James R. Raines
James R. Raines is a partner is the Baton Rouge office of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P. and serves as the Recruiting Partner for the firm. His principal areas of practice include real estate matters, including landlord/tenant and Fair Housing Act litigation and compliance, administrative law, municipal law, workers’ compensation, and compliance with the Medicare Secondary Payer Act.
Real Estate
Mr. Raines advises and represents property owners, real estate management companies as well as commercial tenants in both general business affairs and litigated matters, including the following:
- Landlord/tenant litigation
- Compliance with the Fair Housing Act
- Defense of complaints filed with HUD or RD, including discrimination, ADA
- Leases
- Servitudes
- Premises liability
- Evictions
- Handbook and policy development
- Contract negotiation
Administrative Law
Mr. Raines represents state licensing boards as the board general counsel, prosecutor as well as the hearing officer in administrative hearings.
- General counsel to state licensing boards
- Prosecution of complaints before state licensing boards
- Resolution of complaints prior to hearing
- Representation of boards in state court
- Served as hearing officer in administrative proceeding before board
Municipal Law
Mr. Raines represents political subdivisions of the State of Louisiana regarding the unique issues inherent to political bodies, including the following:
- Compliance with the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics
- Compliance with Open Meetings Laws
- Compliance with the Louisiana Public Records Law
- Cooperative Endeavor Agreements
- Premises liability
Workers’ Compensation
Mr. Raines advises and represents employers, insurers and self-insured funds regarding the defense of all aspects of workers’ compensation claims, from day-to-day claims decisions to complex litigation. Mr. Raines’ services include working with clients regarding the following aspects of workers’ compensation claims:
- Determinations regarding medical treatment
- Choice of physician
- Venue and jurisdiction
- Fraud
- Wage calculations and offsets
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Litigation
- Intervention into third-party suits
- Settlement
- Settlement funding
Medicare Secondary Payer Act Compliance
Mr. Raines earned the designation of Certified Medicare Secondary Payer Professional with the Louisiana Association of Self Insured Employers in 2013, and advises employers, insurers, and businesses regarding their obligations under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act. He also advises clients regarding complex litigation involving Medicare Set Asides and settlement funding.
General litigation
Mr. Raines represents clients in a wide variety of complex litigation, including the following:
- Commercial litigation
- Liability defense, including litigation involving transportation and construction issues
- Interdictions
- Contested successions
- Community property litigation
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2017, 2018, 2019
- 2015 Recipient of the Top Forty Under Forty, Baton Rouge Business Report
- Council for a Better Louisiana, 2015 Leadership Louisiana Class
- Baton Rouge Area Leadership class of 2012
- Member of LABI Emerging Leaders Council
- AV® PreeminentTM Peer Review Rated
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-3197
