Professional License Defense — From the Board's Own Disciplinary Counsel
I'm Peyton B. Burkhalter, a 31-year trial attorney who currently serves as disciplinary counsel to the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry — I know exactly how licensing boards build cases and win, because I'm usually the one doing it. When a board complaint threatens your license, that inside knowledge is what stands between you and an adversarial proceeding you weren't prepared for.
What Happens After You Receive a Board Complaint
Most licensees have never been through a board investigation before. The process is not well explained in the complaint letter — and the gap between not understanding it and making a costly mistake is very short.
Here is how a Louisiana licensing board disciplinary matter typically unfolds:
STEP 1:
Complaint Filed
A patient, client, employer, or another licensee submits a written complaint to the board. The board's staff reviews it for threshold sufficiency. Many complaints do not survive this stage — but only if the response is handled correctly.
STEP 2:
Investigation
The board's investigative staff gathers records, requests a written response from the licensee, and may conduct interviews. This is the stage where unrepresented licensees most often damage their own case. Anything you submit becomes part of the permanent record.
STEP 3:
Probable Cause Determination
The board's counsel — or a probable cause committee — reviews the investigation file and decides whether the matter proceeds to a formal hearing. How the record was built in Step 2 directly affects this outcome.
STEP 4:
Formal Hearing
If the case proceeds, you face a disciplinary hearing before the board or an administrative law judge. The board's attorney presents the case against you. You have the right to present evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine. This is where trial experience matters.
STEP 5:
Sanctions or Dismissal
The board issues a decision. Outcomes range from dismissal to a reprimand, probation, suspension, or revocation. Some outcomes are public record and will follow your license permanently.
Do Not Respond to the Board Before You Talk to Me
The single most common mistake I see is a licensee who responds to the board's initial inquiry without an attorney — believing that cooperation and transparency will resolve the matter quickly.
Cooperation is not the same as unrepresented cooperation. The board's investigator is not your advocate. The questions they ask are designed to build a record, and your answers — however well-intentioned — may establish facts the board will use against you at a formal hearing.
Before you write a single word in response to a board complaint, call me. I will tell you exactly where you stand, what the board is likely focused on, and how to respond in a way that protects your license rather than complicates the defense.
The Boards and Licenses I Defend
I handle professional license defense for Louisiana-licensed professionals across multiple regulated industries. My practice includes:
- Dental license defense — dentists, hygienists, and other dental professionals facing Louisiana State Board of Dentistry complaints
- Contractor license defense — licensed contractors facing Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors investigations or disciplinary proceedings
- Other Louisiana licensing boards — if you hold a professional license in Louisiana and you have received a complaint or investigation notice, contact me to discuss your matter
If your license is on the line, the board you answer to does not change what I bring to your defense: 31 years of trial experience, an insider's knowledge of how these proceedings work, and a practice where the attorney you hire handles your case personally.
Why Licensed Professionals in Louisiana Trust This Practice
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I currently serve as disciplinary counsel to the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry — I prosecute violations, which means I know how boards construct their cases from the inside.
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31 years of trial practice in Louisiana courts and administrative proceedings.
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Solo practice — the attorney you hire is the attorney who handles your case, appears at your hearing, and returns your calls.
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Built almost entirely on client referrals — the people who have been through this process send others to me.
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I know what the board is looking for in your file before they tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana License Defense
I got a complaint letter from my licensing board. What should I do first?
Do not respond to the board on your own. Call a license defense attorney before you submit anything in writing. Your response becomes part of the permanent record, and how it is framed at this early stage can determine whether the matter escalates or resolves. Contact me before you write a word.
Can I lose my license over one complaint in Louisiana?
Yes — a single complaint can result in suspension or revocation if it involves conduct the board treats as serious, or if the defense is mishandled. That said, many complaints are resolved short of formal sanctions when the response is well-prepared and the defense is built correctly from the start. The outcome depends heavily on how the matter is handled from the moment the complaint arrives.
What is a disciplinary hearing, and do I have to attend?
A disciplinary hearing is a formal proceeding before the board or an administrative law judge where the board presents its case and you have the right to respond with evidence and witnesses. Attendance is not optional — failing to appear typically results in a default finding against you. This is a trial-level proceeding, and it requires trial-level preparation.
Will my complaint become public record?
It depends on the outcome. In Louisiana, formal disciplinary actions — including reprimands, probations, suspensions, and revocations — are typically public record and may appear on the board's website. Complaints that are dismissed before a formal hearing are often not published. Resolving the matter before it reaches a formal proceeding is one reason early intervention matters.
Do I need a Louisiana attorney, or can any license defense lawyer handle my board matter?
Louisiana licensing boards operate under Louisiana administrative law, and proceedings are governed by Louisiana-specific rules and procedures. You need an attorney who is licensed in Louisiana and who knows how these particular boards operate. My practice is built in Louisiana, and I currently serve in an active role with one of the state's licensing boards.
How is your practice different from a larger firm that handles license defense?
At a larger firm, your case is often assigned to an associate or rotated among attorneys. In my practice, I handle your case personally — from the initial consultation through any hearing. You have direct access to me, and the attorney who knows your file is the attorney who appears for you.
Your License Took Years to Earn. One Complaint Should Not End It.
A board complaint does not have to become a career-ending event. With the right defense from the beginning, many matters are resolved without formal sanctions. Call me before you respond to the board — that conversation may be the most important one you have.