Biography
Mr. Cahill is a member of the Firm's Business Group whose practice is concentrated in commercial real estate, business and finance law, as well as creditors' rights, workouts and foreclosures and commercial bankruptcy and other commercial transactions. Mr. Cahill practices before and works closely with political entities and public administrative boards and agencies at the local, parish (county) and state levels. Mr. Cahill is also a licensed title insurance agent in the State of Louisiana.
As part of his practice, Mr. Cahill is actively involved with many professional and trade organizations, including the American Bar Association’s Section of Business Law where he previously served as Chair of the Real Estate Financing Subcommittee of the Commercial Finance Committee), the ABA's Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section (where he previously served as a Supervisory Council Member of the Section's Governing Council, as well as Chair of the Section’s Diversity Committee), the ABA’s Torts and Insurance (TIPS) Section (where he has served as Vice Chair of that Section’s Title Insurance Litigation Committee), the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the International Council of Shopping Centers, a trade association that represents the interests of those involved in the shopping center industry. Mr. Cahill is a past president of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, as well as a past member of the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Bar Association. Mr. Cahill also serves on the Loyola Law School Visiting Committee, whose purpose is to serve as an advisory and consultative group to the Dean of the Law School, bringing the perspective of alumni and other friends of the Law School to bear on matters of Law School policy, activities, programs and goals, and acts as an advocate to assist the Dean in advancing the interest of the school.
Mr. Cahill is actively involved with many civic and charitable organizations, having served as Chair member of the Board of Directors of Children's Hospital in New Orleans, and on the Board of Directors of Louisiana Appleseed. He served as Co-Chair of the University of New Orleans Business Alumni Council, whose purpose is to serve as an advisory group to the Dean of the Business School to assist the Dean in advancing the interests of the School.
Mr. Cahill has taught as an Adjunct Professor (1993) and as a Skills Instructor (1992-2007) at Loyola Law School in New Orleans. He has spoken at numerous seminars, conventions and meetings throughout the country, including the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, American College of Mortgage Attorneys, American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, the New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana Land Title Association and Louisiana Bankers Association, among other professional and trade groups.
Representative Cases
- In re Harvest Oil & Gas/Saratoga (Middle District of La.) Co-counsel for Secured Creditor
- In re Eagle, Inc. (Eastern District of La.) Co-counsel for Interested Party United States Fire Insurance Company
- In re New Orleans Auction Gallery (Eastern District of La.) - Counsel for First Bank & Trust as secured and unsecured creditor
- In re C & O Enterprises (Eastern District of La.) - Counsel for Hancock Bank as primary secured creditor
- In re Chrysler, LLC (Southern District of N.Y.) – Louisiana counsel for affected dealer
- In re Delphi Corp., et al. (Southern District of N.Y.) – represented Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, assignee with claim against Delphi as account debtor on factored accounts
- In re Noble International Ltd. (Eastern District of Mi.) – representing Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, defendant in adversary preference action
- In re O’Flaherty Construction and Development, LLC (Eastern District of La.) – represented Komatsu Financial limited Partnership, secured creditor holding security interest in equipment
- In re Daniel Express (Southern District of Ga.) - represented Gulf Coast Bank and Trust, assignee with claim against Daniel Express as account debtor on factored accounts
- In re Pilgrim’s Pride (Northern District of Tx.) – Louisiana counsel for Debtor in post-petition financing
- In re Realco Ltd. (Western District of La.) represented Komatsu Financial limited Partnership, secured creditor holding security interest in equipment
- In re David Wayne Greer (Western District of La.- Ch. 13) – represented Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, secured creditor holding a security interest in equipment
- In re FF Acquisition Corp. d/b/a Flexible Flyer (Northern District of Ms.) – represented Academy Ltd., defendant to adversary proceeding.
- In re Crutcher-Tufts Corporation (Eastern District of La.) – counsel for shareholder
- In re Riverside Healthcare Liquidating Trust (Middle District of La.) - Louisiana local counsel for Liquidating Trustee
- In re Evans Industries (Eastern District of La.) - Co-counsel for Frost Bank as DIP lender
- In re Riverside Healthcare (Middle District of La.) - Co-counsel for Unsecured Creditors Committee
- In re Jitney Jungle Supermarkets (Eastern District of La.) – Louisiana local counsel for Second DIP lender
- In re Entergy New Orleans (Eastern District of La.) - Louisiana local Counsel for Deutche Bank as secured Bondholder
- In re Behavioral Hospital of Baton Rouge (Middle District of La.) - Counsel for First Bank & Trust as primary secured creditor
- In re Babcock & Wilcox (Eastern District of La.) – Louisiana local counsel for Asbestos Insurance companies
- In re Kenner Plaza Associates (Eastern District of La.) - Counsel for second lien mortgagee as secured creditor
- In re Torch (Eastern District of La.) Counsel for Restech defending preference action
- Served as Counsel for Murphy Oil & Lykes Lines on defense of numerous preference actions in LA, MS, KY, NJ, DE
Honors
- Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2022
- Best Lawyers in America since 2010 with special designations, during 2023 or a prior year, in Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law, 2010-2023
- Louisiana Super Lawyers 2007-2023, recognized in the New Orleans Top 50 (2013-2023), Louisiana Top 10 (2010-2012, 2020-2023) and Louisiana Top 50 (2007-2023)
- Law Dragon’s 500 Real Estate Lawyers (Global) 2024-2025
- Chambers and Partners 2008-2010, 2012- 2015 & 2017-2021, and 2023 USA Rankings in Real Estate – Key Individuals: Elwood Cahill is a “practical and business-oriented attorney” focusing on commercial real estate, financing and general business law. “He is smart and he can work towards finding a reasonable solution to something while still representing his client well” asserts one impressed interviewee.
- Who’s Who Legal Real Estate Directory – Leading Real Estate Lawyer, 2015
- Outstanding Alumnus of UNO College of Business, 2002
- Pro Bono Publico Award, Louisiana State Bar Association, 1989
- Beta Alpha Psi National Honor Accounting Fraternity
- R.O.S.E. Award – Friends of NORD
Classes & Seminars
- Speaker and Participant, Land Boundaries, Surveys and Access Rights, Half Moon Seminars, to be presented in New Orleans, LA, March 12, 2013
- Organizer and Moderator, Bankruptcy Roundtable Discussion with the Louisiana Bankruptcy Bench at Seminar presented by Louisiana Turnaround Management Association (Louisiana Chapter), October 2012
- Speaker and Participant, Land Boundaries, Surveys and Access Rights, presented by Half Moon Seminars, Baton Rouge, LA, October 2012
- Organizer and Moderator, Bankruptcy Roundtable Discussion with the Louisiana Bankruptcy Bench Louisiana Turnaround Management Association (Louisiana Chapter) seminar, October 2011
- Organizer and Moderator, Views from the Bench Judge’s Panel at Bankruptcy Seminar presented by Louisiana Turnaround Management Association (Louisiana Chapter), October 2009
- Organizer and Moderator, Judge’s Panel at Bankruptcy & Consumer Law Seminar for Non- Specialists, presented by FBA (New Orleans Chapter), December 4, 2008
- Speaker and Participant, Understanding Land Surveys, Descriptions and Boundaries, presented by Half Moon Seminars – October 2008
- Moderator: Diversity Luncheon, ABA Annual Meeting, August 2004
- Speaker and Participant, Ethics, NOBA Bar Conference, 2004
- Speaker and Participant, Beware the Bankrupt Tenant: What You Don't Know Will Hurt, ACREL Mid-Year Meeting, 2004
- Speaker and Participant, “Beware the Bankrupt Tenant: What You Don't Know Will Hurt”, ACREL Mid-Year Meeting, 2004
- Speaker and Participant, “Professionalism & Ethics,” New Orleans Bar Association, June 2004
- Speaker and Participant, Ethics, New Orleans Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, 2004
- Speaker and Participant, “Professional and Legislative Update: Louisiana,” Chicago Title Insurance Company Underwriting Seminar, May 2003
- Speaker and Participant, “Current Issues in Real Estate Law”, Destination Disney Multi-Topic CLE Seminar, Louisiana State Bar Association, February 2001
- Speaker and Participant, Chicago Title Insurance Company Underwriting Seminar, March 2001
- Speaker and Participant, Real Estate Transactions from A-Z, Loyola University Institute for Continuing Legal Education, November 1999
- Speaker and Participant, Handling the Multistate Transaction, Chicago Title Insurance Company, Orange Beach, CA, March 1997
- Adjunct Professor, Business Organizations, Loyola School of Law, 1993
- Instructor, Real Estate Skills Course, Loyola School of Law, 1992 - Present
- Speaker and Participant, Real Estate Transactions from A-Z, Loyola University Institute for Continuing Legal Education
- Speaker and Participant, Handling the Multistate Transaction, Chicago Title Insurance Company, Orange Beach, CA
- Speaker and Participant, Representing the Seller and Purchaser from Beginning to End, Loyola University Institute for Continuing Legal Education
- Speaker and Participant, The Fundamentals of Curing Title Defects, Loyola University Institute for Continuing Legal Education
- Speaker and Participant, Boundary Law in Louisiana, National Business Institute, Fall, 1990
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Chairperson, Diversity Committee, 1999-Present; Member, Real Property Division Advisory Board, 1999- Present, Chairperson, 1999 – 2004
- University of New Orleans Business Alumni Council, Founding Board Member; Co-chair, 2003 – Present
- Co-Chair, Business Series Committee, 2000 – 2003
- Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF), having served as President for 2000 and 2001
- American Bar Association, Section of Business Law, Member, Developments in Business Financing Committee
- American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL)
- Children’s Hospital of New Orleans Board of Directors
- American Bar Foundation
- Young Lawyer Division of American Bar Association, Fellow
- Louisiana Bar Foundation, Board of Directors
- New Orleans Bar Association, Board of Directors
- International Council of Shopping Centers
Past Positions
- McGlinchey Stafford, Member, 1985 - 1999
- McGlinchey Stafford, Associate, 1980 - 1984
Pro-Bono Activities
- Louisiana Appleseed, Secretary, 2009 – 2011
- Louisiana Appleseed, Board Member
- United Way of Greater New Orleans, Member of Tocqueville Society
- New Orleans Pro Bono Project, 1987 – 1993, Founding Board Member
- New Orleans Pro Bono Project, Chairperson
- Dominican High School, Parent Annual Giving Drive, Co-Chair, 2003 – 2004
- Friends of NORD, Member, Board of Directors, 1999 – 2003
- Andrew School Foundation, President, 1994 – 1996
- Justice For All Ball, benefitting New Orleans Pro Bono Project, Co-Founder and Fund-raising Chair, 1989 – 1991
Ancillary Businesses
- Title Insurance
Practice Areas
- Commercial Real Estate
- Business and Finance Law
- Creditors' Rights
- Foreclosures
- Commercial Bankruptcy
- Commercial Transactions
Education
- Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, New Orleans, Louisiana
- J.D. - 1980
- Law Review, Loyola Law Review, Casenote Editor, 1978, 1980
- University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
- B.S. - 1977
- Honors: Dean's List, 1975-1977
- Major: Accounting
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana, 1980
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana, 1980
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana, 1982
- U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana, 2004
- U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 1981