Atty. Michael A. Balascio

Atty. Michael A. Balascio

Michael A. Balascio is an experienced litigator representing clients in securities litigation and arbitration, high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith cases, and complex commercial litigation.

New Orleans New Orleans 20 yrs experience 20 year
Call (504) 589-9700 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Michael A. Balascio at a glance

Michael A. Balascio is a business, securities, litigation, and insurance attorney based in New Orleans, Louisiana, practicing at Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver LLC. They have 20+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2006. Admitted to practice in Massachusetts (2006), New York (2008), and Louisiana (2011). Educated at University of Pennsylvania (J.D., 2005) and Johns Hopkins University (M.A., 2001). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance (2026). Serands clients in New Orleans, LA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Michael A. Balascio is an experienced litigator representing clients in securities litigation and arbitration, high-stakes insurance coverage and bad faith cases, and complex commercial litigation
  • He has first-chair trial experience and has successfully litigated matters in federal and state appellate courts
  • In his securities practice, Michael counsels investment management companies and brokers in litigated matters and FINRA proceedings in a variety of significant disputes involving securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, non-solicitation and trade secret restrictive covenants, and breach of contract
  • In insurance matters, Michael represents insurance carriers in coverage and bad faith matters involving a broad array of policies, including commercial general liability, professional liability, director and officer liability, excess, and umbrella coverage
  • He has extensive experience with Louisiana’s “direct action” statute, bad faith insurance practice statutes, Gasquet settlements, and other complex insurance issues
  • Michael has also represented clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, including cases involving commercial contracts, defamation, products liability, bankruptcy, and education law issues
  • Michael received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was a senior editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review
  • Michael served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lance M. Africk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
  • Prior to joining the Firm, Michael was an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York
  • He was previously a teacher with Teach For America, a national public service program
  • Michael has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America and by Louisiana Super Lawyers
  • Michael was presented with the New Orleans CityBusiness “Leadership in Law Award” for 2017

Practice Areas Explained

Michael A. Balascio's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael A. Balascio handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Michael A. Balascio is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Louisiana →

Securities Law

Michael A. Balascio is one of 64,529 securities attorneys indexed nationally. Browse securities attorneys in Louisiana →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Michael A. Balascio is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Louisiana →

Insurance Law

Insurance attorneys for coverage disputes, bad faith claims, denied claims, and policy disputes.

Michael A. Balascio is one of 121,912 insurance attorneys indexed nationally. Browse insurance attorneys in Louisiana →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Louisiana

Practicing law in Louisiana. Legal matters in Louisiana are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New Orleans are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Louisiana state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Louisiana brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Louisiana courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Louisiana attorneys? Browse all attorneys in New Orleans or all attorneys in Louisiana.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Michael A. Balascio

Where is Michael A. Balascio's law office located?
Michael A. Balascio's law practice is located in New Orleans, Louisiana. The firm is Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver LLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Michael A. Balascio handle?
Michael A. Balascio focuses on business, securities, litigation, insurance. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Louisiana.
How long has Michael A. Balascio practiced law?
Michael A. Balascio has 20+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2006.
Where did Michael A. Balascio go to law school?
Michael A. Balascio earned their education at (J.D., 2005); (M.A., 2001); (B.A., 1999).
How can I contact Michael A. Balascio for a consultation?
You can contact Michael A. Balascio directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Michael A. Balascio received?
Michael A. Balascio's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance; Best Lawyers in America — Securities Regulation; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:.

Education

J.D.
University of Pennsylvania
- 2005
M.A.
Johns Hopkins University
- 2001
B.A.
Hamilton College
- 1999

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Insurance Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Insurance
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Securities Regulation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Securities
- 2026

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts
Admitted: 2006
New York
Admitted: 2008
Louisiana
Admitted: 2011

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.