Mr. Calongne has been engaged in the full time practice of law since 1974 and has been admitted to practice in both Louisiana and Florida. Having graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston, he earned the Juris Doctorate degree from the L.S.U. Law Center and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from L.S.U. in Baton Rouge.

His legal practice has principally centered about finance - dealing with real estate finance, trusts, estate planning, lender liability, bankruptcy and commercial matters. He started in private practice in Baton Rouge from 1974 until taking the position as Vice President, Southern Regional Manager and Underwriting Counsel of United General Title Insurance Company in 1997, heading the Baton Rouge office until being promoted to the Company's executive offices in Denver in 2001.

His title industry "savvy" is exceptional - not only is he experienced as a long-time title policy issuing agent and practicing commercial real estate attorney, he has also served in the national title underwriter business as manager of multi-state marketing, as regional and national underwriting counsel, as claims counsel and as the coordinator of special projects such as spearheading company licensing in new states and developing cutting-edge technological techniques and procedures.  He developed software that calculates title insurance premiums and software for lenders to calculate premiums and filing fees for their “good faith estimates”.

He organized and manages 1031 Exchange Counsel, LLC, an IRS 1031 Qualified Intermediary.  He closes real estate transactions for various title companies.  He does title underwriting on a regular basis (i.e., advises title insurance agents) in several states for United General Title, a division of First American Title Insurance Company.

He has written articles on real estate title subjects and has regularly conducted seminars on real estate, estate planning and trusts not only for the public but also for real estate agents and attorneys to meet their legal educational requirements.

Mr. Calongne was a commissioned officer in the United States Navy and served aboard the USS SARATOGA during the Vietnam years and had previously worked for the Boeing Company at the Florida Kennedy Space Center in connection with the Saturn V project.  He has been a director and officer of the public corporation, Gulf Union Industries, and its subsidiaries.  He has served in executive leadership positions with numerous organizations including the Capital City Kiwanis Club, the Inter-Civic Council, the River City Festivals Association, First Presbyterian Church and the Baton Rouge Christian Counseling Center.  He and his wife, Mary Garner DeVoe, live in Baton Rouge.

R. J. Calongne, Jr., A Professional Law Corporation