future-focused

Jack Najarian Joins Liskow & Lewis

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Liskow & Lewis is pleased to announce Jack A. Najarian has joined the firm in our Houston office.

Jack is a business and real estate lawyer who advises and represents clients in real estate matters, mergers & acquisitions, entity formation, oil & gas, construction, estate planning, title opinions and negotiating and drafting purchase agreements and leases.

He helps serial entrepreneurs, real estate lessors and developers, and corporate development teams, execute and achieve their strategic goals.

Jack received his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Houston Honors College.

Dana Douglas Selected as a 2017 Public Service Award Recipient

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Dana Douglas has been selected by The Gillis Long Poverty Law Center at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law as a 2017 Public Service Award recipient. Each year, the Center presents awards to Loyola students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to social justice. 

Dana is active in professional and community organizations, and holds various leadership positions. Dana is a Charter and Founding Member of the Louisiana Chapter of the Women’s Energy Network, the Immediate Past President of the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Society, the President-Elect for the New Orleans Bar Association, and the Chair of the 28th Annual Justice For All Ball. 

Dana received her Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. She focuses her practice at Liskow & Lewis on commercial, energy and intellectual property litigation in the state and federal courts of Louisiana and across a wide variety of industry sectors. 

Twelve Liskow Lawyers Selected to Acadiana Profile"s Top Lawyers

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Liskow & Lewis is pleased to announce the following Lafayette-based attorneys have been selected to the 2017 list of Acadiana Profile’s Top Lawyers:

George Arceneaux III, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Environmental Law

Julie S. Chauvin, Commercial Transactions

Billy J. Domingue, Energy Law

Joseph C. Giglio, Jr., Commercial Litigation

Joseph P. Hebert, Corporate Law

Mark A. Lowe, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Environmental Law

James N. Mansfield III, Energy Law, Natural Resources Law

Richard W. Revels, Jr., Administrative/ Regulatory Law, Energy Law

Jamie D. Rhymes, Energy Law

George H. Robinson, Jr., Energy Law

April L. Rolen-Ogden, Commercial Litigation, Energy Law

Lawrence P. Simon, Jr., Appellate Practice, Energy Law

Each year, Acadiana Profile publishes its Top Lawyers list. The voting to determine the 2017 top attorneys for Acadiana Profile magazine was open to all licensed attorneys in the Acadiana, Louisiana market area. Each attorney was asked which attorney, other than himself or herself, they would recommend in the Acadiana area.

 

Liskow Lawyer Jonathan Hunter on Team Securing Dismissal of False Claims Act Suit Alleging Violation of Offshore Regulations

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In Abbott v. BP, the plaintiffs alleged that BP had falsely certified to compliance with regulatory requirements pertaining to the engineering of the Atlantis Platform, a semi-submersible floating production facility capable of producing more than 100,000 barrels/day. Based on these allegations, Plaintiff Kenneth Abbott filed a qui tam suit under the False Claims Act (FCA), asserting that BP had obtained approval to produce oil from the Department of the Interior by falsely certifying to compliance with regulatory engineering standards. Abbott’s FCA damages claim exceeded $70 billion (reduced from an original claim of $266 billion). In the same lawsuit and based on the same allegations of regulatory noncompliance, Abbott and plaintiff Food & Water Watch, Inc. filed a citizen suit under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), seeking an injunction of production from the Atlantis platform. In 2014, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of BP on all claims, finding no material fact in dispute about BP’s regulatory compliance. On March 14, 2017, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling.

The Fifth Circuit upheld summary judgment in favor of BP under the FCA based on the “demanding” “materiality” standard articulated by the United States Supreme Court last year in Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar, 136 S.Ct. 1989 (2016). The record in Abbott included a 2011 report by the Department of the Interior which concluded, following a Congressionally-mandated investigation, that “Mr. Abbott’s allegations about false submissions by BP to [DOI] are unfounded.” Applying Escobar, the Fifth Circuit held that the Department of the Interior’s decision to allow Atlantis to continue production precluded Abbott from satisfying the “materiality” element mandated by the FCA. The Court also dismissed, for lack of standing, the OCSLA-based citizen suit action to enjoin production.

Liskow Shareholder Named to City Business’ Leadership in Law Class of 2017

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Liskow Shareholder Kelly Scalise has been selected to New Orleans CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law 2017. 

Kelly has wanted to be a lawyer since 6th grade, completing her undergraduate studies in 3 years to reach law school earlier. Her goal as a lawyer is to be a professional advocate for her clients. Since a young age, she has realized the difference lawyers can make, whether securing an important victory for a client or volunteering at a high school civics class. Kelly believes the power of the law is an important responsibility. She says, “Lawyers need to treat that power with care and use it to better their clients, bench and bar, and community.” 

Kelly is a working mother of 3, determined to teach her boys the value of a career. While an ideal balance for work and family is challenging, she strives every day to strike one. Not only is Kelly a successful working mother, but she is also very active in her community. She is currently President of the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the largest chapter in the country, and Chair of the Admiralty Law Section of the Federal Bar Association, a national section that she co-founded. 

Kelly’s practice is focused on the areas of admiralty, insurance, tort defense, and products liability defense litigation. She represents clients in admiralty and land-based tort actions, in vessel collisions and other admiralty matters, in products liability defense matters, and in premises liability actions. She also advises clients on contract negotiations and indemnity issues. 

Kelly received her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University in 1997, and her Juris Doctor, Order of the Coif, from the Paul M. Hebert, Louisiana State University Law Center in 2000. She served as senior editor of Louisiana Law Review, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable James L. Dennis, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, from 2000–2001. 

Since 2005, CityBusiness has published a special edition of the publication profiling 50 area attorneys, court-associated professionals, and educators who have established themselves as leaders through their distinctive professional contributions and community involvement, and has spotlighted several of Greater New Orleans’ most prominent leaders in the legal field. 

Donald Abaunza Named a BTI Client Service All-Star

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Liskow is pleased to congratulate Donald Abaunza who has been named a BTI Client Service All-Star for 2017. BTI Client Service All-Star is the only independently researched, client-driven ranking of attorneys. The attorneys recognized on this list are the end result of more than 310 in-depth, independent interviews with legal decision makers at the world’s leading organizations.

The only way a lawyer becomes a BTI Client Service All-Star is for corporate counsel to single out an attorney for client service exceeding all others. No attorney can lobby to be added to list, there is no self-submission process, and law firms cannot provide names of clients to be contacted.

A former Managing Partner and President for Liskow & Lewis (1996-2003), Don has more than 46 years of experience in admiralty, energy and commercial law. He has been lead trial counsel in cases involving maritime issues, products liability, oil and gas casualty matters, contract disputes, pipeline accidents, construction litigation, and insurance matters.

He was selected as one of the top ten attorneys in Louisiana and has been described as a leader in the profession in Chambers USA, Louisiana Super Lawyers, and The Best Lawyers in America. Don was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1994. He taught a trial advocacy course at Tulane University Law School for 10 years. In 2009, he was awarded the Distinguished Admiralty Attorney Award from the New Orleans Bar Association, and The Best Lawyers in America selected him as the Distinguished Admiralty Lawyer of the Year for his area.

Liskow & Lewis Announces Seven New Shareholders

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Liskow is pleased to announce the election of seven new shareholders, effective January 1, 2017.

James L. Breaux, New Orleans

James’ practice is concentrated in the areas of commercial real estate, oil and gas, land use and zoning, and general business matters, and governmental relations. He is also a Louisiana licensed title agent. James represents developers, contractors, lenders, oil and gas and telecommunication companies, and governmental bodies in the acquisition, leasing, and financing of real estate. His experience includes examining title abstracts, analyzing complex title issues and curing title defects, and issuing title opinions and title insurance policies. James handles commercial real estate and loan closings, negotiates and drafts leases and purchase agreements, handles road and pipeline right-of-way acquisitions, and represents clients before planning and zoning boards. He earned his law degree from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor for the Loyola Law Review.

Brian W. Capell, Lafayette

Brian is a member of the firm’s energy litigation, business litigation, environmental law, and maritime, oilfield, and insurance sections. He has been involved in the litigation of a variety of matters in state and federal courts, representing clients in oil & gas matters based on contractual, land, and royalty disputes. He has also represented companies in lien enforcement and defended oil companies in personal injury claims, property damage, open account, and in numerous legacy lawsuits that involve allegations of oilfield contamination allegedly caused by historic oil and gas exploration and production activities. Brian earned his law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as a member of the Louisiana Law Review.

Wes Hobbs, Houston

Wes’ practice involves advising clients regarding asset acquisitions and divestitures, valuation of title defects, purchase and sale agreements, and curative materials submitted in satisfaction of title requirements. Also within his practice, he conducts due diligence for acquisition projects; prepares and drafts original and supplemental drilling and division order title opinions, surface use agreements, easements, designations of pooled units, and conveyance instruments; and examines and drafts oil and gas leases and assignments of oil and gas leases. Wes received his Juris Doctorate from the South Texas College of Law, where he was a member of the Varsity Mock Trial Team, the Corporate Counsel Review, and the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity.

Brendan I. R. Jones, Houston

Brendan is focused on the needs of upstream oil and gas companies operating across Texas, and in the Bakken and other unconventional shale plays. He advises clients on all facets of their exploration and production activities, including energy transactions, acquisitions and divestitures, land and mineral titles, and due diligence. Brendan earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated cum laude.

Penny Leonard Malbrew, Lafayette

Penny is a litigator focused primarily on defending oilfield legacy litigation, but her experience extends to defending oil and gas companies with a variety of matters including product liability suits and personal injury and property damage suits. She has experience at all phases of litigation and has served as assistant trial counsel in several jury trials. Her prior experience includes time as in-house counsel at Stone Energy Corporation, a publicly traded oil and gas company, where she managed the company’s litigation docket, advised on a wide variety of regulatory, environmental, and safety matters, negotiated contracts, and assisted with other corporate matters. Penny earned her law degree from South Texas College of Law, where she graduated cum laude. She was elected to the Order of Lytae and was a Langdell Scholar. Penny served as a member of Phi Delta Phi and the Black Law Student Association.

Devin C. Reid, New Orleans

Devin has experience in managing discovery, deposition defense, preparation of expert reports and experts for trial, assisting in direct and cross-examinations during trial, and motion practice. He has also assisted with environmental issues related to oil spills, including serving on a legal team providing support for response compliance under both federal and state laws. He has been involved in the litigation of a variety of matters, including federal multi-district litigation, offshore blowouts, personal injury, property damage, insurance coverage, vessel allisions, and joint operating agreement disputes. As part of his experience, he has completed a course in Well Control Fundamentals and served as an on-site attorney representing the interests of major oil companies during governmental forensic examinations of well control equipment as well as the preservation of physical evidence related to maritime casualties. Devin earned his law degree from Louisiana State University, where he graduated summa cum laude, and was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as a member of the Louisiana Law Review.

Matthew Simone, New Orleans

Matthew’s litigation practice involves several key legal issues in oil and gas, expropriation (condemnation), class action defense, royalty disputes, property disputes, and environmental contamination, both in federal and state courts. Mr. Simone has extensive experience in assisting pipeline and other companies to obtain rights-of-way, to negotiate and/or prosecute the removal of encroachments on existing rights-of-way, and to acquire the proper regulatory authorization for projects within Louisiana. In addition to his litigation practice, he provides advice and representation to clients on drafting and interpreting oil and gas agreements, payment of royalties, lease maintenance, and obligations of operators and mineral rights owners. He obtained his law degree from Loyola University where he graduated magna cum laude. In addition, Matt was a member of and served as a Comment/Note Editor on the Loyola Law Review.

Forty-One Liskow Lawyers Selected to Louisiana Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters 2017

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Forty-one Liskow lawyers have been named to the 2017 edition of Louisiana Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters. Marguerite L. Adams, S. Gene Fendler and Lawrence P. Simon were named among the top 50 attorneys in the state of Louisiana, and shareholder Marguerite L. Adams was named one of the top 25 women attorneys in the state. 

Lawyers selected from the firm’s New Orleans office include: 

Super Lawyers 

Abaunza, Donald R. 
Adams, Marguerite L. 
Angelico, Robert S. 
Anjier, John C. 
Bennett, Wm. Blake 
Brown, James A. 
Denegre, Jr., George 
Diaz, Thomas P. 
Douglas, Dana M. 
Fendler, S. Gene 
Haycraft, Don K. 
Holden, Robert E. 
Holtzman, Shannon S. 
Hunter, Jonathan A. 
Jarrett, R. Keith 
Johnson, Greg L. 
Jones, Jr., Philip K. 
Kornick, Cheryl Mollere 
Latham, Mark D. 
Leefe, David W. 
McGoey, II, Thomas J. 
McNamara, Mark L. 
McNeal, Robert B. 
Norman, Joe B. 
Reymond, Jr., Leon J. 

Rising Stars 

Bambrick, Erin 
Dicharry, Sarah Y. 
Gonski, Kathryn 
Holden, Mirais 
Marse, Randy 
Reid, Devin C. 
Roth, Katherine Seegers 
Simone, Matthew 
Waid, Raymond T. 
Wiegand, Stephen W. 
Williams, Michael S. 

Lawyers selected from the firm’s Lafayette office include:

Super Lawyers 

Robinson, Jr., George H. 
Simon, Jr., Lawrence P. 

Rising Stars 

Capell, Brian W. 
Malbrew, Penny Leonard 
Rolen-Ogden, April L. 

Super Lawyers list outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.