Overview

Louis Rouleau is a litigation attorney based in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office. focuses his practice on a wide variety of cases involving complex business disputes, commercial real estate disputes (all classes of assets), equine disputes, breach of contract matters and lease enforcement actions.

Mr. Rouleau represents individuals and businesses, as plaintiffs and defendants, before state and federal courts across the country. He also has extensive experience at handling mediations, arbitrations and trials, as well as negotiating cost-effective out-of-court settlements.

Mr. Rouleau has served as trial counsel and lead counsel for a broad range of businesses, including those in the real estate development, partnership disputes, manufacturing and financial services industries. His cases often involve an important environmental component, including assessment of recognized environmental conditions (RECs), contamination cleanup and reporting requirements, and working with consulting and testifying experts to address such components. He has litigated and appealed cases in state and federal courts throughout the country on behalf of real estate investment trusts (REITS), national homebuilders and developers, national manufacturers of heavy machinery, and media and telecommunications companies.

In addition, Mr. Rouleau routinely provides legal counsel to owners and businesses in the equine industry, including owners and riders of Olympic-competing horses. He negotiates equine contracts for the purchase and sale of elite show jumping horses and related contracts (breeding, boarding, straw collection) in the United States and abroad, and serves as lead trial counsel in equine disputes in the United States.  

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Rouleau was a litigation attorney for an international law firm in its Washington, D.C., office.

Representative Experience

  • Served as trial counsel for national housing developer in lawsuit against local government entities for Section 1983 violations, including violations of procedural and substantive due process, violations of Equal Protection Clause and unlawful takings under the Fifth Amendment
  • Lead trial counsel for national construction equipment rental company in an indemnity dispute arising from termination of franchise agreements; successfully appealed from trial court order erroneously ordering company to mediate and arbitrate its dispute pursuant to an agreement to which the company was not a party
  • Lead trial counsel for largest student loan service provider in four class actions alleging state and federal violations, including violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA); successfully eliminated claims and defeated nationwide discovery before reaching a global settlement
  • National coordinating litigation team for nationwide lease-finance enforcement actions; litigated dozen of lawsuits in federal and state courts; successfully won 11 consolidated appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

  • Lead counsel on dozens of commercial property disputes, coast-to-coast, representing publicly traded international real estate opportunity fund specializing in acquisition, development and management of commercial office buildings
  • Successfully brought and tried lawsuit brought by fund against commercial tenant

  • Provided strategic advice and risk assessment to international company regarding business decisions impacting product lines and distribution agreements

Credentials

Education
  • American University, Washington College of Law, J.D.
  • University of Connecticut, B.A., International Trade, cum laude
Bar Admissions/Licenses
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
Memberships
  • Human Rights Campaign Fund, 2012-Present
  • Minority Corporation Counsel Association (MCCA), 2012-Present

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