News

Fifty-one Liskow attorneys have been named to the 2024 edition of Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters. James Brown, Keith Jarrett, and Tommy McGoey were named among the top 50 attorneys in the state of Louisiana.

Super Lawyers

April Rolen-Ogden
Brian Capell
Bill Schwartz
Charles Wilmore
Cherrell Taplin
Cheryl Kornick
Court VanTassell
David Leefe
Devin Reid
George Arceneaux
George Denegre
James Brown
Jamie Rhymes
Julie Chauvin
Kathryn Gonski
Keith Jarrett
Kelly Becker
Kelly Scalise
Kirk Jones
Larry Simon
Laura Brown
Lou Buatt
Mark McNamara
Paul Kitziger
Peggy Adams
Raymond Waid
Robert McNeal
Robert Angelico
Ryan Christiansen
Shannon Holtzman
Tommy Diaz
Tommy McGoey
Trey Reymond

Rising Stars

Alex Baynham
Caleb Madere
C.J. Miller
Denice Redd-Robinette
Emily von Qualen
Hayley Landry
Hunter Chauvin
Hunter Curtis
Jackie Hickman
Jared Nelson
Joe Heaton
John Troutman
Lauren Bridges
Melanie Derefinko
Michael Ishee
Rebecca Guidry
Sheri Corales
Trinity Morale

Liskow is excited to announce nine attorneys have recently joined the firm.

Zachary Berryman is an associate in the firm’s Energy Litigation practice group. He received his Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, in 2022 and his LL.M. in Environmental Law, summa cum laude, in 2023 from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. During his time at Loyola Law, Zac externed in the Eastern District Court of Louisiana for the Honorable Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle and continued on with a year-long clerkship after graduating. Zachary is based in Liskow’s New Orleans office.

Melanie Cruthirds is an associate in the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. Her practice spans several areas, including securities litigation, commercial real estate, business formation and dissolution, trusts and probate, and bankruptcy. She has supported litigation in state and federal courts in Texas and other states, as well as in several international jurisdictions. Melanie received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from South Texas College of Law Houston in 2021. Melanie is based in Liskow’s Houston office.

Ellie George is an associate in the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group. She received her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Tulane Law School in 2021. While at Tulane, she served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Lance M. Africk of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Prior to joining the firm, Ellie served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to the Honorable Barry W. Ashe of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Ellie is based in Liskow’s New Orleans office.

Andrew Hughes is an associate in the firm’s Energy Litigation practice group. He received his Juris Doctor and Diploma in Comparative Law, magna cum laude, from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University in 2023. During his time at LSU Law, Drew externed in the Western District of Louisiana for the late Honorable Michael J. Juneau and in the Middle District of Louisiana for the Honorable Brian A. Jackson. Andrew is based in Liskow’s Lafayette office.

Nicolette Kraska is an associate in the firm’s Maritime practice group. Her practice covers litigation, contract drafting, and commercial disputes. Prior to joining the firm, Nicolette served as a law clerk to the Honorable Eldon E. Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Honorable Jacques L. Wiener of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before law school, Nicolette was an economic and damages consultant for Kroll, LLC (formerly Duff & Phelps), providing expert witness services to high-profile clients involved in intellectual property litigation and licensing. Nicolette received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Tulane University School of Law in 2020. Nicolette is based in Liskow’s New Orleans office.

Juliane Mahoney is an associate in the firm’s Business Transactions practice group. Juliane received her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. During this time, Juliane focused primarily on Louisiana’s unique civil law system. She was a member of the Loyola Law Review and worked with the successions division at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services. Juliane is based in Liskow’s Lafayette office.

Hailey Maldonado is an associate in the firm’s Product Liability, Class Action, and Toxic Tort practice group. She works with clients in the manufacturing, petrochemical, and refining industries. Hailey recently rejoined the firm after completing a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Dana M. Douglas of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Hailey received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2022. While in law school, Hailey served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Dana M. Douglas of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Hailey is based in Liskow’s New Orleans office.

Colin North is an associate in the firm’s Environmental Regulatory practice group. He received his Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law, magna cum laude, from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University in 2023. During law school, he was a member of the Board of Advocates and participated in the Robert Lee Tullis Moot Court Competition. Colin is based in Liskow’s New Orleans office.

Elizabeth Strunk is an associate in the firm’s Maritime practice group. Before joining Liskow, Elizabeth practiced in Seattle, focusing on incident response and litigating maritime disputes in state and federal courts. Prior to attending law school, Elizabeth was a deck officer aboard ocean-going tugboats and cargo ships. She gained experience handling a variety of cargo and making port stops worldwide. Before transitioning shoreside, Elizabeth obtained her USCG Master license, unlimited tonnage upon oceans, and Master of Towing Vessels, upon oceans. Elizabeth received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law. While in law school, Elizabeth interned for the Honorable Marvin J. Garbis and the Honorable A. David Copperthite at the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Prior to private practice, Elizabeth served as a law clerk to the Honorable Douglas R. M. Nazarian on the Appellate Court of Maryland. Elizabeth is based in Liskow’s Houston office.

Liskow is proud to announce that the firm has been named the “2023 Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year” by The Pro Bono Project. The Pro Bono Project helps low-income families and individuals in need gain access to lawyers who can help them resolve civil legal issues. These issues range from family law matters like divorces, custody agreements, name changes, and adoptions; to property questions related to successions and estate planning, proof of title, contractor litigation, and consumer complaints; to debt issues, and much more.

The firm is an active participant in the organization, and individual lawyers give their time and experience – pro bono – to the organization.  Liskow supports The Pro Bono Project’s major fundraising event, the Justice For All Ball, and the firm staffs the Pro Bono Project’s Self Help Resources one month of the year. A Liskow shareholder serves on the Board of Directors for The Pro Bono Project.

Liskow believes pro bono work is a professional responsibility and essential in order to advance the legal standing of diverse and historically underserved populations. To this end, the firm fosters an environment in which individual lawyers are encouraged to embrace this responsibility through pro bono work. The firm even established the Liskow & Lewis Pro Bono Award to recognize attorneys who go above and beyond in their efforts to provide their services to those who are historically underserved in our communities. The firm is an active participant in many pro bono organizations, and additional matters are brought into the firm by individual attorneys, referrals from neighborhood clinics and referrals from the public and indigent defender offices. Specific matters in which our lawyers are engaged vary widely, reflecting the differing interests and expertise of our attorneys.

Liskow has been ranked nationally in 7 practice areas and regionally in 54 practice areas in the 2024 Best Lawyers® (BL Rankings) “Best Law Firms” list. Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Firms receive tiered rankings if they have a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.

NATIONAL RANKINGS FOR LISKOW INCLUDE:

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Banking and Finance Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Energy Law
• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Oil and Gas Law
• Real Estate Law

REGIONAL RANKINGS FOR LISKOW INCLUDE:

Baton Rouge

• Commercial Litigation
• Energy Law
• Litigation – Environmental
• Oil & Gas Law

Houston

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Banking and Finance Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Energy Law
• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Oil & Gas Law
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Real Estate Law

Lafayette

• Corporate Law
• Energy Law
• Litigation – Environmental
• Natural Resources Law
• Oil & Gas Law

New Orleans

• Admiralty & Maritime Law
• Appellate Practice
• Banking and Finance Law
• Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Elder Law
• Employment Law – Management
• Energy Law
• Environmental Law
• Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Litigation – Antitrust
• Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Litigation – Construction
• Litigation – Environmental
• Litigation – Labor & Employment
• Litigation – Securities
• Litigation – Tax
• Litigation – Trusts & Estates
• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Nonprofit / Charities Law
• Oil & Gas Law
• Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Real Estate Law
• Tax Law
• Trusts & Estates Law
• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Labor Law – Management
• Securities / Capital Markets Law

Additionally, 114 Liskow lawyers are recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2024 edition.

The Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in the field, and review of additional information provided by law as part of the formal submission process. 

Liskow is pleased to announce that Michael Rubenstein has been named to the 2023 Texas Super Lawyers list for his Bankruptcy practice.

Michael Rubenstein is a bankruptcy practitioner with a diverse commercial practice. He handles bankruptcies, restructurings, and reorganizations, as well as complex business litigation and criminal law. With a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, his bankruptcy practice is largely devoted to the representation of creditors, often in the energy sector, in complex reorganizations throughout the U.S. Michael also routinely handles the defense of preference litigation in some of the largest bankruptcy cases in the U.S. and is certified in the area of business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. Michael has been regularly recognized by Super Lawyers since 2007.

Michael is a dedicated Tulane University alumnus and actively contributes to his alma mater in various roles. He currently serves on the Board of Administrators and has held multiple positions within the Alumni Association over the years. Additionally, he serves on the Law Dean’s Advisory Council and the Board of Advisory Editors for the Tulane Law Review. His dedication to his alma mater earned him the Bobby Boudreau Spirit Award, presented annually to the individual who embodies the true “Roll Wave” spirit. Furthermore, he is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Business Law where he serves as the Bankruptcy IP & Technology Vice Chair for the Business Bankruptcy Committee and the Subcommittee on Ethics, Professionalism & Civility Vice Chair for the Business and Corporate Litigation Committee.

Super Lawyers lists outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Texas Super Lawyers includes a statewide nomination process, a peer-review survey by practice area, and independent research on candidates. The process results in a list of the top five percent of attorneys in each state, as nominated by their peers, which is then reviewed by an independent research team that focuses on professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

The selected attorneys and the practice categories in which they were recognized are:

• George Arceneaux III – Energy Litigation
• James Brown – Complex Litigation, esp. Professional Liability, Class Action, and Insurance Defense
• Keith Jarrett – Complex Litigation, esp. Maritime, Toxic Tort, and Oil & Gas
• Cheryl Kornick – Energy and Business Litigation

Lawdragon is a legal media company that provides free online news and editorial features including guides to the nation’s leading lawyers, selected the 500 honorees based on journalistic research, submissions, and vetting.

New Orleans CityBusiness has recognized Kelly Becker as an honoree for the Women of the Year Class of 2023. The Women of the Year honorees were selected based on business and community involvement and achievements that have set the pace for the overall community.

“Kelly’s impact extends far beyond her legal work,” said Liskow managing partner Mark Latham. “She has taken on various leadership roles within the firm and currently serves as a member of our firm’s Board of Directors. She also co-leads the firm’s largest practice group, the Energy Litigation practice group. Kelly is a great lawyer, mentor, and leader, and we are proud to see her recognized for her many achievements.”

Kelly Becker is often retained by clients as appellate counsel for complex litigation, including environmental, energy, and commercial matters. Her appellate practice regularly includes cases before the Louisiana courts of appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Because of her experience, Kelly is frequently retained to write amicus briefs on behalf of businesses and trade organizations in matters of industry-wide significance. Kelly is certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization as an Appellate Practice Specialist. She is one of only fifteen lawyers in the state of Louisiana with this designation.

Kelly is active in many professional and community organizations. She is involved in energy-related associations such as The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, and the Institute for Energy Law. She is also active in the Louisiana State Law Institute, serving as a Council Member and as a member of the Code of Civil Procedure Committee. She served on the Board of Directors for the New Orleans Bar Association (2019-2021) and is currently the Chairperson of the Appellate Practice Subcommittee. She is also active in the Louisiana State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Kelly is regularly recognized for her appellate practice by The Best Lawyers in America and the New Orleans Magazine. She has also been recognized by Chambers USA for her Energy & Natural Resources practice.

Kelly’s recognition comes on the heels of Liskow being named by CityBusiness Empowering Women as an organization that supports, elevates, and empowers women.

The Houston Business Journal has recognized Jana Grauberger, co-leader of the firm’s Energy Litigation group, as an honoree for the 2023 Women Who Mean Business Award. Jana will be recognized at an awards ceremony on October 13, and profiled along with the other honorees in the outlet’s October 13 print and online issues.

Launched in 2016, the Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award acknowledges businesswomen based on their career achievements, overall contributions to company success, and leadership and community involvement in the Houston area. Jana’s recognition comes on the heels of Liskow being named by CityBusiness Empowering Women as an organization that supports, elevates, and empowers women.

“We are proud to see Jana recognized for the qualities we’ve always admired about her – committed dedication to her clients, our firm, and the greater Houston community,” said Liskow managing partner Mark Latham. “Jana has held many leadership positions at our firm, including roles on our compensation committee, recruiting committee, diversity committee, and board of directors. She has provided invaluable insight in each role, and we are grateful for her continuing contributions.”

Jana, who has been with the firm since 1997 and a member of Liskow’s Houston office since its inception in 2005, has experience negotiating contracts, advising on, and litigating the full range of energy topics. Her experience in Texas and Louisiana oil and gas law, coupled with an in-depth knowledge of the legal and regulatory regime applicable to federal offshore leasing and development has enabled her to advise clients in new areas, including offshore wind projects and onshore and offshore carbon capture projects. 

Jana is also active in professional community groups. She is a long-time member and dedicated supporter of the Women’s Energy Network, a global organization that educates, attracts, retains, and develops professionals working across the energy value chain. WEN’s mission is to provide networking opportunities and foster the career and leadership development of women who work in the energy industries. It currently has 25 local chapters across the United States and Mexico and approximately 6,000 members. Grauberger is a former president of the Houston chapter, she became the organization’s global president in 2020, and she is currently a board member of the WEN Foundation. She is also significantly involved in The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, and the Institute for Energy Law.

“At Liskow, we are dedicated to serving our communities in ways that change and improve the lives of others,” said Jana, reflecting on her recognition. “Being recognized among such an incredible group of Houston businesswomen inspires me to continue my efforts – I feel more excited than ever to continue to execute impactful work that benefits our incredible energy and legal community.”