The Louisiana Bar Foundation (LBF) is seeking nominations for the 2025 Curtis R. Boisfontaine Trial Advocacy Award. Nominations must be received in the LBF office by Monday, February 10, 2025. The award will be presented at the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in Destin, Florida. The recipient will receive a plaque and $1,000 will be donated in their name to a non-profit, law-related program or association of their choice who provides services in Louisiana.
This trial advocacy award was established through an endowment to the Louisiana Bar Foundation in memory of Curtis R. Boisfontaine, who served as President of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. Generous donations from Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, LLP, the Boisfontaine Family and friends established the fund.
A consummate trial lawyer throughout his career, Boisfontaine adhered at all times to the highest
standards of the profession not only in the way he demonstrated his extraordinary ability to prepare and try cases of all kinds, but in the exemplary way that he did so, consistent with the highest ideals of ethical and moral conduct. He was president of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. He served on the New Orleans Bar Association Executive Committee and American Bar Association House of Delegates. A charter member of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, Boisfontaine served as state chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. He was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
The award is given to a Louisiana attorney who exhibits long standing devotion to and excellence in trial practice and upholds the standards of ethics and consideration for the court, litigants, and all counsel. Previous recipients are: Robert B. Acomb, Jr., Adrianne L. Baumgartner, Jack C. Benjamin, Sr., Kim M. Boyle, Wood Brown III, William K. Christovich, William R. Forrester, Jr., George A. Frilot III, Charles F. Gay, Jr., H. Alston Johnson III, Patrick A. Juneau, Gene W. Lafitte, Christine Lipsey, Daniel Lund, John R. Martzell, John M. McCollam, Patrick S. Ottinger, Henry C. Perret, Jr., Harry J. Philips, Jr., Mary Olive Pierson, Herschel E. Richard, Jr., Timothy G. Schafer, John B. Scofield, J. Michael Small, Allen Lewis Smith, Jr., Emmett C. Sole, Eugene J. Sues, Edward J. Walters, Jr., Charles S. Weems III, John J. Weigel, and Phillip A. Wittmann.
Nominations should include nominee’s name, contact information, a brief written statement on the background of the nominee, as well as reasons why the nominee is proposed as the award recipient. Nominations should be forwarded to Dennette Young at the Louisiana Bar Foundation, 1615 Poydras Street, Suite 1000, New Orleans, LA 70112 or to Dennette@raisingthebar.org by Monday, February 10, 2025.
