Biography

PROFILE

Mr. Burns was graduated from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert School of Law in 1991. He entered private practice immediately and has been almost exclusively involved in litigation matters since that time, serving as lead counsel in over 150 trials in 17 different Louisiana parishes. Mr. Burns is a partner with the law firm of Perry, Balhoff, Mengis & Burns, L.L.C. His twenty-seven years of practice focused on insurance, personal injury and general casualty litigation. Mr. Burns is admitted to practice law in Louisiana, U.S. District Courts: Western, Middle, Eastern Districts of Louisiana, U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

In 2015, Mr. Burns was sworn in as President of the Baton Rouge Bar Association after serving on its Board of Directors since 2005. Additionally, in 2012, Mr. Burns served as Secretary/Treasurer of Louisiana State Bar Association’s Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution and has been a Section Council Member since 2010. He has also served as an elected member of the Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates from 2004-2006. In 2002, he was nominated by the President of the Louisiana State Bar Association to the first 2003 class of "Leadership LSBA."

Mr. Burns is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators® since 2010. He is a past speaker and 2003 Co-chair of LSBA Annual Seminar, "Practicing Law -The Early Years". He has presented on numerous other subjects such as “Mediation Techniques and Why Honesty is Always the Best Policy”. AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for legal ability and adherence to professional standards of ethics.

Additionally, Mr. Burns served as the Past-President of the River City Kiwanis Club in 1997. He was on the Board of Directors of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart of New Orleans Alumni Association from 1996-2000. Moreover, in 1996-1998, he served as Council Member for the Baton Rouge Bar Association Young Lawyers Section.

Mr. Burns is married to Melissa Reeves Burns of New Roads, Louisiana, and they have four sons, Trey, Reid, Jack and Hays.

TESTIMONIALS

“That was a difficult and emotional case. I thought you did a really good job of not getting upset with my clients. You kept us focused and got the job done.”

“Bubby was great! Made my job very easy! Looking forward to using him again.”

“…Bubby went out of his way to keep the negotiations going and tirelessly made himself available – even over the weekends, which ultimately prompted an acceptable resolution…”

“Bubby was exceptional in helping the parties to find common ground, and the case settled that afternoon. … My clients felt that they had been treated with respect by the mediator and were very satisfied with the outcome.”

“Your expertise was crucial in getting both sides together to arrive at the ultimate settlement figure.”

“Same good experience I have always had.”