Baton Rouge, LA, July 13, 2004 – The law firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P. is pleased to announce that Richard F. Cortizas has joined the firm as special counsel.  Mr. Cortizas will focus his practice on governmental relations and public finance.  He will work in both the Baton Rouge office and the New Orleans office.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cortizas served as the regional director for United States Senator Mary Landrieu and was responsible for local and state legislative agendas, served as liaison between the Senator and local community/legislative elected officials and was the Senator’s local community/legislative representative.  He served as the Director of International Relations and Trade Development and Deputy Director of International and Inter-Governmental Relations for the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, Marc H. Morial.  Additionally, Mr. Cortizas served as the Director of Government Affairs for the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

On the international front, he has coordinated various trade missions in Latin American and the Caribbean, served as a campaign consultant and advisor to the President of Nicaragua, made presentations before the Louisiana Bond Commission on international opportunities and has worked with and lobbied numerous members of the Diplomatic Corp and elected officials throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.

He received his J.D. and B.B.A. from Loyola University New Orleans.  He is a former Fellow of the Loyola University New Orleans Institute of Politics (1995) and is a member of the American, Louisiana and New Orleans Bar Associations and the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

“Richard’s energy and ingenuity, combined with his experience, makes him and ideal member of our Government Relations team,” said Charles Landry, Managing Partner of the Baton Rouge office. “Richard will serve our clients well.”