Justin B. Schmidt

Justin B. Schmidt is a partner in the New Orleans office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. His principal area of practice is centered in Real Estate where he focuses on land use and a variety of zoning related matters, representing companies, developers and individuals with various entitlement issues before city/parish councils, planning commissions and boards of zoning adjustments throughout the region. Justin also brings nearly twenty (20) years of experience in commercial transactions, mortgage lending and other types of financing, real and personal property tax issues, and landlord/tenant negotiations.

Mr. Schmidt has represented national retailers/big box companies in New Orleans like Walgreens, Lowe's Home Centers, Church's Chicken and CVS pharmacies. He also represented real estate projects since Hurricane Katrina that have been significant in rebuilding New Orleans, including many of the new charter schools that were organized in the immediate wake of the that storm. It was during this time that Mr. Schmidt began to expand his practice into the area of education law, focusing on one of his passions, the PK-12 school arena. In addition to his efforts to help in the revitalization of New Orleans, he has represented lenders and developers in connection with the acquisition, divestiture, development, leasing and financing of shopping centers, office buildings, apartments, condominiums, low-income housing, restaurants and hotel developments.

Mr. Schmidt worked in commercial banking with Trustmark National Bank in Jackson, Mississippi and Hibernia National Bank in New Orleans before attending the Paul M. Hebert Law Center of Louisiana State University to earn his juris doctor in 1998. He currently serves as a Trustee for the Oscar Lee Putnam Cultural Endowment and is a commissioned reserve deputy with the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office. In the past, he has served on the boards of the Louisiana Children’s Museum, Louise S. McGehee School, the YMCA of Greater New Orleans, the Garden District Association and the St. Charles Avenue Association.

Practice Areas

Education

Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, J.D., 1998

University of Mississippi, B.B.A., 1992 (Double Majors in Banking and Finance and Managerial Finance)

Isidore Newman School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1988

Admissions

Louisiana

Experience

Attorney, Adams and Reese, LLP (November 2005-December 2017)

Attorney, Chaffe McCall, L.L.C., New Orleans, Louisiana (September 1998-November 2005)

Banking Officer, Hibernia National Bank, New Orleans, Louisiana (1993-1994)

Banking Officer, Trustmark National Bank, Jackson, Mississippi (1992-1993)

Professional Associations

New Orleans Bar Association

Louisiana State Bar Association

American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

Community Involvement

Trustee/Officer, Oscar Lee Putnam Cultural and Enrichment Endowment

Commissioned Reserve Deputy - Orleans Parish Sheriff's Department

Former Board Member, Louise S. McGhee School

Former Board Member, Louisiana Children's Museum

Honors and Awards

Chambers USA, Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Business in Area of Real Estate

Publications

Partner - New Orleans