Laura Brown

My Personal Value Proposition

“My most valued achievement as an attorney is my clients’ trust. I’m honored by their confidence in my effectiveness and efficiency, and I work hard to let them know that their trust is well-placed."

In the News

Louisiana’s Coastal Land Loss Litigation Produces Opinion of Interest to Appellate Practitioners in Federal Court

Laura

Laura Springer Brown

Shareholder, New Orleans

D 504.556.4021

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Assistant

Sandi Trahan

504.556.4060

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Hancock Whitney Center

701 Poydras Street

Suite 5000

New Orleans, Louisiana 70139

Overview

Laura Brown is a skillful writer and strategic thinker whose talents are well adapted to litigation—from the short-fuse to the long-game.

She practices primarily in the energy and environmental space, with emphasis on high-stakes “legacy” and coastal land loss litigation. Her energy clientele ranges from small midstream entities to the largest E&P companies in the world. In addition to her environmental practice, Laura enjoys diversifying her work with a variety of general litigation, appellate, and pro bono matters.

Experience

In federal court, defended major oil companies against claim by local governmental entity seeking billions of dollars for alleged marsh loss in southeast Louisiana. The case was dismissed by the Eastern District of Louisiana, the U.S. Fifth Circuit affirmed, and the United States Supreme Court denied cert.
Defends major oil companies from claims by the State and parish governments that seek damages and restoration for land loss allegedly caused by non-compliance with environmental permits
Filed suit in federal court on behalf of energy client to enforce contractual indemnity arising from State regulatory requirements, securing victory on summary judgment
In Louisiana state court and before State regulatory agency, defended large energy company from landowner who sought hundreds of millions of dollars in damages from alleged oilfield contamination resulting from decades of oil and gas production
Represented client for the appeal of an adverse trial court judgment involving property rights in a multi-million dollar residence; the appellate court reversed and rendered judgment in favor of the client
Represented client pro bono on behalf of the Orleans Public Defenders, handling all aspects of the trial and appeal

Involvement

Professional

During her legal career, Laura’s pro bono work has included handling paternity, interdiction, and TPR matters for The Pro Bono Project and the Orleans Public Defenders, service on the Pro Bono Project’s Justice for All Ball planning committee, and volunteerism with the New Orleans Civil District Court’s Domestic Self-Help Desk and the H.E.L.P. program providing legal services to New Orleans’ homeless citizens.
Laura is President of the Women’s Energy Network - South Louisiana Chapter, an organization promoting career development for women in the energy industry. She has previously served on the WEN-SLA Board as President-Elect (2021), Public & Industry Relations Director (2020), and Community Initiatives Director (2018-2019).
Laura is a member of the Young Energy Professionals division of the Institute for Energy Law, where her involvement has included speaking at the First National Young Energy Professionals’ Law Conference, selection for the IEL Leadership Class, and serving as the editor of The Energy Dispatch, a publication of the IEL Young Energy Professionals' Committee. Laura is also a member of IEL's Communications Committee.
Served on Louisiana State Law Institute committee that drafted legislation involving sales of mineral rights

Community

Laura is a parishioner of Christ Church Cathedral and has served on its Vestry, including service for three years on the Executive Board as Vestry Secretary.
As a member of the New Orleans Film Society, Laura has volunteered as a screener for the New Orleans Film Festival in the Oscar-qualifying categories of animated shorts and narrative shorts.

Recognition

CityBusiness' Women of the Year Class of 2021
The Best Lawyers in America, 2022
Louisiana Super Lawyers "Rising Star," 2018-2022
Institute for Energy Law, 2nd Leadership Class, 2019
New Orleans Magazine "Top Lawyer," 2017
Junior Honorary Member of the Louisiana State Law Institute, 2013

Laura Springer Brown

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Presentations

“ESG, Ethics, and Where You Fit in a World in Transition,” WEN National Conference, April 4, 2022
“Report From Kyiv,” Women’s Energy Network, March 11, 2022
"Coastal Zone Litigation and Pipeline Canal Widening," Liskow & Lewis Energy Law Seminar, October 28, 2021
“Revisiting Force Majeure After a Year of Extremes: Lessons for Louisiana and Texas,” 2021 Louisiana Mineral Law Institute
“Louisiana’s Coastal Zone Management Litigation,” 2020 Institute for Energy Law Podcast Series
“A Report From the Floodgates: Developments in Louisiana’s Land Loss Litigation Against the Oil & Gas Industry,” 2019 Liskow & Lewis Energy Law Seminar

Publications

After Hours

“I enjoy learning about the world by traveling. Nothing else has taught me resourcefulness and mental toughness quite like the experience of making it through eleven countries with just one backpack. (At my present stage of life, however, I use suitcases.) I still think my city is the most interesting place in the world, and I enjoy sharing New Orleans with visitors. At home, I’m an accomplished couch potato – an avid reader, a procrastinating writer, and I love discussing what’s new and good in streaming content.”