General Tort Defense

Katia D. Bowman is a Taylor Porter partner who practices primarily civil and appellate litigation. She has defended the interests of public and private clients in personal injury, insurance defense, contract disputes, public utilities, unfair trade practice, civil rights, education, retaliation, defamation, wrongful termination, discrimination, and general tort matters. Katia’s litigation practice includes experience with electronic discovery, pre-trial motions, trials, appeals, and settlements.

​Employment-Based Immigration

Katia is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). She advises U.S. employers regarding compliance with the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 process). She also advises employers of foreign workers on the employment-based visa petition process (EB visa categories). Katia also assists not only U.S. employers, but also foreign workers and students desiring to enter the U.S. workforce legally, in connection with the nonimmigrant worker visa process (including H visas). A native of Haiti, Katia herself came to the United States on a student visa (F-1). Her transition of status from F-1 to legal permanent resident and, ultimately, naturalized citizen uniquely qualifies her to help U.S. companies and foreign workers and students navigate the complex and often lengthy immigration process. Driven by her own experience and passion to facilitate and empower the employment of foreign labor in the United States within the guidelines provided by law, Katia proudly devotes her career to assisting American companies and foreign workers with their immigration needs. On the individual side, Katia handles CPT/OPT applications and extensions, petitions for adjustments of status (I-485) and related applications for employment authorization (I-765) and travel authorization or advance parole (I-131).

Expressing herself in her maternal tongue (i.e., French), Katia relates that:

• “Ma passion concernant la loi d’immigration provient de ma propre expérience en tant qu’étudiante haitienne instruite dans une université, et par la suite, une école de droit, américaines. Je comprends bien la situation des professionels immigrant de pays étrangers pour travailler aux États-Unis. En effet, j’ai moi-même dû surmonter des épreuves en ce qui a trait a ma transition de statut d’étudiante et graduée post-universitaire a celui de résidente permanente légale des États-Unis. Puisant de mon expérience personnelle et de celles de parents et amis étrangers ayant vécu les mêmes réalités pénibles en termes d’immigration en Amérique, je consacre ma carrière à représenter et informer les compagnies américaines voulant employer des étrangers légalement. La loi américaine fournit un eventail d’options et opportunités pour ces professionels voulant immigrer aux États-Unis. J’ai l’expérience et la passion nécessaires pour assister les employeurs américains avec ce processus. En particulier, mon travail profite aux institutions américaines et travailleurs internationaux de deux manières. D'une part, je leur offre une representation légale d’un calibre supérieur; et d'autre part, je leur apporte des informations précieuses découlant de ma condition d'immigrante ayant dû passer par les étapes d'un processus souvent long et complexe.”

Also conversant in Spanish, Katia adds:

• “Siendo yo misma una inmigrante extranjera, tengo la experiencia y la pasión para ayudar a los empleadores americanos deseando contratar legalmente a trabajadores extranjeros con el proceso de inmigración.”

Professional/Community Contributions, and Accolades

Katia is admitted to practice in all Louisiana state and federal courts, as well as the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Baton Rouge Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, and Defense Research Institute. 

In 2016, Katia was named among the "Top Forty Under 40" by the Baton Rouge Business Report.

Katia is fluent in English, French and Haitian Creole. She is a registered Haitian Creole Language Court Interpreter for the Louisiana Supreme Court. Katia is also conversant in Spanish.

​Within Taylor Porter, Katia serves as Chair of the Diversity Committee. Katia also serves as a member of the Diversity Committee of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC). Katia has served on the DRI Planning Committee for the Annual Diversity for Success Seminar and Expo.

Katia received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the Southern University Law Center in 2008. She was an editor of the Southern University Law Review and a member of the Business and Entrepreneur Leadership Association. She also received CALI Excellence Awards in Legal Writing, Legal Research, Corporations, and Admiralty Law. Following law school, Katia volunteered as a writing fellow through Southern University Law Center’s Supplemental Bar Review Program for students preparing to take the Louisiana Bar Exam. Katia graduated summa cum laude from Southern University and A&M College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2005.

In her spare time, Katia enjoys spending time with her family, listening to music, and traveling to discover new cultures, particularly in tropical climates.