Deirdre C.
McGlinchey
- Position
- Partner
- Office
- New Orleans
Deirdre McGlinchey is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the commercial disputes team, where she focuses on products liability defense, multidistrict litigation, and complex commercial disputes.
Deirdre is a seasoned trial lawyer with deep experience defending clients in individual claims, class actions, and multidistrict litigation before state and federal courts across the United States. She regularly represents large manufacturers and other publicly traded and privately held companies in high-stakes products liability cases involving construction, mining, and agricultural equipment; diesel and natural gas engines; industrial turbines; automotive design; marine propulsion systems; toxic torts; and medical devices. Deirdre’s national practice has taken her to courts throughout the country, with particular depth handling matters in her home state of Louisiana as well as in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
With long-standing relationships across the Gulf South and deep roots in New Orleans, Deirdre brings both national trial experience and regional business acumen to every matter. She represents clients from a broad spectrum of industries, including some of the country’s largest heavy equipment manufacturers, healthcare entities, and companies in the transportation, logistics, and chemical sectors. Her practice also encompasses matters involving the private corrections industry and other complex regulatory environments.
Deirdre is a “boots on the ground” litigator who immerses herself in her clients’ businesses and operations. Whether exploring a factory floor, descending into a coal mine, or studying the technical specifications of industrial equipment, she commits to understanding the practical realities and technical details that drive each dispute. This hands-on approach, combined with her experience as a leader and member of national trial teams, enables Deirdre to develop comprehensive strategies that address both the legal and business dimensions of complex litigation. Her broad experience across diverse legal disciplines, industries, technologies, and federal and state regulatory schemes allows her to identify the unique aspects of each matter and the strategic approaches that have proven effective in similar contexts.
Above all, Deirdre loves trial work. She thrives in every phase of litigation, from initial case strategy and discovery through depositions, motion practice, and arguments before judges and juries. She is a tireless advocate who embraces the demands of trial preparation and courtroom advocacy with equal enthusiasm. At the same time, Deirdre’s deep trial experience has given her the judgment to recognize when clients’ interests are best served through settlement negotiations, and she has successfully resolved numerous disputes before trial through strategic negotiation and alternative dispute resolution.
Before joining Jones Walker, Deirdre was a partner at McGlinchey Stafford, where she was active in firm management, serving on the firm’s Policy Committee and as the former head of its General Litigation section. Her leadership experience in law firm management complements her trial practice, giving her insight into building and managing efficient legal teams for complex, multijurisdictional matters.
Deirdre is deeply engaged in the professional legal community and serves in leadership positions with numerous organizations. She currently serves as vice dean of the Louisiana Consular Corps and is a fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation. She is an active member of the Product Liability Advisory Council and serves on the boards of several bar associations and professional organizations. Deirdre’s professional involvement keeps her at the forefront of developments in her fields of practice.
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