Represents the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Pelicans, the National Football League and National Basketball Association in trademark litigation and enforcement matters.
Advised major media company regarding life story rights under Louisiana law in connection with a major movie project.
Successfully represented Forum for Equality Louisiana and five same sex couples challenging Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriage.
Represented the National Football League, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers in 2013 Super Bowl anti-counterfeiting operation and proceedings.
Defended NBC Universal and Syfy Network in copyright and trademark litigation in federal district court.
Represented NBC Universal and Bravo Media in connection with policing and enforcement of “Real Housewives” trademark rights.
Defended a Hollywood actor/director/producer in a federal jury trial involving $18 million in claims of securities law violations and fraud brought by investors, including actor Stephen Baldwin, in an oil-spill-remediation technology corporation.
Defended New Orleans and Seattle-based clothing boutique against trademark and trade dress infringement claims.
Represented a beverage company in trademark litigation.
Represented nationally syndicated radio talk show host in copyright litigation.
Regularly advises clients, including startup companies, on intellectual property issues.
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional and Civic Activities
Ms. Harris is the Chair of the New Orleans Bar Association's Entertainment Law Committee, Co-Chair of the American Bar Association's Intellectual Property Litigation Membership Subcommittee, Co-Chair of the American Bar Association's Business Section's Intellectual Property Law Committee, and serves on the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. She is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Black Women Attorneys and the Tulane and New Orleans Bar Association Inns of Court.
Ms. Harris is a Board Member of the New Orleans Film Society and YaYa (Young Artists, Young Aspirations). She teaches as an adjunct professor at Tulane Law School and speaks frequently on litigation, intellectual property, copyright and trademark topics.
Honors & Awards
Honors & Awards
Ms. Harris was named as a New Orleans CityBusiness Leader in Law in 2013 and 2017. She has also been recognized as a Top Lawyer by New Orleans magazine in communication and intellectual property and by Louisiana Super Lawyers as a top rated general litigation attorney. Ms. Harris was included in Gambit's 2014 "40 Under 40" list. She is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbard.
- Thirty-One Lawyers Named 2015 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars; Phil Wittmann Ranked Number One for Second Year in a Row12.24.2014
- Twenty-Seven Lawyers Named 2014 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars; Phil Wittmann Ranked Number One12.30.2013
News & Events
"Litigation Panel," 25th Annual Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar, August 2017.
"Litigating the Disaster Case," American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting, April 2017.
"Mad Men Advertising in a Mad, Mad World: Selecting, Promoting and Protecting Your Brand," New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, March 2017.
"First Amendment and Offensive and Scandalous Trademarks," New Orleans Bar Association Procrastinators' Program, December 2016.
"Federal Discovery Rule Changes," Louisiana State Bar Association Trial Practice Law Program, December 2016.
"Litigation: Entertainment and Sports Cases Updates," 24th Cutting Edge Entertainment Law Seminar, August 2016.
"Creating and Protecting Your Electronic Media," New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, March 2016.
"The Media in High Profile Litigation: Friend or Foe," Louisiana State Bar Association Trial Practice CLE, December 2015.
"Patents in Turmoil: Managing Patents in a Changing Legal & Business Landscape," ABA Business Law Section Fall Meeting, September 2015.
"Haters gonna hate: branding, marketing and addressing good and bad reviews on social media," Sage Summit, July 2015.
"My Life as a Lawyer," Corporate Counsel Women of Color Program, June 2015.
"Entertainment Law," Jefferson Bar Association 28th Annual CLE By The Sea, April 2015.
"Haters Gonna Hate: Branding, Marketing and Addressing Good and Bad Reviews on Social Media," New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, March 2015.
"Offensive Trademarks: What’s In a Name?" Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Winter Meeting, March 2015.
"Entertainment Law: Music Mayhem," New Orleans Bar Association, Procrastinators' Program, December 2014.
"Ethics and Social Media," Louisiana State Bar Association, Trial Practice Seminar, December 2014.
"Offensive Trademarks," New Orleans Bar Association, Entertainment, Intellectual Property and Technology Committee CLE Program, July 2014.
"Branding and Advertising the Right Way: Do's, Don'ts and Legal Issues in Promoting your Brand," New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, March 2014.
"Crimes of Fashion: SEC Violations, Criminal Counterfeiting, Labor Law Violations and More in the Fashion Industry," New Orleans Bar Association, December 2013.
"Motion Practice – Do You Really Need to File this and When?" Louisiana State Bar Association, December 2013.
"Breaking up (the band) is hard to do: Intellectual Property and Musical Disputes," Louisiana State Bar Association "New York" CLE, November 2013.
"Expert Witnesses: Do's and Don'ts," Louisiana State Bar Association Dazzling Disney CLE Seminar, February 2013.
"Procrastinators Program: Shoe Wars II, Fashion and Intellectual Property Law," New Orleans Bar Association, December 2012.
"Show Me the Monet! Art and Authenticity," New Orleans Bar Association, October 2012.
"Fashion, Footwear and Intellectual Property Law," New Orleans Paralegal Association, October 2012.
"Who Dats, Blue Dog & All That Jazz: Basics of Intellectual Property in the Big Easy," New Orleans Federal Bar Association, April 2012.
"Panel on Communication Concerns," Social Media & The Law Symposium, February 2012.
"Pipeline to the Judiciary: Preparing and Encouraging Young Attorneys for Judicial Positions with the Goal of Diversifying the Bench," National Bar Association Mid-Winter Meeting, January 2012.
"The Help: Rights of Privacy and Publicity," New Orleans Bar Association Procrastinators' Programs, December 2011.
"Issues Facing New Media Companies," Cutting Edge Music Business Conference, September 2011.
"Big Easy Boot Camp: Basic Training for Lawyering in New Orleans," New Orleans Bar Association, October 14, 2011.
"Shoe Wars: CLE for the Sole," New Orleans Bar Association, July 29, 2011.
"Duh, Winning: Charlie Sheen, Intellectual Property and Rogue Employees," New Orleans Bar Association CLE Series, May 18, 2011.
"The Curious Case of Antoine Dodson: Copyright, Trademark and Right of Publicity," New Orleans Bar Association Procrastinators Program, December 15, 2010.
"What's in a Name: Does this Trademark Offend?" FDCC Insights, October 2016.
"Revelers, Rejoice: Haydel's 'Mardi Gras Bead Dog' Unprotectable," American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Intellectual Property Committee News & Developments, May 2015.
"High Times Publisher is Motivated to Litigate," American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Intellectual Property Committee News & Developments, December 2014.
"Expanding Trademark Law Toward a 'Merchandizing Right' - The University of Alabama Goes After the 'Houndstooth Mafia,'" Louisiana Sports Association Newsletter, January 2014.
"The New Old Spice: Business Identities, Trademarks, and Social Media," Mississippi College of Law Law Review.
- Lesli Harris to Participate in Two Panel Presentations at ABA Section of Litigation Annual Conference05.05.2017
- Carmelite Bertaut, Lesli Harris and Heather Lonian will Speak at a New Orleans Bar Association CLE Program09.07.2016
- Lesli Harris and Michael Walshe to Speak on Legal Issues that Affect the Fashion and Entertainment Industries03.30.2016
- Larry Orlansky, Peter Thomson, and Lesli Harris to speak at New Orleans Bar Association's Procrastinators' Program12.29.2014
- Samantha Griffin, Lesli Harris, and Michael Walshe to Speak at the New Orleans Bar Association's Crimes of Fashion CLE12.19.2013
In the News
- Louisiana Federal and State Courts
- United States Supreme Court
- New York
New York University School of Law, LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law, 2008
Tulane University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2002
- Senior Justice of the Tulane Moot Court Board, 2001-02
University of Virginia, 1997