Emily Guidry Ard is an associate attorney at Sonja Bradley Attorney at Law, joining the firm in December 2024. Emily graduated from Ponchatoula High School, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Loyola College of Law.

Licensed to practice law in Louisiana since 2015, Emily is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association and the 21st JDC Bar Association. After law school, she served as a clerk for Judges Brenda Bedsole Ricks and Jeffery Oglesbee in the 21st Judicial District Court.

Emily practiced family law at a private firm for five years before opening her own practice. She has also served for seven years as a felony public defender with the 21st Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, handling multiple jury trials—including securing a recent not-guilty verdict on all charges for her client.

Mrs. Ard primarily focuses on family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, community property, and protective orders. Additionally, Emily handles civil litigation and criminal defense cases.

Emily regularly represents clients in the 21st Judicial District and surrounding parishes, including St. Tammany, East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, St. John the Baptist, Ascension, Jefferson, St. Charles, Terrebonne, and Washington Parishes.

Through her extensive experience both in and out of the courtroom, Emily has developed a compassionate yet highly effective approach to guiding her clients through complex legal matters.

Emily excels in her ability to understand her clients’ predicaments and develop a course of action based on the facts of the situation, the applicable law, and other relevant factors. Emily has extensive experience in the courtroom, often finding herself in court five days a week.

When Emily is not in the courtroom, preparing for cases or meeting with clients, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Russell Ard, and their eight-month-old son,
Wilder. In her free time, Emily loves doing projects around the house with her family, having cookouts, and attending concerts. Emily also enjoys traveling, especially to
tropical locations, when she can find the time.