LEIGH MELANCON KIRBY
ASSOCIATE

Phone: (504) 599-8247
Fax: (504) 599-8100
Email: Leigh Melancon Kirby

PRACTICE AREAS
Medical Malpractice & Healthcare

EDUCATION Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 2015, J.D.

Southeastern Louisiana University, 2007, B.A.

BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS
Louisiana

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS Louisiana Bar Association

Associate Leigh Melancon Kirby focuses her practice on medical malpractice defense, insurance defense, professional liability, and general civil litigation. She brings a diverse litigation background, representing healthcare providers, government entities, insurers, businesses, and individual clients in complex legal matters throughout Louisiana. Her experience spans medical malpractice litigation, insurance defense, civil litigation, and criminal defense, giving her a broad perspective on risk assessment, litigation strategy, and dispute resolution.

Prior to joining Frilot, Leigh served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Litigation Medical Malpractice Division of the Louisiana Department of Justice. In that role, she represented healthcare providers and state entities in medical malpractice claims from the Medical Review Panel stage through litigation in Louisiana courts. Her practice included evaluating Medical Review Panel requests, managing discovery, taking and defending depositions, retaining and working with expert witnesses, handling motion practice, attending Medical Review Panels, participating in mediations, negotiating settlements, and developing defense strategies in complex healthcare liability matters.

Leigh also has significant experience in civil litigation and insurance-related matters. Earlier in her career, she managed litigation throughout Louisiana for a regional law firm, handling cases from initial filing through judgment or settlement. Additionally, Leigh served for nearly five years as a contract public defender in Plaquemines Parish Drug Court, representing participants throughout all phases of the program. She also maintained a solo practice handling civil service appeals, property disputes, DUI defense, and court-appointed curator matters involving interdictions, expropriations, foreclosures, and other complex proceedings.

Known for her thorough preparation, strong legal writing skills, and practical approach to litigation, Leigh brings a broad perspective developed through years of experience in both civil and criminal matters.