Lou Bonnaffons is a principal partner at Leake Andersson and a native New Orleanian. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Louisiana State University in 1988 and graduated from Loyola University School of Law in 1992.
For the first four years of his legal career, Lou worked for a small New Orleans law firm defending bus and streetcar claims for the Regional Transit Authority. He also briefly worked as a prosecutor for the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office. In 1996, Lou joined Leake Andersson. His practice focuses on transportation, insurance defense, and general litigation.
Lou serves as Louisiana’s catastrophic loss and emergency response counsel for several transportation companies and insurers. He has successfully litigated cases across Louisiana’s 64 parishes and has participated in hundreds of mediations.
Dating back to 2005, Lou has consistently received Martindale’s highest AV rating for Legal Ability and Ethical Standards and has been recognized numerous times as one of the Top Lawyers in New Orleans and Louisiana.
Lou is the former chairman of ALFA International’s Transportation Practice Group. He was elected by his peers to serve on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. Lou is also a member of The Transportation Lawyers Association of Defense Counsel, New Orleans Bar Association, New Orleans Pro Bono Project, and Louis Martinet Legal Society.
Lou was elected to, and continues to serve on, the Brother Martin High School Alumni Board.
Lou has been married to Christy Zitzmann Bonnaffons since 1992 and they are very proud of their three adult children.
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Since 2005
- New Orleans Magazine, Top Lawyers 2021-23 | Transportation Law
- ALFA International Transportation Practice Group Leadership Team, 2015-2018
- Chairman of the ALFA International Transportation Practice Group, 2018
