Knezeklaw

Elena Arcos Knezek

Founding Partner

Phone: 337-266-2233

Fax: 337-534-0945

Email: eknezek@knezeklaw.com

About Elena Arcos Knezek

Elena is a seasoned litigator with over 350 civil trials completed and more than 500 appearances in Federal and State courts across the United States. She practices in the areas of complex litigation, transportation contracts and litigation, toxic tort litigation, class action litigation, oil and gas litigation, general commercial contracts and litigation, admiralty and maritime litigation, medical contracts and litigation, commercial and air carrier leases, workman’s compensation litigation, international customs litigation, U.S. customs litigation, international contracts and litigation, premise liability, general civil litigation, and immigration law.

As one of the few lawyers to hold a certification as a Level A Hazardous Material Responder from the Security and Response Training Center, she has lead defense litigation teams from the onset of an incident through complex toxic tort litigation and the appellate process to the benefit of the client. Elena knows what it means to be the boots on the ground and the person behind the podium.

In addition to being a lawyer, Elena has experience in being an international business owner. She has extensive experience working abroad to facilitate new business opportunities and in running offshore companies.

As an immigrant from Chile who spent considerable time living abroad in Central America and Europe before gaining her U.S. citizenship as a teen, she knows the difficulties that families face to make a better life for themselves here in the U.S. She also understands the challenges faced by business and Government entities traversing U.S. Immigration laws. Elena is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. This experience further focuses on the efforts of her immigration work.

She is driven by her focus, drive, and skill to execute the perfect solution for her clients. Representative clients include Union Pacific Railroad Company, Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, Oceanetics, Truston Technologies, WMD Squared Engineering, Ranger Aviation, Gulf Fleet, InCat Crowther Engineering, Lafayette Parish School Board, ExxonMobil, Berkley Insurer, Navigators Insurer, and AIG.

Areas of Practice
  • Immigration
  • Transportation
  • Maritime
  • Litigation
  • Health Care
  • Business
  • Workmans’ Compensation
  • General Liability
  • Railroad
  • Environmental
  • Oil and Gas Litigation
Bar Admissions
  • Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Louisiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
  • Also admitted to practice Pro Hac Vice in Hawaii, Virginia, Utah, and Washington
  • Texas
Honors and Awards
  • Top Lawyer in Acadiana – 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024
  • Super Lawyer 2020-2022
  • Client Champion 2022
  • American Inn of Court Award – 2014 and 2015
  • Cali Award
  • Certified Tank Car Specialist (Certification in Emergency Preparedness and Response)
  • American Inn of Court Program Award
  • Women of Excellence Award in Leadership and Community Service – 2019

Education
  • Louisiana State University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
    • J.D. – 2000
  • Louisiana State University
    • B.S. – 1997
Professional Associations and Memberships
  • Certified Tank Car Specialist (Certification in Emergency Preparedness and Response)American Bar Association, International Law and Practice Section
  • National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, 2000 – current
  • Louisiana Association of Defense Lawyers
  • Lafayette Parish Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Young Lawyers Association
  • International Law Association
  • International Commercial Law Association of the International Law Association
  • Louisiana Leadership Graduate – 2015 – 2016
  • American Inn of Court (Lafayette), President, 2015 – 2016
  • Baton Rouge Inns of Court, Honorary Student Member, 1999 – 2000
  • International Trade and Development Group, Chair 2012 – 2015; Executive Board Member 2007 – 2016
  • Junior League of Lafayette
  • Episcopal School of Acadiana, Board of Trustees ( 2013 – current)
  • Former One Acadiana Board Member – Formerly the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
  • Community Foundation of Acadiana Board Member
  • The 705 Young Leaders, Former Member
  • National School Board Association Council of School Attorneys
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • American College of Environmental Lawyers