11/14/2025
MEET THE FOUNDATION BOARD: Kyle Gideon, Secretary/Treasurer
Kyle L. Gideon is a partner in the Davidson Meaux Sonnier McElligott Fontenot Gideon & Edwards law firm. His practice focuses on the defense of railroad grade crossing accident cases, F.E.L.A. suits, train derailments, ERISA claims litigation, and casualty litigation. His ERISA litigation work includes the defense of claims for life, disability, AD&D and health benefits. The Railroad and ERISA work complement each other, as both involve complex Federal preemption issues. His practice includes experience in class action lawsuits in both the railroad litigation and ERISA arenas. Kyle also enjoys a very substantial plaintiff personal injury practice. He has been named a Louisiana Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters annually since 2014.
Kyle received his BA degree in 1980 in political science/pre-law from the then-USL and his law degree in 1984 from the Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert School of Law. He served as a law clerk to the Honorable Jerome E. Domengeaux, Chief Judge, Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal from 1984 to 1986.
He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, and Middle Districts of Louisiana and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
His strong ties to the legal community are reflected in his membership in the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, The American Inns of Court and the Lafayette, Louisiana and American Bar associations. He is a past president of the Lafayette Bar Association, a past director of the Lafayette Bar Association Board of Directors and a past director of the Board of the Lafayette Bar Foundation. He has served the Louisiana Bar Association as a member of the House of Delegates. Kyle is a member of and regularly attends meetings of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. He was a charter member and former member of the Board of Directors of the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association.
Kyle is a frequent lecturer on accident investigation techniques, deposition techniques, professionalism and ERISA claims litigation.
An avid outdoorsman, he is particularly proud of his conservation work, having served on the State Board of Directors of the Coastal Conservation Association, as president of the Acadiana Chapter of Coastal Conservation Association, and as a committee member and sponsor of the Lafayette Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
As an active member in the community, he is a former member of the Board of Directors of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, has worked as a member of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, served as legal chair of the United Way Campaign, is a former member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and Junior League of Lafayette Community Advisory Board. He is a member and past Duke of the Krewe of Gabriel and a past Duke of the Krewe of Attakapas.
His hobbies include saltwater fishing, waterfowl hunting and watching LSU sports.
"I have the honor and privilege to serve as the Treasurer of the Lafayette Bar Foundation,” said Kyle. “Having been involved with our organizations for years, I take tremendous pride in the great service that the Lafayette Bar Association and the Lafayette Bar Foundation provide to our members and the Lafayette community. I want to assist in any way that I can to ensure that we continue to offer support to our membership through hosting socials, seminars, Bench Bar conferences and a mediation center. Serving on the Foundation Board allows me to aid our organization in providing the community with pro bono legal services, Counsel on Call, Wills for Heroes and legal help for the indigent."
Kyle continued, "Over the years, I have accepted a number of cases as a Lafayette Bar Foundation pro bono attorney. Helping someone who does not have the resources to hire an attorney to navigate through a legal dispute is tremendously rewarding. It can be very humbling to bring pleasure or emotional comfort to someone who is destitute by solving a legal crisis for them.”
