FBA New Orleans Member Spotlight: Attorney Robin Cassedy

Robin Cassedy is an attorney at Strauss, Massey, Dineen, LLC, where she focuses her practice in automotive insurance defense and property insurance, with particular emphasis on matters involving allegations of bad faith or questions of coverage.   She also has experience defending insurers participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, and experience in general commercial litigation and maritime law.

Her first experience in a courtroom was as a student attorney for the Tulane University Law School’s Domestic Violence Clinic, advocating on behalf of survivors of domestic violence. 

We hope you enjoy getting to know Robin!

How has being a member of the FBA enhanced your career or benefited you personally or professionally?

FBA programming was an invaluable resource to me when I began my legal career for programming (especially the Malcolm Monroe Federal Practice Seminar) and for connecting with more experienced attorneys. These two elements helped me further advance and develop my legal career at an accelerated rate, much more so than if I was just to start working without the advantages that the FBA offered.

What is your biggest strength as an attorney and why?  (e.g., legal writing, oral advocacy, marketing yourself and your firm).

My legal writing; in particular my ability to streamline complex cases into succinct and persuasive written arguments. Due to the nature of the insurance practice, many cases end up in the appellate courts, which plays well into my strength as a writer.

What is your favorite part about being an attorney and why?

I am fortunate to work with an amazing group of attorneys in a practice area that is constantly evolving. I love that my job gives me new and unique problems and issues on which to assist my clients. My practice in insurance law often involves new and unique interpretations of insurance policy contracts and legal principles. This aspect of the job continues to test our limits and challenge us as attorneys.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before becoming an attorney and why?

The most effective lawyers avoid legalese and overly-complex phrases; instead, they explain their position in a simple, common-sense manner. Over the years, I have seen lawyers win difficult cases because they were able to take hugely complex issues and distill them down to allow anyone to understand them. By contrast, I have seen lawyers lose cases when their arguments, though impressive sounding, were too difficult to follow.

What is the best advice you have ever received in the legal profession?

Work with people whom you like and respect. This is a guiding principle at my firm, and it results in a more pleasant, collegial office environment – a huge benefit in the sometimes frantic and stressful litigation world.

Where are you from and how did you end up in New Orleans?

I am originally from Colorado. I moved down to New Orleans to attend law school after spending a year teaching high school students English in in the French Alps. I thought I would leave after three years when I graduated law school. Eleven years later, I am still here and firmly rooted in the New Orleans community and culture! 

Where did you go to law school?

Tulane University

Name one thing that you could not live without and why?

Access to a kitchen. I love to cook, and it helps me de-stress when life is busy.

What would you do professionally if you were not an attorney and why? 

I briefly worked as a hotel manager and receptionist in college. I really enjoyed organizing logistics and problem-solving for the hotel guests.

Other than your career, what are you passionate about and why?  

Animal welfare is a cause near and dear to my heart. There are many great animal rescue organizations in the New Orleans area that need support. I am a proud supporter of the Tomato Foster Club, a volunteer animal rescue specializing in neonatal, critically sick or special needs cats. I am also a sports fan, especially of professional tennis and Liverpool Football Club. You can typically find our local chapter of Liverpool supporters watching matches at Finn McCool’s Irish Pub during the season.

Favorite New Orleans dish and restaurant?  

The Tuscan panini from Stein's Deli.

You get one superpower. What is it and why?

Time travel. Visiting past places and historical events would be so cool.

What is a recent “success” you’ve had, either professional or personal, and how did you make it happen? 

My team recently won a major motion in a Hurricane Ida lawsuit, which was a major success for my team and my client in a difficult litigation environment. The process for preparing this motion started months before a word of the motion was ever written. I articulated a strategy for introducing the evidence to support our motion, and then my team and I executed that strategy through taking and defending depositions and working with multiple expert witnesses. The motion itself was the result of hours of carefully piecing together the evidence into a coherent and persuasive story.