April L. Watson

New Orleans, LA

Attorney Brief

April L. Watson’s practice is concentrated on state tax litigation, estate planning, trusts, and successions. Since 2004, she has served as outside litigation counsel for the Louisiana Department of Revenue, representing the Department in complex tax controversies involving corporate income, franchise, and sales and use taxes in administrative proceedings and state courts throughout Louisiana.

Ms. Watson also advises individuals, families, fiduciaries, and businesses in estate planning and succession matters, including the preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and probate administration. Her litigation experience spans state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout Louisiana. She has been a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association since 2004.

Education

Ms. Watson earned her undergraduate degree in Business, Marketing, and Public Relations from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. She received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where she was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship.

During law school, she earned certificates in International Law, Civil Law, and Common Law and participated in legal study programs in Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary; and San José, Costa Rica.

Narrative

Ms. Watson has devoted more than twenty years of her legal career to representing governmental entities, businesses, fiduciaries, and individuals in complex litigation and advisory matters. Since 2004, she has served as outside litigation counsel for the Louisiana Department of Revenue, handling sophisticated state tax controversies involving corporate income, franchise, and sales and use taxes in administrative proceedings, trial courts, and appellate courts throughout Louisiana.

In addition to her tax litigation practice, Ms. Watson advises individuals and families in all aspects of estate planning and succession law, including the preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and succession administration. She also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in contested trust and succession matters, providing practical guidance through complex legal and family issues.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Watson gained substantial courtroom experience handling complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. That broad litigation background continues to inform her strategic approach to resolving sophisticated tax and fiduciary disputes. She is known for providing thoughtful, practical counsel and developing effective legal strategies tailored to each client's objectives.

Awards

Inside Northside Magazine's Women In Business, 2020
New Orleans City Business Women of the Year, class of 2018 (for her efforts in the business community and public service)
St. Charles Avenue Magazine, profiled in 2018
New Orleans City Business Leadership in Law Class, 2017
Children's Advocacy Center Tree of Life Recipient, 2017 (for her advocacy work on behalf of children)
President's Volunteer Service Award, 2014

Bar, Courts & Professional Affiliations

Ms. Watson is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association. She is admitted to practice before all Louisiana district and appellate courts as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern, Western, and Middle Districts.