Attorney Profiles

Biography

Shareholder Burton LeBlanc’s connection with and love for Louisiana and the law run long and deep. As a child Burton was mesmerized by his grandfather who was a “country lawyer” with a diverse, thriving and unflappable practice. In fact his grandfather’s choice of profession so impressed Burton that he never once contemplated any career other than the law.

After graduation from Loyola University School of Law, Burton, whose Louisiana roots extend to French colonists in the 1700s, had a chance encounter that would change his life. In the course of what he thought would be a “predictable” legal career, Burton was asked to represent a man suffering from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos. Burton not only filed the first case against that man’s employer but also developed a passion for the many people in Louisiana who had been harmed by workplace exposure to harmful contaminants. This case led to more handling of asbestos cases and, ultimately, Burton’s namesake law firm was designated by both the Louisiana AFL-CIO and The Louisiana NAACP as those organizations’ occupational disease counsel.

In 1996 Burton founded LeBlanc & Waddell and began not only to litigate cases but to also follow his passion to serve as an advocate for victims’ rights and consumers at the Louisiana Legislature and before the United States Congress. Burton has served as president of the Louisiana Association for Justice (Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association). He has been appointed to numerous committees by federal courts and the Louisiana Supreme Court. He has testified before the Louisiana legislature, appeared on radio and television shows, and spoken at numerous legal seminars. Burton is active in the American Association for Justice where he serves on the Board of Governors, National Finance Committee, PAC Committee and the Leaders Forum. Most recently, Burton was a recipient of the Wiedemann Wysocki National Finance Council Award and also serves as Vice-President of the Council of Presidents for State Trial Lawyer Associations. He also serves as President of Cancer Services of Greater Baton Rouge, one of the largest non-profits in the greater Baton Rouge area.

Burton’s firm, LeBlanc & Waddell, joined forces with the Dallas-based plaintiffs’ firm Baron & Budd, PC in 2004 in order to create an even stronger force to battle corporate misconduct. With the consolidation of the two firm's in 2008, Burton became a shareholder at Baron & Budd.

Burton’s personal life is just as full as his professional life. He is an active husband and father to four daughters. In addition Burton is active in his church and in his children’s schools and serves on various committees with both.