Lee Sher to Deliver 2026 Tulane Law Commencement Address
Lee Sher (BA ‘74, L ‘76), founder and co-managing director of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, LLC, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Tulane Law School’s 2026 commencement ceremony, Law Dean Marcilynn Burke announced.
“Lee Sher is an accomplished lawyer, a dedicated mentor, a great teacher and a steadfast supporter of this institution," said Dean Marcilynn Burke. "His deep commitment to both the legal profession and the city of New Orleans makes him an ideal choice to inspire our graduates as they begin their own careers.”
Sher, a highly respected business lawyer, has built a career centered on commercial real estate and business and finance law, with additional experience spanning commercial litigation, health care law, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, disaster recovery and arbitration. Over decades of practice, he has developed a reputation for guiding clients through complex legal and financial challenges with both precision and practicality.
A two-time graduate of Tulane University, Sher earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1974 before completing his Juris Doctor at Tulane Law School in 1976. He serves as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer in business law programming and is a two-time recipient of the Monte M. Lemann Teaching Award, an honor voted on by students that reflects how deeply he is valued in the classroom. In addition to his teaching, he is an active member of the Law School’s Dean’s Advisory Board, where he helps shape the institution’s future and supports its mission to educate the next generation of legal leaders. He is also co-chair of his 50th reunion this year. In recognition of these contributions, Sher will be inducted into the Tulane Law School Hall of Fame just weeks before he delivers the 2026 commencement address.
In 1999, Sher co-founded Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert, LLC alongside fellow Tulane Law alumnus James Garner (E’86, L’89.) From the firm’s earliest days, Sher and Garner emphasized the importance of investing in Tulane Law students, recruiting top talent as summer associates and mentoring young lawyers within a collaborative, community-focused culture.
Sher’s commitment to New Orleans was especially evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At a time when many firms aligned with insurers, Sher and his partners chose instead to represent local businesses, nonprofits and institutions working to rebuild. Their clients included hospitals, universities, banks and small business owners—organizations critical to the city’s recovery. Through this work, Sher played a meaningful role in helping restore the economic and civic fabric of the region.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sher has made a lasting impact through his philanthropy and support of Tulane. He and his wife, Karen Sher (NC’74, L’77), together with James and Tracie Garner, endowed the Sher Garner Professorship in Sports Law, currently held by Gabe Feldman, director of Tulane’s nationally recognized Sports Law Program. The group has also supported numerous initiatives including the Sher Garner Scholarship and the Sher Garner Fund for the Advancement of Commercial Law. In addition, they are founding donors of the Oliver Houck Chair in Environmental Law.
Tulane Law School’s commencement will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 12 p.m. at the Devlin Fieldhouse on the university’s uptown campus.
