Celebrating Susan Talley: A Leader in Real Estate Law

When Susan Talley (L ’81) began law school at Tulane, she didn’t envision herself as a real estate lawyer, much less as a future president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL), the most prestigious professional organization in the field. Yet over more than four decades, Talley has built a career defined by intellectual curiosity, professional excellence, and a deep commitment to the legal community, culminating in her service as ACREL president in 2025. 

Talley traces her decision to attend Tulane Law to the personal outreach of Rosie LeBreton (NC’73, L’76), the then Dean of Admissions, who recruited her to the law school with scholarship support. That early connection would become the foundation of a lifelong relationship with Tulane.  

As a young law student, Talley had an interest in transactional work and an eye toward corporate and securities law. “I knew I wanted to do transactional work,” Talley recalled. “I thought I wanted to be a corporate and securities lawyer.” But shortly after joining Stone Pigman as an associate in 1981, an unexpected assignment changed the trajectory of her career. Pulled into a complex financing matter for a shopping center development, Talley found herself drawn into the world of real estate law and discovered a practice that combined technical precision with creative problem-solving. 

“I just really enjoyed it,” she said. “And that’s how I became a real estate lawyer.” 

That early period at Stone Pigman also marked the beginning of Talley’s reputation as a generous mentor to fellow lawyers. Ron Scalise, the John Minor Wisdom Professor of Civil Law at Tulane Law School, worked with Talley at the firm early in his career before joining the Tulane faculty. 

“As a young lawyer, I had the incredibly good fortune to work with and learn from Susan,” Scalise said. “Her mentorship at a formative point in my career helped shape the lawyer I am today. I’m very lucky even now to have the opportunity to work with Susan on law reform projects and to call her a friend.” 

Civil Law in Practice 

Talley’s career has unfolded at the intersection of Louisiana’s civil law tradition and the broader common law system that governs most U.S. jurisdictions. She credits her civil law training at Tulane with giving her a distinctive perspective and an important professional advantage. 

“Lawyers in the other 49 states and D.C. are terrified of civil law,” she said with a laugh. “So, they need someone knowledgeable to walk them through issues.” At the same time, she emphasized the importance of understanding how legal issues are handled beyond Louisiana. “It’s important to understand how transactions are handled outside of Louisiana to then be able to offer comparable advice and comparable structures within Louisiana.” 

That dual fluency has shaped her work on major transactions involving national and international stakeholders, where civil law concepts often provide a shared language with global partners and investors. 

Leadership in the Profession 

Talley’s reputation as a leading real estate lawyer has been matched by her service to the profession. She joined ACREL in 1994, nominated by senior lawyers who had worked alongside her on major deals. Membership in the organization is highly selective, requiring extensive experience, peer recommendations, and a rigorous voting process. 

Over the years, she took on increasing leadership roles within the organization, eventually serving as president in 2025. Reflecting on that milestone, Talley noted the broader significance of her election. 

“To have somebody from a midsize law firm in a midsize city like New Orleans lead that organization—it says something,” she said. “It says something about New Orleans. It says something about our firm. And it says something about the network that we have.” 

Her leadership extends beyond ACREL. Talley has served as chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, past chair of the Anglo-American Real Property Institute, and President of the Louisiana State Law Institute in 2018 and 2019, followed by service as Chair in 2022. In recognition of her achievements, she was inducted into the Tulane Law School Hall of Fame in 2022. 

A Lasting Connection to Tulane Law 

Despite her national and international reputation, Talley has remained closely connected to Tulane Law and its students. Each year, she returns to campus to speak to Professor Sally Richardson’s Civil Law Property II class, delivering a presentation memorably titled “Why Servitudes Matter (and not just to pass the bar exam).” 

The lecture has become a highlight for students. “It really pulls everything together,” Richardson noted, connecting doctrine with practice in a way that resonates long after the course ends. 

Talley also continues to serve the Tulane Law community through her work with the Order of the Coif and the Tulane Law Review’s Board of Advisory Editors, reflecting a career-long commitment to legal education and mentorship. 

Advice for the Next Generation 

Asked what she would tell today’s Tulane Law students, Talley offered advice shaped by her own unexpected path. 

“Don’t prejudge. Don’t put yourself in a box,” she said. “You really may end up doing something entirely different from what you imagined.” 

She also emphasized the enduring importance of relationships and professional engagement. “If you don’t take the time to engage in human interactions, bar activities, community organizations, trade groups, you’re going to sell yourself short,” she said. “Building that network is incredibly important.” 

A Career of Impact 

From a Tulane Law student who once imagined a career in corporate and securities law to a nationally recognized leader in real estate practice, Susan Talley’s career reflects both the rigor of legal training and the power of staying open to possibility. Her presidency of ACREL in 2025 stands as a capstone to decades of professional leadership, and as a reminder of the impact Tulane Law graduates continue to have on the legal profession. 

Inspired by their own experiences at Tulane Law, Susan and her husband, Jay Gulotta (L’76), established a scholarship fund to support future generations of Tulane Law students. Those interested in contributing to the fund can learn more or make a gift here.