John Jakuback defends high-stakes commercial and personal injury litigation claims for Fortune 500 companies, regional businesses, municipalities, and other institutional clients. Having successfully advocated for favorable outcomes involving billions of dollars of large-scale, serious claims over the course of his career, John continues to earn his stellar reputation as premier defense counsel and litigation strategist for single and multi-plaintiff and multi-state actions in Texas, Louisiana, and beyond.
From the beginning of an investigation through all stages of litigation defense and as lead trial counsel, John balances the risks associated with defending businesses against major business and personal injury litigation and emergency response and catastrophic law matters.
John aggressively defends, inside and outside of court and as lead and local trial counsel, litigation involving major contract disputes, tort claims, wrongful death claims, municipal liability, civil rights violations, and industrial construction defect claims. He brings veteran skill and an impressive track record of successful outcomes in resolving the litigation of complex industrial maintenance and construction contracts, oil and gas catastrophic loss litigation, and retail casualty, slip and fall, and premises liability claims.
An advocate who is at his best in the face of intense and complex legal analysis, John proves, time and again, his ability to execute behind-the-scenes and often, mission-critical negotiation tactics and defense strategy. He believes in conserving client resources, developing trial strategies that establish a level of trust with judges and juries, and leveraging indisputable, fact-based, and common sense arguments.
Licensed to practice law in both Louisiana and Texas, John consults with a national clientele on litigation management, trial stratagem, and settlement negotiations in both jurisdictions and across the country. He is a firm believer in meticulous preparation and smart and persuasive talking points communicated in a manner that is clear and leaves no room for doubt about his client’s rights. It is no surprise that John has earned a Martindale Hubbell AV-rating and listings in The Best Lawyers in America for both Insurance Law – Defense and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, with “Lawyer of the Year” honors in both categories. Moreover, John is an elected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
- Representation of a natural gas pipeline company in connection with an explosion and fire in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and in the resulting personal injury and wrongful death litigation proceedings in Louisiana and Harris County, Texas
- Representation of a global energy company with respect to a pipeline explosion and fire in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, including site investigation, evidence preservation, interaction with regulatory authorities, witness interviews, and the resulting litigation
- Representation of a large, family-owned business in complex minority shareholder litigation
- Representation of a Fortune 500 global engineering and construction company in litigation involving the failure to recognize faulty pipe welds in connection with an industrial refinery expansion project
- Representation of national retailers in the defense of and favorable settlement of casualty litigation, "slip and fall" cases and soft tissue personal injury cases throughout Louisiana
- Successful representation at trial and through settlement negotiation of numerous statewide municipalities in civil rights, police liability and general litigation matters
- Representation of a Louisiana Fortune 500 company, the largest supplier of piping fabrication systems in the United States, in various commercial litigation and general litigation issues
- Successful defense of a national timber company in a lawsuit involving the protection of the largest bald cypress tree in the United States, located in St. Francisville, Louisiana
- Representation of a local electrical contractor in the defense of electrocution and wrongful death claims
- Representation of major U.S. airlines in passenger litigation involving air turbulence and in the defense of personal injury claims
- LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D., 1992
- University of Dallas, B.A., 1987
- Louisiana
- Texas
- All Louisiana Federal Courts
- Texas Federal Courts including Tarrant, Abilene, Houston, and Dallas
- Leadership Class, Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, 2003
- Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Member, Baton Rouge Bar Association
- Member, Louisiana State Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Invited Member, Board of Directors, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
- Finders, Keepers: Deposition Preparation Material and the Work Product Doctrine in the Fifth Circuit, Texas Law Blog, April 17, 2023
- Onshore/Offshore Emergency Response – Lessons Learned from The Lawyers on The Ground, Propane Gas Defense Association Fall Meeting, Santa Fe, NM, September 30, 2022
- Onshore/Offshore Emergency Response – Lessons Learned from The Lawyers on The Ground, Stay Out of Hot Water, A Kean Miller CLE, Houston, TX, April 21, 2022
- Reel Ethics, Association of Corporate Counsel Louisiana Chapter CLE, September 2015
- Preparing Your Client for a Difficult Deposition, LADC Winter Meeting, February 2013
- Improving Municipal Officials' Relationships, Panel Member, Louisiana Municipal Association Mid-Winter Conference, Baton Rouge, 2012
- Civil Rights and Police Misconduct Litigation, LA. Association Defense Counsel Winter Meeting, 2007
- Civil Rights Litigation, Baton Rouge Bar Association, CLE by the hour, 2006
- Recent Developments in Municipal Law, Louisiana City Attorneys Fall Conference, 1999
- Municipal and Government Liability—Recent Developments, Baton Rouge Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 1996, 1997
- What you need to know about Sec. 1983 Litigation - NBI Emerging Issues in Civil Rights Litigation in Louisiana, 1998.(publication only)
- AV-rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- “Best Lawyer,” Insurance Law - Defense, The Best Lawyers in America, 2008-2025
- “Best Lawyer,” Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, The Best Lawyers in America, 2008-2025
- “Lawyer of the Year - Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants,” The Best Lawyers in America, 2022
- “Lawyer of the Year - Insurance Law,” The Best Lawyers in America, 2020
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- “Forty Under 40,” Baton Rouge Business Report, 2002
- Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of Greater Baton Rouge and Acadiana, Inc.
- Volunteer Teacher, Jr. Achievement Program, St. Jude the Apostle School
- Board of Directors, President, ARC - Baton Rouge
- Member, Baton Rouge Symphony Young Patrons Organization
- Member, Service Committee, St. Jude The Apostle Athletic Association
- Member, Pro Bono Committee, Baton Rouge Bar Association
- Judge, LSU Law Center Appellate Advocacy Competition
- Soccer Coach, St. Jude Intramural Athletic Program, Baton Rouge Soccer Association
- Member, St. Joseph's Academy School Board
- Golf Coordinator, St. Jude the Apostle School, 5th-8th Grade (2006 – present)
- Young v. City of Plaquemine, 2002 Westlaw 963442, La. App. 1st Cir. 5/10/02.
- Perry v. City of Bogalusa, 2000-2281, 804 So.2d 895 (La. App. 1st Cir. 12/28/01.
- Hall v. Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, CA 01-766, 803 So.2d 203 (La. App. 5th Cir. 11/28/01).
- Doe v. Louisiana Municipal Association, 99-539, 746 So.2d 179 (La. App. 5th Cir. 10/26/99).
- Keller v. City of Plaquemine, 96-1933, 700 So.2d 1285 (La. App. 1st Cir. 9/23/97)
- Couvillion v. Shelter Mutual Insurance Company, 95-1186, 672 So.2d 277 (La. App. 1st. Cir. 4/4/96).
- Tugger v. Continental Casualty Insurance Company, 27-04047, 658 So.2d, 769 (La. App. 2nd Cir. 6/21/95).
- Black v. State through The Department of Public Safety & Corrections, 94-1305, 657 So.2d 270 (La. App. 3rd Cir. 5/17/95).