Laura Laura Springer Brown Hancock Whitney Center701 Poydras Street Suite 5000 New Orleans, Louisiana 70139 OverviewLaura 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
InvolvementProfessional
- 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
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
"Overturning 8 Years of “Palpable Error,” The Louisiana Supreme Court Limits Damages Available to Landowners in Oilfield Legacy Litigation," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, July 1st, 2021
"Louisiana’s Coastal Land Loss Litigation Produces Opinion of Interest to Appellate Practitioners in Federal Court," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, September 14, 2020
"Revisiting Force Majeure: The Texas and Louisiana Perspectives," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Natural Resources Law Network, April 2020
"COVID-19 as a Force Majeure? The Texas and Louisiana Perspectives," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, March 27, 2020
"Expropriation ruling explains landowner’s burden to prove severance damages to a 'legal certainty.'" Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, November 12, 2018
Louisiana Supreme Court’s reversal of Gloria’s Ranch clarifies calculation of damages for unpaid mineral royalties, provides relief for holders of security interests in mineral rights
Federal Court Finds A Continuing Duty Under Louisiana Law To Prevent The Erosion of Pipeline Canals
Strong Dissent Warns of “Devastating Economic Repercussions” of Second Circuit’s Decision in Oil & Gas Case
"Trial Court Rules that Article 22's "Original Condition" Refers to Property's Condition at the Creation of a Mineral Servitude," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, July 14, 2017
"U.S. Fifth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Levee Board’s Lawsuit Against 97 Oil and Gas Companies," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, March 3, 2017
"First Parish Coastal Zone Lawsuit to Proceed to Decision Falls for Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, August 9, 2016
"Tightening the Timeline for Original Condition: the First Circuit Denies Writ from Ruling Applying Subsequent Purchaser Doctrine to Dismiss Claims Against a Mineral Servitude Owner," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, June 14, 2016
"Regulating the Regulators: Supreme Court Allows Judicial Review of Clean Water Act Determinations," Liskow & Lewis' The Energy Law Blog, June 1, 2016"
“Act 312: Federal Court Holds That Plaintiff Cannot Pocket “Additional Remediation Damages” Without Express Contractual Provision,” Liskow & Lewis’ The Energy Law Blog, February 5, 2016
"Waterproofing the New Fracking Regulation: The Necessity of Defining Riparian Rights in Louisiana’s Water Law," 72 La. L. Rev. 225 (2011)
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.” News/InsightsEvents 03.31.17 - 04.01.17 |
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