Cloward, Benjamin

Upon completing law school, Ms. Knott practiced law with the Legal Aid Bureau, representing individuals in divorce, child support and custody matters.  In January 1999, Ms. Knott began serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Terri F. Love, Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. In late 2000, following her tenure as a law clerk, Ms. Knott began representing various businesses and insurance companies in commercial litigation matters, as well as physicians, hospitals and insurance companies in medical malpractice defense. She now represents patients in medical negligence cases, as well as individuals in automobile, personal injury and class action matters.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Mass Communications from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1995, Nakisha Ervin-Knott received her Juris Doctor degree from Southern University Law Center in 1998.

Ms. Knott  is admitted before U.S. District Court, Eastern, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana; as well as all Louisiana State Courts. She also serves as an executive board member for the Judge John C. Boutall American Inn of Court and is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Louisiana Association for Justice, the New Orleans, Louisiana State and Federal Bar Associations, The Louis A. Martinet Legal Society and the Association of Women Attorneys. 

In the last two years, Ms. Knott has served as a Louisiana Bar Foundation Gala Committee Member and has volunteered with the Pro Bono Project. In 2013, she is being honored as a Louisiana Bar Foundation Fellow.

Ms. Knott is married to Steven Knott and she is the mother of two boys.

Currently, Ms. Knott serves as the Vice Chair of ASI Federal Credit Union, President of the Independent Women’s Organization, a board member of The Beautiful Foundation, Inc. and an advisory board member of the Fast Forward Main Street Project.

Recent Lectures and Presentations:

“Why are Medical Malpractice Cases Tried to a Jury”, sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, Procrastinators CLE (presented December 27, 2012)

“Why are Medical Malpractice Cases Tried to a Jury”, sponsored by the Louisiana Judicial College, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands (Panel moderator, presented on June 22, 2012) 

“Hiding the Ball:  Searching for Professionalism”, sponsored by the New Orleans Bar Association, Hornets Ethics and Professionalism CLE (presented February 23, 2011)

22nd Annual Summer School, Revisited, Medical Malpractice, New Orleans, Louisiana (presented December 2010)