Practice Focus
About
Charles Landry concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate development, real estate finance, land use, and zoning. He has represented numerous parties in a wide range of real estate transactions, which include residential developments (including Traditional Neighborhood Developments), office buildings, shopping malls and centers, hotels and medical facilities, golf course communities, and industrial developments. Charles is also a leader in public-private partnerships in Louisiana, having represented parties in numerous complex projects.
“Charles is one of the best lawyers I have dealt with in my life. I give compliments to his ability to navigate complex agreements but also complex relationships.” —Real Estate Client, Chambers and Partners
Charles is widely recognized as one of the leading land use attorneys in Louisiana. He was a founding member and has served as the chairperson of the East Baton Rouge Zoning Advisory Committee from its formation in 2003 to 2017.
Experience
Annexations
- Organized and facilitated the annexation of large portions of the unincorporated East Baton Rouge Parish into the City of Baton Rouge.
Arts and Culture
- Shaw Center for the Arts: Organized one-of-a-kind public-private partnership structured transaction, negotiated architect and contractor agreements, and served as the point person for all allocations on the development of a $50-million, 200,000-square-foot theater/museum/teaching facility. The partnership now serves as the model for future public-private partnerships in Louisiana.
Concession – Therma Services
- Bernhard Energy: Serves as lead counsel for numerous thermal service concessions for hospitals and universities.
Professional Activities & Community Involvement
Current Leadership and Board Service
- Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge – Advisory Board
- Baton Rouge Area Foundation – Governance Committee
- East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority – Board of Commissioners, Vice Chairperson
- LSU Foundation – Board of Directors, Past Chairperson
- LSU Property Foundation – Board Member
- LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation – Board Member, Past Chairperson
- LSU Research Foundation – Board Member, Vice Chairperson
- Urban Land Institute, Louisiana Chapter – Member
Recognitions
- Chambers USA: Band 1, Real Estate since 2005
- Chambers USA: Band 1, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use since 2023
- Super Lawyers: Real Estate: Business; Land Use/Zoning; Business/Corporate; State, Local & Municipal 2007-2020, 2023-2026
- The Best Lawyers in America®: Corporate Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Project Finance Law, Public Finance Law, and Real Estate Law since 1993
- Baton Rouge Business Report: Capital Region 500 2023-2025
- Lawdragon: 500 Leading Real Estate Lawyers 2025
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent since 2001
Media
- Charles was featured on the cover of the Baton Rouge Business Report’s September 2024 issue. In “The Godfather of Growth,” the magazine highlights his celebrated career as a real estate attorney, developer, and community leader.
- In the September 18, 2012, edition of the Baton Rouge Business Report, Charles was identified as one of the 30 most influential people in the Capital Region over the past 30 years.
- Charles was named to the top 10 list of the most influential people in the Baton Rouge Capital region in the 2007 Power Book, published by the Baton Rouge Business Report. The list was compiled from surveys of the Business Report’s readers.
- “Sports-Anchored Mixed-Use Districts: Universities Blazing a Trail,” 2024 P3 Higher Education Summit, Washington, D.C., October 7, 2024.
- Multi-component presentation, LSU Law Center Professor Chris Tyson’s Real Estate class on development with a focus on Traditional Neighborhood Developments. Landry has assisted with the planning and recruitment of developers, engineers, and contractors to provide “real life” examples of development, 2010 through 2016.
- “Developing Long Term Trends in Development,” Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) Smart Growth Summit, Baton Rouge, La., 2015.
- “Conflict Resolution,” Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) Smart Growth Summit, Baton Rouge, La., 2014.
- “Conflict Resolution,” Louisiana Municipal Association’s 2014 Mid-Winter Conference for Municipal Officials, February 5, 2014.
- “Economic Development Districts in Louisiana,” Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) Smart Growth Summit, Baton Rouge, La., 2013.
- “Current Trends in TNDs,” Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) Smart Growth Summit, Baton Rouge, La., 2012.
- “The State of Real Estate in Louisiana: Can You Finance Your Project?” Growth Coalition, Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 25, 2009.
- “Innovative Land Use Orders,” Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX) Smart Growth Summit, Baton Rouge, La., 2008.
- “Traditional Neighborhood Developments”: Center for Planning Excellence (CPEX), Baton Rouge, La., 2007.
- “Managing Construction Projects,” Lorman Educational Seminar, 2007.
- “Land Entitlement Process,” Professor John Costonis, Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, 2007.
- “Approaches to Planning and Zoning Ordinances for Louisiana Municipalities,” Louisiana City Attorneys Association, 2006.
- “Land Use Institute: Planning, Regulation, Litigation, Eminent Domain & Comp.,” ALI–ABA Committee on Continuing Professional Education, 2006.
- “Practical Guide to Zoning and Land Use Law in Louisiana,” National Business Institute, 2006.
- “Zoning and Land Use Law,” Lorman Educational Seminar, 2005.
- “Land Use – CLE by the Hour,” Baton Rouge Bar Association, 2004.
- “Zoning and Land Use,” Lorman Educational Seminar, 2004.
Credentials
- J.D. from Louisiana State University , 1977
- B.S. from Louisiana State University , 1975
- Louisiana



