Phelps’ Joe Giarrusso Selected by Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno to Serve as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS—DEC. 2, 2025— Joe Giarrusso will serve as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the City of New Orleans, joining Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno’s new administration. In this new role, Giarrusso will be tasked under New Orleans’ Home Rule Charter with supervising department heads, managing the city’s budget and representing the administration before the City Council. His leadership will be essential to driving operational excellence and accountability across all city departments under the leadership of the new Mayor of New Orleans.
Since joining Phelps as Counsel in 2024, Giarrusso’s deep experience in municipal affairs and public policy have strengthened the firm’s government relations team and helped clients navigate complex business challenges. Phelps supports Giarrusso in this new role to manage government and is committed to Joe’s service to the City of New Orleans during this pivotal time of change.
“Joe is highly competent. He’s a doer who brings people together and moves things along for our clients and our city,” said Marshall Redmon, managing partner at Phelps. “While it’s bittersweet for Phelps and we’ll miss his skills, we fully support this call of duty to serve our City and help move it forward for all of us. Our Phelps team looks forward to continuing our work with Joe and welcoming him back when his service is done.”
In addition to two decades of legal experience, Giarrusso brings more than seven years of city leadership as a New Orleans City Council member and nearly four years as budget chair to this position. He will assume the CAO role in mid-January following his final term as City Councilman representing District A, an elected position he has held since 2017.
“I am humbled and honored that Mayor-Elect Moreno trusts me to serve in this role as New Orleans embarks on the next chapter of our city. After serving with Mayor-elect Moreno for nearly the past decade, I have seen firsthand the challenges New Orleans is facing, and I know how important it is her administration to start strong and show progress to residents,” said Giarrusso. “The decision to return to City Hall was made after talking to my wife and Phelps. I want to thank Phelps for wholeheartedly welcoming me in 2024 and allowing me to serve Mayor-Elect Moreno and the City. I look forward to returning to Phelps when my stint as CAO is completed.”
ABOUT PHELPS
Phelps is an AmLaw-ranked firm whose collaborative strategies help clients thrive. We deliver practical, business-minded solutions to clients with interests in admiralty, business, health care, insurance, labor and employment, and litigation. Our more than 435 lawyers work in tandem to share forward-thinking approaches for businesses in the global economy. Phelps’ reputation is rooted in 150 years of legal excellence, and we reimagine it every day from our 17 locations across the Gulf South, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and the London Market. Learn more at phelps.com.
