Harassed at work in New Orleans? Document everything, then call.
Top Sexual Harassment Lawyers in New Orleans, LA
Workplace sexual harassment is illegal under both federal and Louisiana law, and most employee-side lawyers take these cases without charging up front. These nine verified New Orleans firms represent workers in harassment and retaliation claims, each confirmed against at least two independent sources.
Updated June 04, 202612 min readEditorially independent
If you are being sexually harassed at work in New Orleans, the law protects you on two levels. Federal law - Title VII of the Civil Rights Act - bans sexual harassment at employers with 15 or more workers, and Louisiana's own employment discrimination law adds state-level protection. Both cover quid pro quo harassment, where job benefits are tied to sexual conduct, and hostile work environments, where unwelcome conduct is severe or pervasive enough to change your working conditions.
Here is the single most important thing to do today, before you call anyone: write down what happened, in order, with dates and names, and save every text, email, and message. Do not delete anything. Harassment cases are won on documentation, and the record you preserve now is often the strongest evidence later. Note who witnessed what, and keep copies somewhere outside your work accounts.
Most of the firms below are employee-side - they represent workers, not employers - and many handle harassment on a mix of contingency and hourly depending on the claim. Several of the same New Orleans firms that handle wrongful termination also handle sexual harassment, because the claims often overlap. We verified each against at least two independent sources and excluded the management-side defense firms that show up in the same searches.
How we picked these 9: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable New Orleans-area sexual harassment practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Stiegler Law Firm, L.L.C.
New Orleans, LAEmployee-side employment firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, hostile work environment, workplace discrimination, retaliation, unpaid wages
Charles J. Stiegler leads this New Orleans employment firm on Harrison Avenue, representing individual workers against employers of every size, from local shops to large national companies. The practice covers workplace harassment and discrimination alongside unpaid overtime, wages, and commission claims.
Why they made the list: Charles Stiegler has been selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers in Labor and Employment for multiple years and is profiled on Super Lawyers and Justia.
New Orleans, LAEmployee-side employment & civil rights firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, civil rights
Founded in 2018 by Casey Rose Denson, this New Orleans firm on Harrison Avenue is dedicated to protecting employee rights across Louisiana and Mississippi. It represents employees subjected to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, including filing EEOC charges and litigating in federal and state court.
Why they made the list: Casey Denson has been named to Super Lawyers and a New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyer in Labor and Employment, and is listed on Justia and Expertise.com.
New Orleans, LAEmployee-side boutique employment firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment discrimination, retaliation, FMLA, unpaid wages
Kerry Murphy Law is a boutique employment firm dedicated to representing employees, based on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Founder Kerry Murphy litigates sexual harassment, discrimination, FMLA, and wage claims in Louisiana federal courts and previously clerked for a U.S. District Judge.
Why they made the list: Kerry Murphy has been selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers after years on the Rising Stars list, with profiles on Super Lawyers, Avvo, and Expertise.com.
New Orleans / Covington, LAEmployee-side employment firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation
Kevin S. Vogeltanz has more than a decade of experience litigating employment cases in every Louisiana federal court, representing workers who have been wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, sexually harassed, and retaliated against. His client base spans federal, state, and private-sector workers across many industries.
Why they made the list: Vogeltanz is regularly recognized as a top Louisiana employment lawyer by Super Lawyers, New Orleans Magazine, and Avvo, with profiles on Martindale and FindLaw.
New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LAEmployee-side employment firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, gender discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, whistleblower claims
Robert B. Landry III represents employees who have experienced sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, and retaliation, with offices in New Orleans on Canal Street and in Baton Rouge. Before founding his plaintiff-side practice in 2002, he spent roughly 14 years in the labor and employment group of a major firm. He also serves as an employment-law mediator.
Why they made the list: Landry holds a Martindale-Hubbell peer rating and is profiled on FindLaw, Martindale, and Yelp as a dedicated New Orleans employment lawyer.
New Orleans, LAEmployee-side employment & whistleblower firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment discrimination, whistleblower litigation, wrongful termination
Established in 1989, Victor R. Farrugia's firm represents employees in sexual harassment, discrimination, whistleblower, and wrongful termination matters. Farrugia is certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization as both an Employment Law Specialist and a Labor Law Specialist, with over 30 years of employment-law experience across the metro parishes.
Why they made the list: Farrugia has held Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent peer rating for more than two decades and is board-certified in employment and labor law.
New Orleans, LAEmployee-side employment & wage firm
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, unpaid wages, retaliation, civil rights
Founded in 2014, Kenneth C. Bordes represents employees in harassment and discrimination matters as well as wage theft and unpaid-wage claims, plus civil rights and plaintiff personal injury. The firm emphasizes recovering earned wages, commissions, and bonuses for workers. Bordes is a graduate of Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
Why they made the list: Kenneth Bordes has been selected to Super Lawyers and is listed among Super Lawyers' top-rated New Orleans sexual harassment attorneys, with an Avvo profile.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment discrimination, retaliation, pregnancy discrimination
The Minias Law Firm, led by Chris Minias, is a New Orleans practice representing employees who have experienced unlawful workplace practices, including sexual harassment and discrimination. The firm has represented pregnant workers discriminated against by their employers and focuses on helping employees secure safe, lawful workplaces.
Why they made the list: The firm maintains a BBB business profile and is listed among New Orleans employment and discrimination practices on Expertise.com and Lawyers.com.
Practice focus: Sexual harassment, employment discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, ADA and FMLA
James L. Arruebarrena is a New Orleans employee-rights attorney with more than 20 years of experience helping workers who have been discriminated against, harassed, or retaliated against. His practice covers Title VII, ADA, FMLA, and sexual harassment cases, and he reports recovering significant sums for wronged employees.
Why they made the list: Arruebarrena is profiled on Martindale and Lawyer.com and listed on LawyerLand as a dedicated New Orleans employee-side employment attorney.
Tell us what happened, in your own words. We will connect you with a New Orleans employment lawyer who handles sexual harassment cases. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in New Orleans
Confirm they represent employees, not employers. Some New Orleans firms defend companies against harassment claims. For your case you want a plaintiff-side firm built around workers.
Ask about the EEOC and the filing deadline. Federal harassment claims usually require an EEOC charge within a strict window - often 300 days in Louisiana. A good lawyer maps your deadlines at the first meeting.
Look for someone who has tried these cases. Employers settle faster when the firm across the table actually litigates. Ask how many harassment cases they have taken through suit or trial.
Get the fee structure in writing. Employee-side firms commonly use contingency for harassment claims and hourly for advisory work. Confirm which applies and what costs you owe.
Notice how they treat you at intake. These cases are personal and stressful. The right lawyer listens, believes you, and explains the process clearly from the first call.
What sexual harassment help typically costs in New Orleans
Most employee-side sexual harassment lawyers in New Orleans evaluate cases for free and work on contingency. Here is what to expect:
Initial consultation. Free to modest at most firms on this list.
Up-front cost. Often $0. Strong harassment claims are frequently taken on contingency.
Contingency fee. Commonly around 33% to 40% of the recovery, sometimes depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. Get the exact terms in writing.
Hourly work. Some advisory or pre-suit work may be billed hourly, with New Orleans rates roughly in the $250 to $450 range.
Case costs. Filing fees, depositions, and experts may be advanced by the firm and repaid from any recovery. Confirm what happens if you do not win.
Because most firms evaluate harassment claims for free, there is little cost to getting a professional opinion. Choose on experience and fit.
How long it takes
Sexual harassment cases move in stages, and the timeline depends on whether the case settles or goes to trial:
Intake and investigation. A few weeks. The firm gathers your timeline, documents, and witness information.
EEOC charge. Filed with the EEOC, often within 300 days of the conduct in Louisiana. A right-to-sue notice can follow when requested.
Filing suit and discovery. Several months to over a year. Both sides exchange documents and take depositions. Many cases settle during this phase.
Settlement or trial. Many harassment cases settle before trial. If yours goes to trial, expect well over a year from filing, depending on the court's calendar.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a sexual harassment lawyer in New Orleans
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many sexual harassment matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your New Orleans consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most sexual harassment matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Sexual Harassment attorney in New Orleans
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about sexual harassment lawyers in New Orleans
What counts as sexual harassment under the law?
Two main types: quid pro quo, where job benefits are tied to sexual conduct, and a hostile work environment, where unwelcome conduct is severe or pervasive enough to alter your working conditions. A single serious incident can qualify. Both federal Title VII and Louisiana law apply.
Do I have to report it to HR first?
Reporting internally can strengthen your case, but it is not always required to have a claim. If reporting feels unsafe, talk to a lawyer first - they can advise on the safest way to document and proceed.
What is the deadline to file?
For federal claims, you generally must file an EEOC charge within 300 days of the harassment in Louisiana, then file suit within 90 days of a right-to-sue notice. Deadlines are strict - act quickly.
What if the harasser is a customer or client, not my boss?
Your employer can still be liable for harassment by non-employees such as customers or vendors if it knew or should have known and failed to act. Report it and document the response.
Can men file sexual harassment claims?
Yes. The law protects all employees regardless of sex, and harassment can occur between any combination of people. The legal standard is the same.
Will I have to quit my job?
Not necessarily. The law also protects you from retaliation for reporting harassment. If conditions become intolerable and you are forced out, that may be constructive discharge, which a lawyer can evaluate.
What if the harassment happened over text or social media?
Off-site and online harassment by a coworker or supervisor can still create a hostile work environment if it affects your work. Save the messages and screenshots and do not delete anything.
What is my case worth?
It depends on the conduct, the harm, your lost wages, and the evidence. Federal and state law allow recovery for lost pay, emotional distress, and in serious cases punitive damages, plus attorney fees. A lawyer can give you a realistic range.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
Helpful next steps
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