Kathlyn Perez focuses her practice on employment law, commercial litigation and Louisiana property law. She represents clients before the EEOC and state and federal courts, defending them against charges of age, race, sex discrimination and sexual harassment and other related issues.
Ms. Perez has extensive knowledge regarding Louisiana servitudes, and has defended railroads against claims of servitudes of passage over railroad crossings. Ms. Perez recently assisted in obtaining the first judgment from a Louisiana court holding that a railroad crossing is not subject to adverse possession under Louisiana law. She has also assisted in matters dealing with expropriations of land for natural gas pipelines and other matters regarding rights of passage and mineral servitudes. In addition, she is currently working for a national non-profit client to develop a grant program to assist 125 teachers, police and first responders in five neighborhoods in purchasing new green sustainable homes throughout the New Orleans area.
Ms. Perez devotes a significant amount of time to pro bono work. She currently serves as house counsel for the Junior League of New Orleans, volunteers with the HELP program, and handles individual matters concerning curatorship, child custody, child support, wills, powers of attorney and other related family issues.
Ms. Perez was a research analyst for the Republican National Committee in Washington, D.C., before returning to New Orleans to attend Tulane University School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Perez was the research assistant to A.N. Yiannopoulos, Eason Weinmann Professor of Comparative Law, who she assisted in the 2006 – 2007 revision of the Louisiana Civil Code, primarily on the property law articles. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Perez served as law clerk to the Hon. G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
- Co-presenter – "Thinking Outside the Box: Creative Ways to Solve Your Pro Bono Client's Problems," Professionalism CLE, Pro Bono Project, February 8, 2011
- Panelist – "Service on Community Boards and Professionalism," Professionalism CLE, New Orleans Bar Association, Procrastinator's Program, December 22, 2010
- Presenter – "Facebook: Employer's Friend or Foe?" – ABA – EEO Committee CLE, April 21, 2010
- Panelist – "Pro Bono and Public Service Work – Serving the Community, Serving Your Clients,” New Orleans Bar Association, December 17, 2009
- Co-presenter – "Recent Developments in Governmental Response to Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis," May 7, 2009
- Co-presenter – "Guidance on the New FMLA Regulations," – ABA – EEO Committee CLE, April 15, 2009
- Recipient – Louisiana State Bar Association's 2009 Pro Bono Publico Award
- Recipient – National and Louisiana Appleseed 2009 Good Apple Award
- Recipient – Baker Donelson's 2009 Firm-Wide Pro Bono Award
- Member – Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association
- Executive Committee – Louisiana State Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment
- House Counsel – The Junior League of New Orleans, 2010 – 2011
- 2011 – 2012 Advisory Board Chair – The Salvation Army, Greater New Orleans Area Command
- Advisory Board Member – Washington and Lee University, New Orleans Alumni Chapter
- Tulane University Law School, J.D. with Civil Law Certificate, 2006, magna cum laude
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, Tulane Law Review
- Recipient, John Minor Wisdom Award
- Washington and Lee University, B.S., 2002, cum laude