Overview
Judy Burnthorn is a seasoned litigator and trial attorney, experienced in complex commercial litigation, directors & officers, fidelity law, insurance coverage and professional liability. She joined Strauss Massey Dinneen LLC after practicing at a prominent downtown law firm, serving as a partner, the Head of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, a member of its Managing Committee, and its General Counsel.
Judy graduated from Louisiana State University in 1982 summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, concentrating in political philosophy. She entered Tulane Law School where she served as a member of the Tulane Law Review, was named to the Order of the Coif, and graduated magna cum laude. While at Tulane, Judy completed an externship with the Honorable Martin L. C. Feldman in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Judy has handled a wide variety of commercial cases in arbitration, alternate dispute resolution, and judge and jury trials across Louisiana and Mississippi federal and state courts. She litigated, drafted coverage opinions, and conducted investigations in the employment, fidelity bond, and crime policy areas. In the professional liability area, she has handled defense and coverage issues relating to lawyers, Certified Public Accountants, registered representatives, insurance agents, realtors, insurance adjusters, and funeral directors. She has handled lawsuits in the areas of directors’ and officers’ liability, computer fraud and hacking, embezzlement, ERISA, dishonesty, lender liability, securities exemptions, suitability, supervision and fraud, commodities fraud, letter of credit presentment, income and severance tax disputes, shareholder disputes, quo warranto cases, and Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations. She has handled mass actions, class actions and interpleaders. In multiple situations, she has represented excess carriers eliminating multi-million-dollar exposures claimed by plaintiffs to exceed the attachment point, without indemnity contribution by her client.
From a transactional perspective Judy has represented public companies regarding their reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act.
Judy is a lifelong member of St. Bernard Methodist Church where she serves as service leader and liturgist. She loves snow skiing, scuba diving, target shooting, watching corridas and LSU sports, listening to flamenco music, and playing with her English and French bulldogs.
Publications and Speaking Engagements
- 2024 Fidelity and Surety Law Midwinter Conference, “Superpowers of Regulators, SEC. FDIC, and Bankruptcy Trustees”
- Presenter, Buyers Remorse: Settle and Sue, National Legal Malpractice Conference, American Bar Association (2018)
- Presenter, Ethics: Shut Your Mouth – When Silence is Golden and Ethical, A Concentrated Curriculum for In-House Counsel Managing Litigation, Network of Trial Law Firms (2016)
- Presenter, Cybersecurity – New Trends and Emerging Standards in the Courts and Economic Marketplace, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (2015)
- Fifth Circuit Symposium,Banking Law, 37 Loyola Law Review. 543-83 (1991)
- Presenter/Panelist, Insurance Agent Perspective on Variable Product Suitability, Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, American Bar Association (2008)
Recognition and Honors
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America©
- Louisiana Super Lawyers List, 2017, 2018
- AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Tulane University Law School (1986); Tulane Law Review
- B..A., summa cum laude, Political Philosophy, Louisiana State University (1982)
Bar and Court Admissions
- Louisiana, 1986
- Mississippi, 2005
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Mississippi
Professional and Community Affiliations
- Lifelong member St. Bernard Methodist Church. Pastor Parish Relations Committee, service leader, and liturgist
- Member Professional Liability Underwriting Society
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- New Orleans Bar Association
- Fidelity Surety Law Committee
