Stephen M. Gelé
Chairman
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Stephen M. Gelé is committed to the culture and institutions of Louisiana. He grew up in the Gelé family’s generational hunting and fishing store, earned a degree in Political Science from Loyola University, New Orleans, and then a law degree at Loyola School of Law, New Orleans. He enjoys both the policy and procedure of the law. He has litigated a great variety of disputes in multiple forums throughout his over thirty years of practicing law, including such diverse issues as internal business disputes, injuries to person and property, construction defect, campaign finance, campaign challenges, and intellectual property. He has also consulted with multiple clients regarding legislation, public policy, campaigns, public servant ethics, and public interest organizations. He has represented a Governor, Congressional Leaders, State Legislative Leaders, statewide, federal and local campaigns, political action committees, and policy organizations.
He has assisted in drafting a Louisiana Constitutional Amendment, Statutes, and Code of Civil Procedure Articles, and has testified before Louisiana and Georgia legislative committees, as well as submitted testimony to legislative committees in multiple other states, regarding multiple topics, including election law, insurance, foreign law interacting with state law, forum non conveniens, and comity of judgments. He has been interviewed in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Washington Times, the American Bar Association Journal, the National Law Journal, the Associated Press, the American Spectator, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Baton Rouge Advocate, the New Orleans Times-Picayune and New Orleans City Business, and has appeared on “Follow the Money with Eric Bolling” on Fox Business Network and CNN.com, as well as several radio shows in multiple states.
He revels in his civic engagement, including: acting as Chairman of the Board of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy; serving as an elected member of the Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee; and enjoying D.C. Mardi Gras as a member of the Mystick Krewe of Louisianians.
