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85 Liskow Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings) 2023

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Overview

Liskow is pleased to announce that 85 lawyers are included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings). Seven of these lawyers are listed as the “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective area of practice. Only a single attorney in each practice area and designated metropolitan area receives this recognition. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Those recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” include:

  • George Arceneaux III – Litigation – Environmental (Lafayette)
  • Matt Jones – Energy Law (Baton Rouge)
  • James Lapeze – Litigation – Environmental (New Orleans)
  • Jeffrey Lieberman – Energy Law (Lafayette)
  • Anthony Marino – Energy Law (New Orleans)
  • Carey Menasco – Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (New Orleans)
  • April Rolen-Ogden – Oil and Gas Law (Lafayette)

Those recognized in the 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list include:

  • Donald Abaunza – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Neil Abramson – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Marguerite Adams – Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates
  • Paul Adkins – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Robert Angelico – Tax Law
  • John Anjier – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities, and Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • George Arceneaux III – Litigation – Environmental and Oil and Gas Law
  • Erin Bambrick – Energy Law
  • Kelly Brechtel Becker – Appellate Practice, Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Blake Bennett – Banking and Finance Law and Gaming Law
  • Nora Bilbro – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • James Breaux – Real Estate Law
  • Lauren Bridges – Environmental Law
  • James Brown – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Laura Brown – Litigation – Environmental
  • Louis Buatt – Environmental Law
  • Brian Capell – Energy Law
  • Michael Cash – Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Julie Chauvin – Commercial Finance Law and Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • Hunter Chauvin – Energy Law
  • Ryan Christiansen – Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law
  • George Denegre, Jr. – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Securities
  • Thomas Diaz – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Billy Domingue – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate Law
  • Kathleen Doody – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
  • James Exnicios – Tax Law
  • Jonathan Fox – Energy Law and Litigation – Environmental
  • Joseph Giglio, Jr. – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law
  • Michael Golemi – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Jana Grauberger – Energy Law
  • Joseph Hebert – Energy Regulatory Law
  • Shannon Skelton Holtzman – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction
  • R. Keith Jarrett – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • Greg Johnson – Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental
  • Brian Johnson – Real Estate Law
  • Matt Jones – Energy Law
  • Philip Jones, Jr. – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Paul Kitziger – Real Estate Law
  • Cheryl Kornick – Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, and Tax Law
  • James Lapeze – Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Mark Latham – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Environmental Law
  • Amy Allums Lee – Litigation – Environmental and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • David Leefe – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Jeffrey Lieberman – Energy Law
  • Marilyn Maloney – Banking and Finance Law, Energy Law, and Real Estate Law
  • James Mansfield III – Energy Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Anthony Marino – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
  • Thomas McGoey II – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Mark McNamara – Energy Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Robert McNeal – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Carey Menasco – Commercial Litigation and Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • William Pugh – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Energy Law, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Devin Reid – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • David Reisman – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Carol Reisman – Commercial Litigation
  • Jerome Reso, Jr. – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
  • Leon Reymond III – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Jamie Rhymes – Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
  • Shawn Rhymes – Energy Law
  • Leon Rittenberg III – Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
  • April Rolen-Ogden – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
  • John Rouchell – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Elder Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
  • Michael Rubenstein – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Kelly Scalise – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • William Schwartz – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Scott Seiler – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Lawrence Simon, Jr. – Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law
  • Randye Snyder – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Raymond Waid – Admiralty and Maritime Law
  • David Weiner – Real Estate Law
  • Elizabeth Wheeler – Energy Law
  • Stephen Wiegand – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
  • Jill Willhoft – Commercial Litigation
  • Charles Wilmore – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • John Wilson – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Environmental
  • Joseph Wilson – Trusts and Estates
  • Brett Wise – Admiralty and Maritime Law

Those recognized in the 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™

  • Alex Baynham – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Mark R. Deethardt – Energy Law
  • Rebecca Guidry – Energy Law
  • Michael Ishee – Energy Law
  • Caleb Madere – Energy Law
  • Kendra Merchant – Tax Law
  • Trinity Morale – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Jody Schisel-Meslin – Transportation Law

Liskow Helped Pass Legislation Supporting Carbon Capture Initiatives in Louisiana

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The State of Louisiana passed legislation that will go into effect on August 1, 2022, that highlights the state’s commitment to energy transition initiatives. The legislation expands a project operator’s rights to qualify for financial incentives to promote carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration for projects in Caldwell Parish, the site of Strategic Biofuels’ Louisiana Green Fuels (LGF) Project. Read more about the legislation here.

Strategic Biofuels hired Liskow lobbyist Neil Abramson, a former state legislator, to advocate for this bill. “Liskow is uniquely suited to address emerging energy initiatives such as carbon capture and sequestration, and we look forward to continuing to assist companies in advocating for legislation that will make Louisiana a leader for energy transition projects,” said Abramson. Liskow is also providing regulatory advice and counsel for the Strategic Biofuels project. 

The firm’s deep legal experience in the energy industry, coupled with its government and regulatory experience, equips the firm’s carbon capture team with an unmatched understanding of the technical, legal, and business challenges companies will face in the CCUS sector. Various legal hurdles are implicated in these projects, and our team can address aspects of a growing carbon capture business, providing both near-term ability to address early project components, and broader skills available as carbon capture and sequestration operations expand. 

For more information about Liskow’s energy transition experience, click here, and for more details on Strategic Biofuels or the Louisiana Green Fuels project, visit: www.strategicbiofuels.com.

Liskow Shareholders, Jackie Hickman and Tommy McGoey, Named to City Business’ Leadership in Law Class of 2022

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Liskow is proud to announce that Jackie Hickman and Tommy McGoey have been selected to New Orleans CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law Class of 2022. 

Jackie is a trial lawyer whose significant litigation experience includes representing global energy companies in business disputes and against claims brought by private individuals. She has served as first and second chair trial counsel in matters involving multi-million-dollar claims. She has managed all aspects of complex litigation, from initial pleadings and discovery to delivering closing statements at trial. In addition to her energy practice, Jackie has brought her litigation savvy to a broad range of cases, including securities fraud, mass torts, media law/defamation claims, and employment discrimination. Jackie also has experience at the appellate level, researching and writing successful briefs to Louisiana appellate courts and the U.S. Fifth Circuit. Jackie earned her Juris Doctor and Degree in Comparative Law in 2014 from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Before law school, Jackie was a middle school science and social studies teacher for six years and helped found one of the most successful public charter schools in New Orleans. Jackie brings her classroom experience to the courtroom – from making complex issues easy to understand to commanding and engaging her audience. Jackie received her bachelor’s degree in Government from Dartmouth College in 2005.

Tommy is the leader of the firm’s commercial litigation practice group and a previous member of the firm’s Board of Directors. He is a go-to labor and employment lawyer with experience throughout Louisiana and the U.S. With his nearly 35 years of experience, he helps employers across a wide range of industries with contentious human resources claims and issues, both inside and outside the courtroom. Most recently, he has guided employers through a range of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tommy takes a client-focused approach. In lawsuits and arbitrations, he collaborates with the client team to build a strong case or seek an effective early resolution.  In his human resources counseling role, he gathers the facts, analyzes the legal principles and formulates a practical solution. Tommy’s experience is recognized by both national and local publications. Chambers USA ranked Tommy in its top level-Band 1 for his Labor & Employment practice. He has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America as the Litigation- Employment Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year” and by Super Lawyers as a “Top 50 Super Lawyer” in Louisiana. 

Started in 2005, Leadership in Law recognizes legal professionals based on their professional and community involvement and achievements that have set the pace for the overall community. The firm is proud to congratulate Jackie and Tommy on this recognition, as they are truly leaders in law.

Liskow Commemorates Juneteenth

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We would like to wish everyone a happy Juneteenth and, in commemoration of the holiday, to share the information and resources below:

Today, June 19, 2022, marks Juneteenth—also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, or Freedom Day—a holiday that commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States.  

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared, as to the Confederate states in rebellion against the Union, that “all persons held as slaves…shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” Despite that declaration, slavery persisted in many parts of the country as enforcement was dependent on the presence (and advancement) of Union troops. In particular, slavery continued in Texas, which did not have a large presence of Union troops; in fact, many enslavers relocated to Texas following the Emancipation Proclamation because it was seen as a safe haven for slavery.  

On June 19, 1865, Union Army Gen. Gordon. Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas: “all slaves are free.” Then, in December of that year, slavery was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

Beginning in 1866, Texans celebrated Juneteenth in a variety of ways, including parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, and other community events. Some African-American communities celebrated by collecting money to buy property. In 1872, an African-American community in Houston pooled $1,000 to put down on ten acres of land for use in their Juneteenth celebration; that land is now known as Emancipation Park.  

Juneteenth celebrations were originally limited to Texas, but they soon spread across the country as African-Americans migrated to new cities. Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday on January 1, 1980. On June 11, 2021, Juneteenth became a Louisiana state holiday, and on June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act established Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country by people of various backgrounds. Juneteenth also presents an opportunity for reflection and conversation on the history and legacy of racism—and on work that still needs to be done to address racial injustice and discrimination in the present day.

Liskow would like to wish everyone a happy Juneteenth. The Firm will commemorate the holiday with a Juneteenth Luncheon for attorneys and staff on June 20, 2022.

For more information on Juneteenth and on Juneteenth celebrations happening in your area, please visit the resources linked below:

National Museum of African American History & Culture – Juneteenth

Houston

https://www.juneteenthhouston.org/events/juneteenth-family-celebration-at-buffalo-soldiers-museum

https://www.milleroutdoortheatre.com/performance/wells-fargo-presents-juneteenth-the-journey-to-freedom/

https://www.mfah.org/calendar/juneteenth-bayou-bend/202206181000?returnUrl=%2Fcalendar%3Fperiod%3Dyear%26p%3D3

Lafayette

https://www.klfy.com/local/lafayette-parish/juneteenth-celebration-schedule-of-events-in-lafayette/

https://www.lafayettetravel.com/event/juneteenth-folklife-celebration/22218/

https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/event/juneteenth-evening/

Baton Rouge

https://www.visitbatonrouge.com/blog/post/baton-rouge-juneteenth-events/

New Orleans

https://www.nolajuneteenthfestival.org/

https://www.noaam.org/events/mlk-day-saturdays-noaam-cs2z6-e2chd-78n6d-69htn

https://wbok1230.com/news/juneteenth

JDRF Names Liskow 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year 

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Liskow is honored to share that the JDRF Southern Texas Chapter awarded the firm the 2022 Corporate Partner of the Year Award. From funding innovative research to advocating for government action to providing a support structure for local communities, no other organization does more to fight type 1 diabetes (T1D) than JDRF.

Liskow takes pride in supporting JDRF’s mission and has supported the JDRF Promise Ball Gala in Houston for the last decade. Liskow was the inaugural sponsor of the Casino Afterparty associated with the Annual Promise Ball Gala nearly a decade ago and has been the sole sponsor ever since. This year the Gala raised more than $3.6 million to fund research to make Type 1 Type None. 

Michael Golemi, a shareholder at Liskow and the head of the firm’s Houston office, is very involved in the JDRF Southern Texas Chapter and has served in various leadership roles. He currently serves on the Houston Community Board of Directors. He has served as a Board member for the Gulf Coast Chapter and was recently the Promise Ball Gala Underwriting Chair. Michael has served on several JDRF committees, including the Corporate Development Committee (2018-2021), the 2018 Promise Ball Gala Fund A Cure Committee, the 2016 Promise Ball Gala Fund A Cure Committee, the 2015 Board of Directors Fast Start Award, the 2015 Promise Ball Gala Fund A Cure Committee, and the 2014 Promise Ball Gala Underwriting Committee. “Helping JDRF work toward improving treatments and eventually finding a cure for my daughter’s Type I Diabetes is a passion of mine,” shared Michael.  

Nearly every advancement in diabetes treatment over the last forty years has been funded, at least in part, by JDRF, including 70 clinical trials in the last few years alone. For more information about JDRF, its impact, and ways to support JDRF, visit https://www.jdrf.org/impact/research/.

Liskow & Lewis Commemorates Pride Month

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June 1 marked the beginning of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month in the United States, which is celebrated annually in June to honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. In June 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising against the frequent police harassment and persecution of LGBTQI+ individuals. While the gay rights movement in the United States dated back to at least the 1920s, the Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement, sparking a new generation of activists to fight against laws and practices that discriminated against LGBTQI+ Americans. The nation’s first Gay Pride marches were held a year after the Stonewall Uprising. In 2016, the area around the Stonewall Inn was designated a national monument.

Today, Pride Month events in the United States attract millions of participants from around the world; celebrations take many forms, including parades, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts. Additionally, memorials for members of the LGBTQI+ community lost to HIV/AIDS and hate crimes often occur during Pride Month.

In his May 31, 2022 address to commemorate the beginning of Pride Month, President Biden stated: “This month, we honor the resilience of LGBTQI+ people, who are fighting to live authentically and freely. We reaffirm our belief that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights. And we recommit to delivering protections, safety, and equality to LGBTQI+ families so that everyone can realize the full promise of America.”

Additional Resources:

Twenty-Four Liskow Lawyers, Nine Practice Areas Recognized in Chambers USA

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Liskow is pleased to announce practice area and lawyer rankings in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA.

Chambers and Partners, an independent research-based company, ranks the leading lawyers and law firms across the country. The legal rankings are based on in-depth market analysis and independent research, conducted by an experienced team of researchers.

The firm was nationally ranked in Transportation: Shipping/Maritime Litigation. The firm received esteemed first-band (first-tier) rankings for the state of Louisiana in the areas of Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas and Environment. 

Additionally, the firm received recognition for Louisiana in Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Real Estate, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Tax. 

In addition, 24 Liskow lawyers were ranked in the 2022 edition of Chambers:

National Rankings

Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York)

David Reisman

Michael Golemi

Louisiana Rankings

Banking & Finance

Blake Bennett

Marine Finance

Blake Bennett

Leon H Rittenberg, III

Bankruptcy/Restructuring

Joseph Hebert

Kirk Jones Senior Statespeople

Corporate/M&A

Trey Reymond

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation

Randye Snyder

Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas

Kelly Becker

Lawrence Simon Senior Statespeople

Stephen Weigand

Environment

Louis Buatt

Greg Johnson

Stephen Wiegand Up and Coming

Environment: Litigation

Charles Wilmore
Mark McNamara
Robert McNeal

Labor & Employment

Thomas McGoey 

Litigation: General Commercial

Alec Andrade Associates to Watch
James Brown
Shannon Holtzman
Tyler Trew Up and Coming

Litigation: Securities

George Denegre, Jr. 

Tax

Robert Angelico
James Exnicios

Liskow Commemorates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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May is recognized as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.  AANHPI Heritage Month recognizes the history, contributions, and achievements of the AANHPI community in the United States.

AANHPI Heritage Month originated in 1978 when Congress passed legislation recognizing a seven-day period in May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.  The observance was later expanded to a month in 1990.  Then, in 1992, Congress passed legislation annually designating May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.  The month of May was chosen for its particular significance. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States and, on May 10, 1869, the transcontinental railroad, which was largely constructed by Chinese immigrants, was completed.

Liskow joins communities across the country in commemorating AANHPI Heritage Month—and in recognizing and celebrating the achievements and contributions of AANHPI individuals.  

Below are links to resources to learn more:

  • Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Website created by the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month.
  • NAPABA: Website for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (the nation’s largest Asian Pacific American membership organization), which includes information about programming, advocacy efforts, and resources to combat anti-Asian hate.