Tom Cortazzo a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, earned his Bachelor of Public Administration Degree summa cum laude from Loyola university, where he attended on a four-year academic scholarship. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1987, where he was a member of the Loyola Law Review and served as Comment/Casenote Editor of the Law Review.

Tom has been practicing law for more than 15 years. His practice consists of litigation in courts and administrative tribunals and other forms of dispute resolutions such as arbitration and mediation. His experience ranges from various forms of commercial litigation to casualty and insurance matter.

Currently, Tom is a member of the New Orleans , Louisiana State, American and Federal Bar Associations. He has lectured on varied legals topics to lawyers, business groups and schools, as well as authored numerous legal publications. He also stays active in the community, currently including service as a member of the New Orleans Public Schools Partnership in Education Steering Committee, the Archbishop Shaw High School Alumni Association, and is a long term member of the Rotary Club of Carrollton (in New Orleans) in which he has held various positions of leadership including President and is currently on the Board of Directors.