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Justin Reese, Esq.
Lawyer. Advocate. Father. New Orleanian.
Born Into Purpose
Justin Reese didn’t choose New Orleans. New Orleans chose him.
The son of Judge Kern Reese — one of the city’s most respected civic leaders — Justin grew up understanding that position comes with responsibility and that justice is personal. He attended St. Augustine High School, where he played varsity football, before going on to Morehouse College as a member of the Maroon Tigers football program — and earning his B.A. in Psychology with induction into the Psi Chi National Honor Society.
The discipline, teamwork, and resilience he built on the field followed him into every courtroom.
His J.D. came from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2008, where he distinguished himself on nationally ranked trial advocacy teams. His LL.M. in Trial Advocacy came from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he clerked for the Honorable Sandy L.V. Byrd and helped coach Quinnipiac University’s ABA Trial Team to national recognition.
He didn’t leave for a bigger market. He came home.
Education
Morehouse College
B.A. Psychology
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
Juris Doctor, 2008
ABA John Marshall National Champion Team (2007)
South Central Regional Champion Team (2008)
Temple University’s Beasley School of Law
LL.M. in Trial Advocacy
Clerked for the Honorable Sandy L.V. Byrd
Coached Quinnipiac University’s ABA Trial Team to national recognition
Bar Admissions
Louisiana
Texas
Memberships & Recognition
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- National Bar Association
- Thurgood Marshall American Inn of Court
- Executive Committee Member, National Bar Association
- Gambit Magazine — Top 40 Under 40
- National Trial Lawyers — 40 Under 40
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- As Featured In The Network Journal · Black Enterprise · Rolling Out Magazine
A Fighter in the Courtroom
Justin Reese is a nationally recognized civil litigation and personal injury attorney with Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, celebrated for his strategic legal mind, compassionate advocacy, and unwavering dedication to justice. With a distinguished track record in high-stakes litigation, Mr. Reese has recovered tens of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for individuals and families impacted by catastrophic injury, wrongful death, toxic torts, mesothelioma, maritime accidents, and auto collisions. His practice reflects a deep commitment to holding powerful entities accountable and securing meaningful outcomes for those navigating the most challenging chapters of their lives.
Admitted to the bar in 2011, Mr. Reese has been a key legal figure in several complex multi-district litigations, most notably the precedent-setting Chinese Drywall cases. His mastery of intricate legal frameworks, coupled with his courtroom poise, makes him a formidable advocate and respected thought leader within the plaintiff’s bar.
A native of New Orleans, Mr. Reese holds a B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, where he was inducted into the Psi Chi National Honor Society for academic excellence. He earned his Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2008, distinguishing himself on nationally ranked trial advocacy teams, including the ABA John Marshall National Champion team (2007) and the South Central Regional Champion team (2008). He later pursued advanced legal training through an LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law. During his time in Philadelphia, he clerked for the Honorable Sandy L.V. Byrd and helped coach Quinnipiac University’s ABA Trial Team to national acclaim.
Mr. Reese began his career as a trial attorney with the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted felony drug cases and honed his skills in fast-paced courtroom settings. Today, in addition to his litigation practice, he serves as a certified mediator, facilitating dozens of complex case resolutions and championing alternative dispute resolution as a powerful tool for equitable outcomes.
Beyond the courtroom, Mr. Reese has leveraged his public platform—including his national visibility as a lead cast member on Bravo’s Southern Charm New Orleans—to promote integrity, civic engagement, and the importance of professional excellence. His authentic leadership and relatability have garnered widespread recognition across legal and cultural spaces alike.
Driven by a vision of justice that extends beyond legal representation, Mr. Reese is increasingly dedicating his time and expertise to philanthropic and nonprofit initiatives. With a particular focus on literacy, youth empowerment, and equitable healthcare access, he is committed to expanding his impact by supporting organizations that uplift underserved communities and close critical access gaps. His work reflects a belief that advocacy must be both legal and communal—serving people not just in courtrooms, but in classrooms, clinics, and neighborhoods.
Mr. Reese is a proud member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the Thurgood Marshall American Inn of Court. He accepts personal injury cases nationwide and remains a trusted advocate for justice, equity, and systemic change.
Mr. Reese has practiced civil litigation and personal injury law since 2011, focusing on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, toxic torts, mesothelioma, maritime accidents, and auto collisions.
Trial Attorney ⟡ New Orleanian ⟡ Morehouse Man ⟡ Father ⟡ Community Builder ⟡ F1 Enthusiast ⟡ Bravo TV Personality ⟡ Real Estate Developer ⟡ Man of Purpose ⟡ Culture Bearer ⟡ Certified Mediator ⟡ The Real Deal
Earned Every One.
Education
Bar Admissions
Professional Memberships
Certifications
Career
Recognition
As Featured In
Beyond the courtroom
Life in Full
Before the courtroom, there was the field. Justin played varsity football at St. Augustine High School and carried that competitor’s mentality to Morehouse College as a Maroon Tiger. That athlete’s DNA — the discipline, the drive, the refusal to quit — never left him. It just found new arenas.
You’ve seen him on Bravo’s Southern Charm New Orleans — and if you have, you already know. Justin Reese isn’t a lawyer who happened to get a TV show. He’s a man with a full life who brought all of it to a national audience — the culture, the community, the good times, and the complexity that makes New Orleans unlike anywhere else on earth.
But the cameras only caught part of the story.
Off screen, Justin is a real estate developer actively investing in New Orleans neighborhoods — including the rebuilding of his own childhood home in Gentilly, destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. That project wasn’t just about property. It was about reclaiming history and putting money where his roots are.
And if you ever catch him on a race weekend, don’t be surprised. Justin is a devoted F1 enthusiast — drawn to the precision, the speed, and the excellence that the sport demands. The same values he brings to the courtroom every single day.
Giving Back Is the Brand
“Success means nothing if you’re not giving back to the community that raised you.”
Justin is increasingly dedicating his platform and resources to philanthropic and nonprofit work — with a focus on literacy, youth empowerment, and equitable healthcare access. He believes advocacy doesn’t stop at the courtroom door. It lives in classrooms, clinics, and neighborhoods.
Through board leadership, mentorship, and public engagement, Justin has demonstrated a consistent commitment to excellence, integrity, and service to New Orleans — not as a marketing strategy, but as a way of life.
He is a visible, active presence in this city — not just professionally, but personally. Community isn’t something Justin schedules. It’s who he is.
His Most Important Role
Ask Justin Reese what he’s most proud of, and the answer isn’t a verdict or a headline. It’s his daughter.
“Becoming a father was one of the most profound moments of my life. I remember holding my daughter for the first time and being completely overwhelmed — joy, wonder, and fear all at once. At that moment, I understood that my purpose had changed. I wasn’t just living for myself anymore. Everything now centered around her.”
Fatherhood, he says, is sacred. Not just presence — purposeful presence. Saturday morning dance parties. Story time before bed. Getting on the floor to play. Being fully in the room, not just in the building.
“I hope she remembers joy. I want her to recall laughter, adventures, and love that felt unconditional. But more than anything, I hope she remembers that her father was her biggest fan and most consistent supporter. That she felt seen, valued, and empowered every step of the way.”
He is intentional about raising his daughter with pride in her identity, grounded in faith, culture, and the understanding that her Blackness is not a burden — it’s a superpower.
“One of the most harmful narratives is that Black fathers are disengaged or absent. I actively challenge that every day through my involvement, visibility, and love.”
