A Life of Excellence: Remembering Robert M. Walmsley, Jr., Counsel to the Firm

With deep sadness, Fishman Haygood LLP announces the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Robert M. Walmsley, Jr.

In 1996, Robert was among the group of senior partners who came together from several of New Orleans’ most established law firms to form what is known today as Fishman Haygood. A distinguished corporate attorney and a person of extraordinary intellect, warmth, and generosity, Robert’s legacy will endure in the firm he helped build, the colleagues he mentored, and the lives he touched along the way.

During his decades-long career, Robert practiced primarily in negotiated acquisitions, securities law, corporate law, and general business transactions. He served as outside general counsel to SMG, then manager of the Louisiana Superdome, in all operational matters, including the negotiation of stadium agreements with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. He also served as general counsel to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, now New Orleans & Company, advising on corporate, legislative, and contractual matters, and represented Swire Oilfield Services in multiple acquisitions. Clients and peers alike acknowledged the breadth and depth of Robert’s transactional prowess, and he was regularly recognized in publications such as Chambers and Partners, USA and The Best Lawyers in America®.

“Robert was brilliant, not the least bit egotistical, and very reasonable,” said Louis Y. Fishman, Co-Founding Partner and Counsel to the Firm. “He was always very professional and pleasant to deal with, both as an adversary, when we were with different firms, and as a colleague, when we were law partners.”

Beyond his practice, Robert was deeply committed to the profession. He served as chair of the American Bar Association Committee on Corporate Practice and completed two terms on the ABA’s Corporate Laws Committee, where he continued to serve as a liaison. He was a former chair of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Corporations Law Committee, a former member of the Corporations Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute, and a life member of the American Law Institute.

Robert earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Princeton University in 1968 and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1974, where he served on the Board of Editors of the Virginia Law Review. Following law school, he clerked for the Hon. John Minor Wisdom of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Those who knew Robert understand that his résumé, impressive as it is, tells only part of the story. A scholarly man, Robert was intellectually curious, a lover of art, music, and literature. But above all, he was known to be an incredibly warm, thoughtful, and generous person.

“Robert was one of the smartest people I have ever known, but what made him truly exceptional was his kindness,” said Jim Swanson, Fishman Haygood Partner and Board Chair. “He was always a voice of reason, conciliation, and consideration—the person you turned to when you needed both brilliance and heart.”

“Robert had an extraordinary mind and a life filled with remarkable accomplishment, but he never seemed impressed by either,” said Lori Mince, Partner and Board Member. “He was at his core fun loving and caring—someone who made everyone feel that they mattered.”

Robert’s generosity was especially felt by younger Fishman Haygood lawyers. He was known to freely share his time and wisdom with those coming up in the firm.

“It’s cliché to say, but Robert was like family to me,” said Maureen Gershanik, Partner and Board Member. “When my mother got into a car accident, he drove to her home to offer help. Robert’s dear wife, Anne, came to my home and held my firstborn when I was a new mom. And when my parents passed away, Robert was there to probate the will. He was my good friend, and I will miss him dearly.”

When he retired from active practice, Robert embraced a rich second chapter. He spent summers in Maine and winters in Italy, often sharing in these experiences with loved ones. He passed away unexpectedly at his home in Northeast Harbor on August 20, 2026, surrounded by visiting family and friends—a fitting reflection of a life lived fully and with deep connection to the people he cared about.

Thirty years since he helped establish Fishman Haygood, Robert’s example of what it means to be a great lawyer, and an even better person, continues to inform how the firm operates today. We are grateful to have known him.

Our deepest condolences go out to Robert’s family, friends, and loved ones.