Taylor Bacques became a lawyer to confront systems that too often work against everyday people—especially when they’re hurt, vulnerable, or grieving. Whether it’s a confusing diagnosis, a catastrophic injury, or a complex lawsuit, Taylor is driven by a deep sense of fairness and a belief that no one should have to face those moments alone.
Growing up in Louisiana, Taylor saw how overwhelming the healthcare system could be when a loved one was in crisis. Even when the care was good, it was hard to keep up with the jargon, the uncertainty, and the weight of every decision. He learned early on how to ask the right questions, do the research, and help his family make sense of complicated medical issues. That instinct—to understand and explain, to stand up and advocate—led him to the law.
Today, Taylor focuses his practice on personal injury, product liability, and medical malpractice cases. He represents people at their most vulnerable: those injured by negligence, failed by the systems that were supposed to protect them, or grieving a loss that never should have happened. He sees each case as a chance to level the playing field and help clients reclaim a sense of justice and control over their lives.
Before joining Samuels & Thornton, Taylor spent years on the defense side, gaining valuable experience that now helps him anticipate the other side’s strategies and build stronger cases for his clients. He was recently co-counsel in a high-stakes trial against tobacco giant Philip Morris, representing the family of a woman who died from smoking-related injuries. The case settled during trial, but for Taylor, it reinforced why he chose this work: to hold powerful companies accountable and help ordinary people be heard.
Clients and colleagues describe Taylor as deeply passionate, highly organized, and a natural communicator. He breaks down complex medical and legal concepts in ways that make sense, empowering his clients with clarity and confidence every step of the way.
A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Taylor earned Highest Honors for his senior thesis in 19th-century British literature. He went on to earn his law degree from Tulane University, where he was elected to the Order of the Barristers and served as head coach of the ADR Moot Court Team. He is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts and is a member of both the Louisiana State Bar Association and the New Orleans Bar Association.
Outside of work, you can find Taylor out in the South Louisiana heat, running or playing tennis, or enjoying a walk through City Park with his wife, their newborn son, and their golden retriever. For him, family is everything—and that personal grounding gives even more meaning to the fight he takes on for his clients.
Taylor believes in treating people the way he’d want to be treated: with honesty, respect, and relentless effort. His work is more than a job—it’s a promise to stand beside those who need a voice, and to make sure that voice is heard.
Areas Of Practice
- Personal injury
- Complex civil litigation
- Products liability
- Class actions
- Insurance coverage
- Maritime law
- Multi-district litigation
Bar Admissions
- Louisiana (September 2020)
- U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana
- U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Various pro hac vice admissions in federal and state courts
Education
- Tulane University Law School, New Orleans, LA — Juris Doctor, May 2020
- Civil Law Certificate
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC — Bachelor of Arts, May 2013
- Highest Honors and Distinction
- Major: Comparative Literature
- Minor: Arabic Studies
Representative Cases
- Products liability trial against tobacco companies, settled favorably.
- Texas Winter Storm Uri MDL: argued opposition to dismissal.
- Benzene shampoo class actions: complaint drafting and briefing.
- Class action involving contaminated medication: corporate deposition.
- Federal insurance trial: second-chair and post-trial briefing.
- Limitation of liability maritime action with multi-claimants.
Associations & Memberships
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- New Orleans Bar Association
Based in New Orleans, our lawyers handle accident and injury cases — as well as other types of legal matters — throughout Louisiana.
When a flood of legal obstacles threatens to sweep you away, contact our attorneys.
