Deborah Duplechin Harkins
Member
Baton Rouge, New Orleansdharkins@mcglinchey.com
(504) 596-2799 (p)
(504) 596-2870 (f)
Business
Oil & Gas – In the late 1970’s Deborah cut her teeth in the oil and gas field working the Louisiana Tuscaloosa Trend. There, she put blocks together, appeared regularly before the Department of Natural Resources, negotiated gas pipeline agreements, and wrote division order and title opinions. She has since worked with the Public Service Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality. She also works closely with local officials for permitting matters and was recently successful in obtaining one of the largest bio diesel permits in the State of Louisiana. This year her successful task was to preserve the rights of gas storage
Education
Deborah’s representation of the education sector has included lobbying on behalf of the Orleans Parish School Board, facilitating the application and regulatory process for establishing charter schools and bringing together legislators, regulators and school officials to promote a better, more efficient education system in Louisiana. She has also worked for Taylor Foundation to protect the state’s TOPS program, as well as early childhood development matters.
Gaming Industry and Non-Gaming Vendors
Government Relations/Regulatory – Deborah has been instrumental in passing key regulatory and legislative matters on behalf of her gaming clientele. She worked with the Louisiana racetracks in obtaining "slots" at the racetrack and managed referendum campaigns on their behalf. For riverboats, she was successful in retaining the 15th license for the state and in obtaining dockside legislation while holding riverboat tax exposure down. Deborah appears regularly before the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and works very closely with the Gaming Division of the Attorney General’s office and Louisiana State Police, Gaming Division, as well as Louisiana State Racing Commission. She has also been successful in acquiring licenses for video poker and non-gaming vendor permits for both publicly-held and private companies and renewal licenses for riverboats and racetracks. Additionally, she has worked with state police in establishing criteria for the "slots" licensure process and other regulatory matters.
Healthcare
Through the years, Deborah has developed an in-depth expertise in the healthcare arena and served on many task forces recognizing her experience in the field. She represents numerous provider groups on a statewide and national basis, addressing such issues as prospective pay and medicaid-medicare reimbursement. She maintains key relationships with national leaders in this arena and puts her client’s interest in the forefront. She works closely with industry groups to protect their interest in a highly regulated and competitive environment.
Regulatory
Deborah works very closely with all Louisiana government agencies, including the Department of Insurance, Department of Health and Hospitals, Department of Education, Department of Revenue, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Public Safety and the Office of Financial Institutions on numerous issues, including licensure, development of regulations and compliance. She also serves the Commissioner of Insurance as legal counsel for the Louisiana Health Care Commission.
Film/Theater
Deborah was instrumental in the passage of the live theater tax credits legislation and continues to represent both film and theater interests in the application/regulatory process.
Registered Lobbyist
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- New Mexico
- Ohio
- Texas
- Washington D.C.
Admitted to Practice
- Louisiana
Education
- Loyola University New Orleans, J.D., 1979
- University of Southwestern Louisiana, B.A., 1973
Professional Affiliations
- American Association of Health Plans
- American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC), Pollie Awards Judge, 2009, 2010
- American Bar Association
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Association of Louisiana Lobbyists
- Baton Rouge Bar Association
- Committee of 21
- International Association of Gaming Attorneys
- Louisiana Association of Health Plans
- Louisiana Health Care Alliance
- Louisiana Health Care Commission, Former Legal Counsel
- Louisiana Hospital Association
- Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Mahalia Jackson Early Childhood Foundation
- New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
- Southern Legislative Council
- State Law Resources, Inc., Former Board Member; Chair, Gaming
- Women Health Executive Network
Community and Other Activities
- French Market Corporation, Board Member/Executive Committee
- French Market Revitalization Committee, Chair
- Historical Warehouse District Alliance
- Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, Board Member
- New Orleans Film Commission, Board Member
- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Advisory Board
- Tipitinas Foundation
- Vieux Carre Alliance
- Waterbury Condo Association, Board Member
- World Trade Center, Government Relations Committee
- WWOZ, Board Member
- Horizon Initiative, Public Private Partnership, Executive Committee
