Adams and Reese Partner Chris Kane was installed as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Greater New Orleans, Inc. at the economic development agency’s 2024 Annual Luncheon, held Friday, Jan. 12, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.
The annual meeting, which hosts over 1,500 attendees, highlights the past year’s accomplishments, installs the incoming board of directors and NextGen Council, and provides an overview of the priorities of GNO, Inc. and its partners for the ensuing year.
GNO, Inc. is the regional economic development nonprofit serving the 10-parish region of Southeast Louisiana that includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes. Over its 20 years, GNO, Inc. has aided in $40 billion of investment, and helped create more than 16,000 jobs with an annual salary of $78,000 (44% above average).
At Adams and Reese, Kane is the Global Trade, Transportation and Logistics Team Leader.
Practicing law for 20 years, Kane counsels clients on economic development, transportation law, construction law, regulatory and government relations, disaster recovery, and highly specific litigation matters. Kane helps public-private partnerships produce new enterprises or expand existing ones, creating solid and sustainable jobs. He handles government relations work, designs and negotiates incentive packages, provides legal advice on financing, helps with construction and architect contracts, and deals with virtually any issue that arises for businesses.
Kane is well respected within the political, business, and community circles in Louisiana and across the Southeast United States. He has earned the trust of local, state, and federal political leaders and public agencies. After Hurricane Katrina, Kane helped organizations with recovery and related legal issues. He co-founded a nonprofit corporation designed to assist small business recovery, Desire NOLA, which has been nominated for numerous service awards and recognized by community leaders.
Kane’s experience with disaster recovery informs his volunteer work for a number of chambers of commerce and economic development organizations as they help members manage post-COVID-19 response. Following the pandemic, he assisted hundreds of businesses with CARES Act and PPP-related guidance. His podcast, BOOM! The Southeastern Commerce Podcast, brought together regional business, government, and legal leaders to discuss what's new and what's next for commerce in the Southeast.