S. Jacob Braud began his legal career as a law clerk to Judge Robert A. Pitre, Jr. of the 24th Judicial District Court for the Parish of Jefferson in 2002, assisting with all aspects of both the civil and criminal dockets.
After completion of the judicial clerkship in 2003, he began a practice focusing on litigation and the defense of general torts, premises liability, medical and legal malpractice, and worker’s compensation claims. Throughout this period, he represented several public entities including local governments, school boards, sheriffs’ departments, their insurers, and excess insurers throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Also, Jacob obtained significant experience representing large private corporations such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Tenet Healthcare.
As an Appellate Litigator, Jacob has briefed or argued in each Louisiana Appellate Court and briefed several matters to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
In January 2009, Jacob came to Ballay, Braud & Colon commemorating the second generation to practice at the firm. In January 2013, he was elevated to the status of partner. Six years of litigation experience from a defense perspective has given Jacob a unique and invaluable skill to assess and assert the interests of injured clients. In addition to representing those injured through no fault of their own, Jacob began representing individuals and small businesses on a variety of matters such as contracts, liens, and acquisitions using his background in representing large corporations and governments to counsel clients through current and potential issues.
Additionally, Jacob expanded his legal practice by assisting the firm in its well-established real estate closing practice. Since 2009, he has produced title work and performed numerous real estate closings and created a separate title company, Arpent Title, LLC.
On April 20, 2010, the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill occurred greatly affecting many aspects of the community which Ballay, Braud & Colon has served for more than 40 years. Jacob served as the firm’s lead liaison for the Court’s Settlement Program. Ballay, Braud & Colon successfully represented a number of seafood industry claimants, businesses, individuals, and wetland landowners.
Jacob continues to represent and assist numerous residents and businesses in the metro area in a wide range of legal matters both simple and complex. He has also worked in development projects, including acquiring and permitting the 338-acre Jesuit Bend Mitigation Bank, the first in the State of Louisiana to use renewable materials and has successfully completed the zoning and permitting of the Parks of Plaquemines and Cypress Park Subdivisions, Plaquemines’ first master planned neighborhoods to provide amenities and greenspace.
Out of the office, Jacob is married to Erin O’Brien Braud and is the proud father of two daughters and one son.
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 2002
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 2005
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 2005
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 2005
Education
- Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana
- J.D. - 2002
- Jesuit High School, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 1995
- Honors: cum laude
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- B.A. - 1999
- Major: Mass Communication
Professional Associations, Memberships and Community Involvement
- Louisiana State Bar Association, House of Delegates representing the 25th Judicial District
- Louisiana Association of Independent Land Title Agents
- Jefferson Bar Association
- Plaquemines Bar Association, former Education Director and President
- Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry
- Plaquemines Community CARE Center – Board Member, Education Director, 2009 to Present
- Plaquemines Community Development Group- Board Member
- Woodlands Conservancy – former Board Member
- LSBA, YLD Mock Trial Judge
- Louisiana Committee on Bar Admissions – Assistant Examiner