Principal

(504) 581-9065

[email protected]

[email protected]

Mr. Lawrence J. Centola, a principal of Martzell, Bickford & Centola, focuses on class actions, products liability (including asbestos), and mass torts. Mr. Centola has been named class counsel in numerous class actions in Louisiana, including the Bayou Corne sinkhole and various cases against hospitals, oil companies, and chemical companies. Mr. Centola has tried numerous cases to verdict across Louisiana resulting in numerous verdicts over $1 million.

 

Mr. Centola teaches trial advocacy at both LSU Law School and Tulane Law School. He lectures at Continuing Legal Education courses on class actions, products liability, and ethics. Mr. Centola received his law degree from Louisiana State University in 2001 and his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in 1998. Mr. Centola served as the LSU Student Body President for the 1997-98 academic year and currently serves on the LSU Law Center Board of Trustees. Mr. Centola is the 2025-26 President of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and will be the President of the Louisiana State Bar Association for 2027-28.

 

Mr. Centola is the 2008 recipient of the Sandra Day O'Connor Award for Professional Service, awarded by the national American Inns of Court to one young lawyer each year for excellence in pro bono activities. In 2013, Mr. Centola won the President's Award from the Louisiana Association for Justice for dedicated service in the legal profession. Mr. Centola wrote the Torts section of the Louisiana Bar Exam from 2015-2020.  Mr. Centola also serves on the Code of Civil Procedure Committee for the Louisiana Law Institute. Mr. Centola serves on the Executive Committee for the Louisiana Association for Justice.

Areas of Practice

• Class Action/Mass Torts
• Products Liability
• Asbestos
• Personal Injury

Litigation Percentage

• 95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Louisiana, 2001

Education

• Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, LA J.D – 2001
• Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA B.A – 1998

• Honors: Louisiana State University Student Body President, 1997-1998

Honors and Awards

• Recipient, Sandra Day O'Conner Award for Professional Service, 2008
• President's Award, Louisiana Association for Justice, 2013
• Recipient, America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®, 2018

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Louisiana State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, Past Chairman, 2012 – Present
• Federal Bar Association, Young Lawyers New Orleans, Chairman, 2011 – 2012
• New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Executive Board of Directors
• Louisiana Association for Justice, Member
• Louisiana State University (LSU) Law Center Young Alumni Council

Past Employment Positions

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Law Clerk