New Orleans City Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso Joins Phelps to Expand Government Relations Practice
NEW ORLEANS — NOV. 11, 2024 — Phelps Dunbar is pleased to announce that New Orleans City Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso III will join the firm as counsel in its New Orleans and Baton Rouge offices on Jan. 1, 2025.
Joe will be the newest member of Phelps’ growing Government Relations and Public Policy team, which includes an experienced group of lawyers in Louisiana, Tennessee and Mississippi. His addition enhances Phelps’ long-standing commitment to clients in the region as a partner in guiding businesses through economic development initiatives and steering projects through the multilayered regulatory landscape in Louisiana and throughout the firm’s Gulf South footprint.
"It is with great excitement that we welcome Joe Giarrusso to our team at Phelps. Prior to and during his tenure on the city council, I have had the pleasure of working with Joe and witnessing his impressive leadership,” said Kim M. Boyle, vice managing partner of Phelps’ New Orleans office. “His experience in legislative and public policy matters, particularly in securing funding and approvals for vital projects on a bipartisan and collaborative basis, will greatly enhance our firm's capabilities. Joe's ability to work effectively with individuals from all political backgrounds and to work with New Orleans citizens in every single neighborhood throughout the city has earned him a reputation as a highly respected figure in our community. Joe’s work, including mental health and public safety initiatives, has been incredibly impactful, and Phelps looks forward to working with Joe as he continues to have a positive impact on Louisiana.”
As businesses seek to establish a foothold or expand their current operations in Louisiana, they confront the complexities of state and local requirements, including environmental regulations, zoning laws and building codes, among others. Joe’s knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes will help clients overcome compliance challenges. His desire to hear from and build rapport with diverse stakeholders helps ensure grassroots support for clients’ projects. His experience leading budget, infrastructure and other regulatory programs helps the Phelps team execute strategies to secure economic development incentives and programs to boost clients’ growth.
"I am proud of my work for city residents as a public servant on the New Orleans City Council, and I am equally enthusiastic to share my experience in this role to expand the firm's government relations practice outside of New Orleans," said Joe. "Phelps is a deeply respected firm with both a rich history in Louisiana and an innovative, forward-looking approach to client service. All of this drew me to Phelps as a return to my law firm roots in a new role. I know we will work together effectively on existing and new matters in Louisiana and throughout the firm's footprint.”
Marshall M. Redmon, managing partner at Phelps, said, “Joe has a proven track record and reputation as an honorable public servant, lawyer and all-around human, and we are really pleased that he has chosen Phelps for his next pivotal role in government relations. Joe amplifies our firm’s presence and commitment to businesses in the region and deepens our government relations service offerings for clients here and in our greater footprint.”
Joe joins Phelps from his solo practice. He has more than two decades of legal experience. Since 2018, he has served on the New Orleans City Council, where he represents District A. Joe led the council through two major tax reassessment cycles and worked with colleagues to keep millage rates stable and save money for residents without reducing funding for city services. He led the effort to build a new power substation that will provide newer, cleaner and more reliable energy for New Orleans’ drainage system. Joe advocated for a millage to pay for more than 1,000 seats at early learning centers for low-income families. He proposed and voters passed two charter changes to make the city more efficient and equitable. Finally, his budget allocation for gap-financing programs resulted in the creation of nearly 1,200 affordable housing units.
Joe earned his J.D. from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Herbert Law Center, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. He was selected for Order of the Coif and was a member of Louisiana Law Review. He earned his B.A. in history from the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with high honors.
