Sponsored by Taylor Porter
For over a century, Taylor Porter has stood as a pillar of the Baton Rouge community, weaving a legacy of service, integrity and commitment that extends far beyond the courtroom. Founded in 1912, the firm has called downtown Baton Rouge home for 113 years, making it one of the city’s most enduring institutions. But Taylor Porter’s true legacy is not just in its longevity – it’s in the impact the firm and its people have had on the community they serve.
From its earliest days, Taylor Porter’s founders, Benjamin B. Taylor and C. Vernon Porter, set the tone for a culture of giving. B.B. Taylor helped launch Baton Rouge’s first YMCA, just one of many examples of the firm’s foundational support for the city. This spirit of service has been passed down through generations of attorneys, each encouraged and supported to be good corporate citizens and to give back to the community that has given so much to them.
“Commitment to community has always been at the heart of who we are,” says Bob Barton, Taylor Porter’s Managing Partner. “We work hard, but we also want our attorneys to spend time with their families and their chosen communities. It’s not just something we talk about – it’s something we live every day.”
Taylor Porter’s approach to community service is both broad and deeply personal. The firm is actively involved in several charitable endeavors each year, including long-standing partnerships with organizations like Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. The firm’s attorneys and staff participate in fundraising events, such as the Geaux Grizzly campaign and annual raffles, with Taylor Porter matching employee contributions to maximize their impact.
But the firm’s commitment goes beyond financial support. Taylor Porter encourages its attorneys to serve on nonprofit boards and to volunteer for causes they are passionate about. “We don’t want board membership to be a resume filler,” Barton explains. “We want our people to be active participants and supporters, making a real difference.”
This philosophy is embodied by individuals like Kari “Kiki” Bergeron, a Partner who, after overcoming breast cancer, founded the nonprofit Totes de Joie to provide care packages for cancer patients across the region. Other attorneys have chaired boards such as HOPE Ministries and the Manship Theatre, while Justin Mannino, a Partner recognized as one of Business Report’s 40 Under 40 honorees, exemplifies the firm’s commitment to community leadership and involvement. Importantly, the firm’s community engagement extends beyond partners: Associate Bethany Percle is actively serving on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge, demonstrating Taylor Porter’s encouragement of all attorneys to make a meaningful impact.
As Taylor Porter looks to the future, its commitment to Baton Rouge remains unwavering. “We hope that our legacy of service continues for the next hundred years,” Barton says. “We are proud to be part of the fabric of this city, working every day to make it a better place to live and work.”
In a world where change is constant, Taylor Porter’s century-long dedication to community service stands as a testament to the enduring power of giving back. To learn more, visit taylorporter.com.
