of State Governments, and the Council of State Governments Governing Board for 2017-2018.
In October 2012, Leger was elected to the Chairmanship of the Southern Rail Commission, formerly known as the Southern High Speed Rail Commission. In 2015 he was awarded a Rodel Fellowship of Public Leadership at the Aspen Institute, which seeks to enhance our democracy by identifying and bringing together the nation’s most promising young political leaders to explore, through study and conversation, the underlying values and principles of western democracy, the relationship between individuals and their community, and the responsibilities of public leadership; to support and inspire political leaders committed to sustaining the vision of a political system based on thoughtful and civil bipartisan dialogue; and to help America’s brightest young leaders achieve their fullest potential in public service.
Leger is known throughout the state of Louisiana as a strategic thinker and fierce advocate for the hospitality industry and for citizens. First as an assistant district attorney in New Orleans, and later as an attorney with the law firm of Leger & Shaw, Leger has been a zealous advocate for his clients and victims of violent crime. For over 15 years, he has achieved excellent results for his clients and earned a reputation for integrity and the highest caliber of legal excellence and ethical standards, as recognized by his AV rating by Martindale-Hubbel, the highest level attainable. Just out of law school, Leger served the people of the City of New Orleans as an Assistant District Attorney specializing in the prosecution of violent offenders and drug traffickers. He tried countless cases before Judges and Juries and earned the respect of his peers and opponents as aggressive, fair and just.
Leger is a graduate of Louisiana State University (LSU). In 2018, he was inducted into the LSU Hall of Distinction and chosen as the Young Alumnus of the Year.
Leger also attended Tulane Law School, earning a certificate of specialization in Admiralty & Maritime Law and his Juris Doctor. While there, Leger served as the business editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal, the editor-in-chief of the Tulane Environmental Law Newsletter, 1L Class President, and Student Bar Association Vice-President. He currently serves on the Tulane University President’s Council.
Leger is a founding board member and vice president of the Louisiana Institute for Children in Families, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Judicial College, and has lectured regularly over the years at Tulane University School of Law, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, LSU Law School, Tulane University, the Loyola University Institute of Politics, and at conferences around the country for organizations like the National Conference of State Legislators, the Southern Legislative Conference, and the Council of State Governments, Justice Center among others.
Leger is also an adjunct professor of Law at Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law. He currently resides in New Orleans with his wife, Danielle and daughters Cate and Caroline.
