Luke F. Piontek

Luke Piontek has over 30 years of legal experience, with his practice focusing primarily on complex litigation and some corporate and transactional work. He has litigated hundreds of lawsuits for both plaintiffs and defendants involving a wide variety of matters including contractual disputes, regulated utility cases (such as rate cases, investigations, plant certification cases and other utility matters), class actions and expropriation (eminent domain) suits. Over the last decade, Luke has been fortunate to represent a diverse client base, including major chemical companies, commercial interests, such as real estate developers and a chilled water plant owner, the State of Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Jefferson Parish, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orelans, and individuals.

His work with expropriation issues includes serving as the supervising attorney since 2010 on an expropriation project involving the acquisition of 446 parcels (70 acres) of property in mid-city New Orleans, Louisiana on behalf of Louisiana State University and State of Louisiana, Division of Administration for the construction of the new LSU University Medical Center (to replace Charity Hospital) and the new Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This project encompasses over 125 expropriation suits. Luke has litigated numerous cases ranging in value from $10 million to $40 million. In the class action arena, Luke has secured victories and settlements for his clients totaling over $100 million.

Luke was born in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil while his parents served there as missionaries for the Catholic Church. He grew up in New Iberia, Louisiana and attended Louisiana State University. While attending LSU, Luke was inducted as a founding member of Pi Sigma Alpha, an Honorary Political Science Fraternity. Luke earned his B.A. degree from LSU in Political Science in 1986 and then went on to pursue his Juris Doctorate at Paul M. Hebert (LSU) Law School, graduating in 1989. After practicing with a solo practitioner, Luke joined Roedel Parsons in 1993 and has been a partner with the firm since 1998. He is also the Managing Shareholder of the firm (effective January 1, 2021), and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors.

Luke is admitted to practice in Louisiana state courts and before all U.S. District Courts in Louisiana. He is also admitted to practice before the Eastern District of Texas, the Southern District of Mississippi, and the Middle District of Florida, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit. Luke is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Federal Bar Associations.

Luke has been recognized in the field of Energy Law since 2013 in Best Lawyers in America, the oldest peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession which recognizes the top 5% of attorneys nationwide. Luke has also been ranked "Band 1" (the highest rating) by Chambers USA, also a peer-reviewed publication acknowledging the top 5% of attorneys in the country. He has presented at several Continuing Legal Education seminars on topics pertaining to expropriation. Luke has also been selected to Super Lawyers since 2023.

Luke and his wife, Mindy, live in Baton Rouge with their two sons. Luke is a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church and volunteers with St. Vincent dePaul serving the citizens of Baton Rouge. In his spare time, Luke enjoys following LSU sports and the Saints, as well as playing soccer with the Baton Rouge Soccer Club and surfing on the Florida panhandle.

Areas of Practice

Regulatory and Administrative Law
Expropriation and Eminent Domain/Condemnation
Commercial Litigation and Contract Disputes
Class Actions

Bar Admissions

Louisiana
U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana
U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court Southern District of Mississippi
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida

Education

Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
J.D. - 1989
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
B.A. - 1986
Major: Political Science

Classes/Seminars

"Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law”, Legal Issues for Louisiana Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors, 2015 to 2015
“Expropriation Law”, CLE of Louisiana / 2015 Conference, 2015 to 2015
“Attorneys’ Guide to Local Government Law” (Expropriation Actions), National Business Institute , 2015 to 2015

Honors and Awards

Best Lawyers in America in Energy Law
"Band I" ranking with Chambers USA
Most Honored Attorneys, The American Registry
Super Lawyers since 2023

Professional Associations and Memberships

Baton Rouge Bar Association, Member, Present
Louisiana State Bar Association, Member, Present
Federal Bar Association, Present
New Orleans Bar Association, Present

Fraternities/Sororities

Pi Sigma Alpha

Managing Shareholder