Eric LaFleur provides legal representation to clients in private, commercial, and public finance. With over $2B dollars of transactions completed, LaFleur & Laborde’s transactional group provides in the complexities of public finance. In addition, the group is often called upon by municipalities, parishes, school boards, and special districts to assist on issues of policy disputes involving Louisiana law. Eric’s transactional group handles local elections and related ballot initiatives regarding new or existing taxes, the creation of tax increment financing districts or the provisions of home rule charters. In the last 25 years, Eric has represented governmental entities, including public and private partnerships, airport commissions, hospital districts, school boards, villages, towns, cities, school boards, levee districts, water districts, other special districts, and parish governments in a variety of different financings and elections.
LaFleur assists clients with developing financing structures to support the growth and expansion of their businesses into new markets. Eric’s work includes the representation of business clients in writing and advancing policies and procedures to prevent unnecessary litigation. When disputed matters result in litigation, Eric brings his knowledge of the law and his own business experience to provide a comprehensive and realistic approach to the firm’s entrepreneurial clients to resolve those sometimes-expensive disputed matters [in an efficient and cost-effective manner]. LaFleur has had a long and distinguished professional career in public finance.
Eric served as the State senator for the 28th District of Louisiana, representing all or parts of Acadia, Landry, Evangeline, and Avoyelles parishes. As a State Senator and State Representative, LaFleur served on the appropriations and finance committees longer than any other member of the Louisiana legislature. His knowledge of public finance helped him to be an invaluable member on those subject matter committees. He finished his career as the Senate Finance Committee Chairman in which he oversaw the review and presentation of six Louisiana state budget proposals.
During his tenure as a State senator, LaFleur sought to improve on rules and regulations that either required amendments to its then current structure to ensure issuer compliance and accountability related to public debt or rules, and laws that no longer served good public policy and overburdened issuers in the issuance of bonds. In addition, during his legislative term, LaFleur served on the Louisiana State Bond Commission (SBC), which is required to review and approve all debt issued by Louisiana political subdivisions. LaFleur presented and passed several major pieces of legislation that are noteworthy and deserving of recognition. The bills passed by LaFleur served to promote Louisiana as a leading state in reforming and improving the rules by which public finance professionals and issuers work to be successful at meeting the needs of their clients. His efforts did not go unnoticed as his work and positive impact on Louisiana was noted with front page coverage and other recognition in the national bond attorney’s professional journal, The Bond Buyer.
Additionally, during his legal career, Eric has earned valuable courtroom and jury trial experience. Eric served as Senior Felony Prosecutor with the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office and as a felony prosecutor for the Louisiana Department of Justice under former Attorney General Richard Ieyoub. During his years as a prosecutor, Eric handled more than 1,000 felony cases, including over 60 jury trials.
