Adams and Reese attorney Leslie Lanusse and Linda Soileau, the law firm’s director of human resources, have been selected among the 2013 class of “Women of the Year” by New Orleans CityBusiness as the publication marks the 15th anniversary of recognizing 50 individuals for their professional career and community contributions.
A cocktail reception and dinner program will be held Nov. 14 at the Hyatt Regency, where the overall 2013 Woman of the Year will be announced. A special insert profiling all Women of the Year honorees will run in
Lanusse joined Adams and Reese in 1985 and is a Partner serving on the Labor and Employment team. She has more than two decades of experience in the representation of management in all phases of employee relations. Her experience has included defending claims of discrimination before the EEOC and the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights; handling claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state compensation commissions; defense of OSHA and environmental whistleblower claims before administrative agencies; defense of FMLA claims; defense of claims of violation by employers of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; and defending employers during investigation of compliance with wage and hour laws.
Lanusse was named among the 2013 class of “Leadership in Law” by CityBusiness, and she is listed in Best Lawyers (by BL Rankings, LLC), Super Lawyers (by Thomson Reuters) and Chambers USA in Labor and Employment law, and was named among the BTI Client Service All-Stars for 2011 and 2012.
When Soileau joined Adams and Reese in human resources in 2001, the law firm had 180 attorneys and six offices. Twelve years later, under Linda’s leadership as Director of Human Resources of the entire firm, Adams and Reese has grown to more than 340 attorneys located in 16 offices throughout the Southern United States and Washington DC. She has overseen the execution of six mergers, the expansion of 10 offices, and the addition of more than 150 lawyers through a decade of innovative, regional growth strategies, and she has helped steer Adams and Reese into one of the most solid, diversified and well-managed firms in the nation.
Soileau oversees an Employee Committee Action and Response Team. The firm is committed to supporting ideas and suggestions
Soileau has also helped guide the law firm’s employee volunteer program HUGS, (Hope, Understanding, Giving and Support) which for 25 years has devoted financial resources and thousands of volunteer hours to more than 200 community service organizations nationwide.