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Eight Liskow Lawyers Selected to Acadiana Profile's Top Lawyers

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Liskow is pleased to announce the following Lafayette-based attorneys have been selected to the 2022 list of Acadiana Profile’s Top Lawyers:

April Rolen-Ogden — Energy Law

Billy Domingue — Real Estate Law

Brian Capell — Energy Law

George Arceneaux — Oil And Gas Law 

James Mansfield— Natural Resources Law

Jamie Rhymes — Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law

Joseph Giglio Jr. — Corporate Law

Lawrence Simon Jr.— Oil and Gas Law

Each year, Acadiana Profile publishes its Top Lawyers list. The voting to determine the 2022 top attorneys for Acadiana Profile magazine was open to all licensed attorneys in the Acadiana, Louisiana market area. 

Liskow Elects Two New Board Members

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Liskow is pleased to announce that Kelly Becker and Julie Chauvin have been elected to the firm’s Board of Directors. 

Kelly Becker is the co-chair of the firm’s Energy Litigation Practice Group and serves on the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee. Kelly is a litigator whose appellate practice regularly includes cases before the Louisiana courts of appeal, the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, including environmental, energy, and commercial matters. Based on 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 thirteen lawyers in the state of Louisiana with this designation. Kelly is regularly engaged to assess the viability of appeal and often participates at the trial stage of a case as an appellate strategist. Kelly also handles strategic motion practice at the trial court level. Currently, Kelly manages legal strategy and briefing for several oil and gas industry clients in the Louisiana coastal land loss docket. Kelly is involved with various industry organizations and is a member of several appellate committees. Kelly is a member of the Council of the Louisiana Law Institute and a member of the Law Institute’s Code of Civil Procedure Committee.  She is regularly recognized for her appellate practice by The Best Lawyers in America and the New Orleans Magazine.

Julie Chauvin serves on Liskow’s Strategic Planning Committee and is the Head of Office Administration for the firm’s Lafayette office. Julie is a business and estate planning attorney. In her business practice, Julie handles a variety of commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate and finance transactions. She also regularly advises business owners on corporate governance matters and prepares and negotiates all manner of business contracts, including purchase agreements, operating agreements and employment agreements. In her estate planning practice, Julie advises clients, including business owners and high net worth individuals on wills, trusts and other estate planning matters. Julie also handles successions and assists litigation attorneys in fiduciary litigation. Julie is regularly recognized for her business practice by The Best Lawyers in America and Acadiana Profile. Julie is a past-Chairman of the Corporate and Business Law Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and currently serves on the Corporations Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute.

Liskow Lawyers Selected to Join Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Programs

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The firm is proud to share that three lawyers have been selected to join The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s (LCLD) 2022 programs. Jackie Hickman was named a 2022 LCLD Fellow, and Courtney Turkington and Hayley Landry have been selected to join the 2022 class of Pathfinders. These programs provide opportunities for diverse lawyers to receive professional and personal development opportunities, leadership training, and relationship-building opportunities.

Now in its eleventh year, the LCLD Fellows Program is an ambitious, highly structured initiative built to increase diversity at the leadership levels of the nation’s law firms and corporate legal departments.

The LCLD Pathfinder Program is designed to train attorneys in critical career-development strategies including leadership and the building of professional networks. Pathfinders are selected by leaders at LCLD member corporations and law firms and have been identified as diverse, early-career emerging leaders who have, or have the potential to, distinguish themselves within their organization.

The LCLD was founded in 2009 by the country’s leading general counsel and managing partners to provide the next generation of diverse attorneys with the tools and knowledge to excel in the legal profession. The council has more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who have made the commitment to creating a truly diverse legal profession. Liskow is continually seeking opportunities to expand its knowledge and awareness around diversity and inclusion and the firm is proud to collaborate with organizations, such as the LCLD, that are also committed to making the legal industry more diverse and inclusive.

Paul Kitziger and Ryan Christiansen Elected to American College of Real Estate Lawyers

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Liskow is proud to announce that Paul Kitziger and Ryan Christiansen have been elected to membership in the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (“ACREL”), the premier organization of U.S. real estate attorneys. Paul and Ryan join Liskow ACREL Fellows Leon Reymond, Jr., Marilyn Maloney, and David Weiner. Marilyn served as the President of ACREL in 2020.

Admission to ACREL is by invitation only, after a rigorous selection process. ACREL’s approximately 1,000 distinguished, nationally-known lawyers have been elected to Fellowship not only for their outstanding legal ability, experience, and high standards of professional and ethical conduct, but also for their contributions to the real estate and legal professions through their practices, their legal writings, and public speaking.

Paul Kitziger is an experienced business lawyer who regularly assists clients with a wide range of business transactions, including real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and financing transactions. Additionally, Paul advises clients on business entity structuring and formation. Paul represents both local and international clients from the energy, petrochemical, hospitality, industrial, and financial sectors.

Ryan Christiansen is a real estate lawyer focusing on the acquisition, development, and financing of commercial, industrial, and residential properties and negotiations of commercial leases. As a Louisiana licensed title insurance agent and president of the firm’s title agency, he also counsels clients in the review and analysis of complex title issues and in the issuance of title insurance policies.

Congratulations to the other 36 new Fellows included in the ACREL Class of 2022! According to ACREL, Fellows are leaders of the real estate bars in the cities and states where they practice and are generally regarded as among the country’s most influential real estate practitioners.

About Liskow’s Real Estate Team

Liskow’s substantial real estate team offers advice and solutions to landowners, commercial lenders, developers, and commercial and industrial landlords and tenants. The firm counsels developers and lenders in the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of real estate and in the construction of industrial plants, residential developments, major office buildings, hotels, and hospitals throughout Louisiana, Texas and the South. Liskow also handles closings and issues title insurance in Louisiana through the firm’s affiliated title company Lewis Title Co., Inc.

The firm’s real estate team is especially experienced in the transfer and acquisition of highly industrialized sites, as well as the development and expansion of those sites. Liskow also specializes in property financings, land use issues, and the issuance of title insurance, as well as, drafting and negotiating leases for both landlords and tenants of office buildings, telecommunications facilities, industrial park complexes, and right-of-way agreements for public and private purposes. The firm also has represented numerous property owners before the Louisiana Tax Commission and local municipalities in matters relating to property tax assessments, as well as before local planning and zoning boards in connection with zoning matters.

Liskow is ranked nationally for its real estate practice by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms,” and is recognized by Chambers USA for its real estate practice in Louisiana. 

Liskow & Lewis Included on BTI Client Service A-Team 2022 List

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BTI Consulting ranked Liskow in the BTI Client Service A-Team 2022 report, a list of law firms delivering the best client service. Liskow ranked 95 of 281 law firms included on the list, and Liskow was one of the 59 firms that clients identified as improving client service more than all others.

The report found that “Client service expectations are soaring. Every change in world events adds a new layer of expectations — fueled by a stream of management questions about what is going on. This extreme VUCA world (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) is driving 59 law firms to substantially up their client service game.” Client service is a top priority at Liskow. We are honored to be recognized as one of 59 firms that are “leaving a lasting impression on clients — enduring well beyond whatever clients are experiencing now.”

According to BTI’s research, 650 core law firms serve large and Fortune 1000 clients but only 281 law firms are singled out by legal decision-makers for client service. And the research revealed that Liskow & Lewis’ client service is in the top 15 percent of the law firms serving the world’s largest clients.

To determine its listings, BTI Consulting conducted more than 350 in-depth interviews with the highest-ranking legal decision makers at the world’s largest companies. No law firm submissions, self-referrals, firm referrals, suggestions, or payments are accepted for inclusion. To learn more about the 2022 rankings, click here. 

Lawyers Selected to 2022 Texas Super Lawyers List

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Liskow & Lewis is proud to announce that James Kittrell and Jillian Marullo have been selected to the 2022 Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. James was recognized in energy & natural resources, and Jillian was recognized in business litigation. Each year, this distinction is given to no more than 2.5% of lawyers and is the result of peer nominations.

James is a litigator with a practice focusing on commercial, energy, and maritime matters. James has represented his clients at both the trial court and the appellate level. His energy litigation experience involves representing oil and gas clients in venues across the state of Texas in a wide variety of lawsuits related to on-shore operations, including royalty claims and operational disputes. James’ commercial litigation practice includes a range of contractual matters, including indemnity claims, shipping disputes, and suits on sworn accounts. His maritime practice focuses on representing large marine services companies in Jones Act cases and other maritime personal injury lawsuits.

Jillian handles an array of civil litigation matters as both plaintiff and defense counsel, representing clients in many sectors, including the oil and gas, communications infrastructure, and commercial property industries. She has a diverse commercial litigation practice, with experience in general contractual disputes, insurance and indemnity matters, and disputes arising under mineral leases, farmout agreements, joint operating agreements, and commercial leases. This practice includes significant experience in oil and gas lease disputes, including lease maintenance and termination, royalty, implied covenants, offset well/drainage clauses, and other lease disputes. She also handles toxic tort and environmental litigation, including suits arising under the Clean Air Act, as well as cases involving property damage, trespass, and conversion.

Liskow & Lewis Expands Its Capabilities to Further Serve the Gulf Coast

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We are proud to announce that members of the Baldwin Haspel Burke & Mayer firm joined Liskow. The team brings extensive business and litigation experience in the areas of commercial real estate, mergers & acquisitions, maritime, litigation, elder law, estate planning & successions, taxation, commercial & equipment finance, and startups, complementing the Firm’s existing business practice.

“We welcome our new colleagues to the Firm,” said Mark Latham, president/managing partner of Liskow & Lewis. The combination of talent and wide-ranging experience creates a team with a unique makeup and shared commitment to serving companies along the Gulf Coast.” 

With the addition of these experienced lawyers, Liskow & Lewis will have a business team of over thirty-five lawyers with a collective forward-looking vision with enhanced capabilities for our clients.

“Client service is top priority, and the additions are an opportunity to enhance our services and offer further support to businesses as they continue to navigate the unique challenges of today’s ever-changing marketplace,” said Trey Reymond, chair of the Firm’s business group.

Leon Rittenberg III, a business lawyer at Baldwin Haspel commented: “For one hundred and seven years, Baldwin Haspel Burke & Mayer proudly devoted itself to client service. Liskow & Lewis shares this commitment. This combination of talent allows us to offer additional resources to our clients with the same philosophy. We look forward to continuing our long term client relationships and building new ones.”

Liskow & Lewis is a full-service law firm that provides regulatory advice, transactional counsel, and handles high-stakes litigation for regional and national companies. The Firm’s nearly 150 lawyers are strategically located in Louisiana and Texas. The Firm serves clients in the energy, environmental, and maritime sectors, as well as local and regional businesses in virtually all industries.

Liskow Mourns the Loss of Robert Theriot

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It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and colleague Robert Theriot.

Rob graduated summa cum laude from both the University of Southwestern Louisiana and Tulane University Law School. At Tulane, Rob served as editor in chief of the Law Review and won the Civil Law Award. Following graduation, Rob served as a law clerk to the Honorable John Minor Wisdom, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

After his clerkship, Rob spent his entire career at Liskow & Lewis. Rob was a co-chair of the firm’s Energy Litigation practice group, he previously served on the firm’s Board of Directors, and he played an instrumental role in opening the office in Houston, Texas in 2005.

For thirty-five years, Rob helped clients navigate tough legal issues in trials and transactions. He earned a reputation for handling complex, seemingly intractable problems, and much of his work focused on the growing challenges facing producers in unconventional shale plays. He handled matters before state and federal trial and appellate courts in Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota and other major shale basin states.

Rob was well known in the energy industry, serving as an advisory board member of the Institute for Energy Law and as a member of The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law. He was board certified in oil, gas, and mineral law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

When previously asked about what makes his approach to legal matters unique, Rob said, “Clients are comfortable calling me because of my deep experience in their industry. They’ll say, ‘I've got this problem…have you seen this?’ Chances are, I have. Plus, I like to share whatever lessons I've learned. Part of me always wanted to be a teacher.” Rob was a teacher to all of us. He taught us not only inside the courtroom, but more importantly, outside of it.

Liskow & Lewis extends our deepest condolences to Rob’s loved ones during this very difficult time. We miss Rob deeply.

Liskow is proud to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

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On Monday, January 17, Liskow & Lewis observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—a federal holiday celebrating the life and enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Through his life and work, Dr. King challenged all of us to play a role in increasing justice and in building a more perfect union.  In honor of Dr. King’s legacy, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is recognized as a national day of service.  

On Monday, several of the firm’s attorneys participated in service projects to commemorate the day.  For example, in New Orleans, a group of Liskow attorneys participated in a 2022 MLK Day of Service Event in conjunction with City Year New Orleans, an organization aimed at addressing systemic inequities that disproportionately affect the City’s students of color and low-income students by increasing students’ access to learning environments and resources.  Mark Latham, Tiffany Davis, Cristian Soler, Alec Andrade, and Hayley Landry picked up trash and debris in the neighborhoods surrounding Langston Hughes Academy.  Additionally, Jared Nelson, Amy Lee, Vanessa Anseman, and George Arceneaux, attorneys in Liskow’s Lafayette office, observed the National Day of Service by participating in a community cleanup event hosted by the Eta Gamma Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men, organizes initiatives throughout the year to respond to timely issues affecting the African American community.

Liskow is proud to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and of its attorneys’ efforts to promote equity and justice both this past Monday and throughout the year.

For more information on Dr. King and his work, we have included some additional resources below:

LSU Libraries’ Resource on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

University of Houston Center for Diversity & Inclusion’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration (includes upcoming events commemorating Dr. King’s legacy)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Stanford University’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research & Education Institute

“Teaching a More Complete Picture of MLK,” January 7, 2022, Smithsonian Magazine