-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HGUyJx6pTpDRitYBvRkUrfjNnEL2bdwoF//ti6Oa0W2zDilIh0XP7EllNCvUGkxM
 +W/NsTqyM0LTpiwvFtC8cg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-005360.txt : 20090319
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-005360.hdr.sgml : 20090319
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090319091036
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-005360
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090319
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090319

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LABRANCHE & CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001089044
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES [6211]
		IRS NUMBER:				134064735
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EXCHANGE PLAZA
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10006-3008
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2128200400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE EXCHANGE PLAZA
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10006-3008

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dietze Katherine Elizabeth
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001082841

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15251
		FILM NUMBER:		09692340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LABRANCHE & CO INC.
		STREET 2:		33 WHITEHALL STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10004

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COURAGE KATHERINE DIETZE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990329
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001089044</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LABRANCHE &amp; CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LAB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001082841</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dietze Katherine Elizabeth</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O LABRANCHE &amp; CO INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>33 WHITEHALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>&quot;LAB&quot; Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12058</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26501</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person was issued 12,058 shares of common stock on March 17, 2009 as compensation for attendance at meetings of the Company's Board of Directors and its Committees during 2008. The number of shares granted were determined based upon the average closing price on the NYSE of the Company's common stock for the last (5) business days of 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Katherine Elizabeth Dietze</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----