Michelle W. Scelson, Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel, of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad Commission (NOPB), provides executive leadership on administrative, regulatory, labor, corporate, and legal affairs. She oversees the NOPB’s legal, human resources, and safety departments and plays a key role in supporting its strategic and operational objectives and ensuring compliance.

Previously, Ms. Scelson served as General Counsel and Director of Records for the Port of New Orleans, where she managed the legal affairs and records management functions for both the Port and NOPB. Earlier in her career, she practiced at New Orleans law firms, focusing on casualty and commercial litigation and representing Class I railroads and other clients in matters involving contract disputes, workers’ compensation, construction disputes, personal injury, and expropriation. 

Ms. Scelson earned her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Civil Law from Louisiana State University, where she graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.  She was named a “Rising Star” in 2017 and 2018 by Super Lawyers Magazine before joining the public sector and was named one of the 2025 Top Lawyers in Rail and 2026 Top Women in Law by New Orleans Magazine.