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Lance C. McCardle

Partner

Partner

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Fax Icon 504.949.8117

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Practice Focus

Class Actions/Mass Actions/MDLs Construction Governmental Securities Litigation Lender Liability Ponzi/Banking Schemes Real Estate Litigation Securities and Antitrust Environmental

About

Lance McCardle practices in the areas of securities arbitration and litigation, environmental law, and general commercial litigation. Lance regularly represents investors (both individuals and institutions) in claims against their brokers, investment advisors, and/or investment banks in court or in arbitration proceedings administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He also represents several landowners in claims against oil and gas companies for damage and land loss caused by oil and gas operations.

“Lance is really compassionate with the clients and very passionate about his advocacy for them. He also has great attention to detail and is an excellent writer.” —Litigation: Securities Client, Chambers and Partners

Lance is a dogged, diligent advocate, which is evidenced by the number of thank you notes sent from clients who are ever grateful for his work in recovering their investment losses. His clients appreciate his candor upfront regarding the strengths and weaknesses of their case and the ongoing advice as their case progresses. Lance will not be outworked by opposing counsel, and he is unwilling to compromise unless he believes his clients are receiving the best possible outcome.

Experience

  • Represented a group of Louisiana landowners against pipeline companies, obtaining an injunction in which the pipeline companies were ordered to restore wetlands that had been lost and maintain those wetlands going forward.
  • Represented an elderly couple in a securities arbitration involving a private placement real estate investment, obtaining a $1.6 million award, including 100% of their losses and an award of attorney’s fees.
  • Represented investors in a securities arbitration involving the sale of unsuitable non-traded REITs, promissory note programs, limited partnerships, and private oil drilling programs, resulting in an award of $307,000 in favor of the customers.
  • Represented a construction company in a AAA arbitration proceeding brought by a homeowner, resulting in a dismissal of all claims for damages brought by the homeowner and an award of damages, interest, costs, and attorney’s fees in favor of the construction company.
  • Represented many investors in claims relating to the sales of private placements such as non-traded REITs, promissory notes tied to real estate or equipment leasing programs, and structured products, resulting in confidential settlements.

Professional Activities & Community Involvement

  • Academy of New Orleans Trial Lawyers, Member
  • American Association for Justice, Member
  • American Bar Association: Member; Former Member, Securities Law Committee
  • Federal Bar Association: Member; Former Director, Younger Lawyers Division – New Orleans Chapter
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Recognitions

Media

  • Co-author with Jason W. Burge, Cases & Materials, 28 PIABA B.J. 471, 2021.
  • Co-author with James R. Swanson, Advantages of FINRA Arbitration from the Claimants’ Perspective, in Securities Litigation 2021: From Investigation to Trial, Practicing Law Institute ed., 2021.
  • Co-author, Cases & Materials, 27 PIABA B.J. 111, 2020.
  • Speaker, PIABA annual meeting, “Damages in FINRA Arbitrations,” Oct. 21, 2025.
  • Speaker, New Orleans Bar Association 2024 Masters of the Courtroomsm Procrastinators’ Programssm, “Use of Focus Groups and Mock Trials,” Dec. 12, 2024.
  • Speaker, PIABA annual meeting, “Using State Statutes to Amplify our Client’s Damages Claim and Target Additional Defendants,” Sept. 26, 2024.
  • Speaker, Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (LCPA), Forensic, Litigation, & Valuation Services Conference, “Testing 1-2-3: Using Focus Groups, Mock Trials, and Shadow Juries in Litigation,” Aug. 19, 2024.
  • Speaker, PIABA mid-year meeting, “Strategies and Techniques in FINRA Arbitrations Involving IRA, Pension, and Other Retirement Accounts,” April 27, 2023.
  • Speaker, Inns of Court – St. Thomas More Inn of Court, “Weathering the Storm: Panel Discussion on Hurricane Ida Litigation,” March 7, 2023.
  • Speaker, Louisiana Certified Public Accountants (LCPA), Forensic, Litigation, & Business Valuation Conference, “Calculating Damages in Investment Loss Cases,” Oct. 21, 2021.

Credentials

  • J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola University College of Law, 2005
    • Comment/Case Note Editor of the Loyola Law Review
  • M.B.A. from Loyola University, 2005
  • B.S., cum laude, from Louisiana State University, 1999
  • Louisiana
  • Texas
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Notable Rankings

Lance McCardle 2025 Chambers Badge2026 Benchmark Litigation Litigation Star sealLance McCardle Best Lawyers 2026 BadgeSuper Lawyers 2026 badge