News

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.

Liskow lawyer Kelly Scalise authored an article published in The Federal Lawyer December 2016 issue. Click here to read “Rough Waters Ahead: The Evolution of Punitive Damages Under Maritime Law”.  

Kelly practices in the maritime, oilfield, and indemnity areas, and is the chair of the Admiralty Law Section of the Federal Bar Association. 

Rob McNeal, Charles Wilmore, Dana Douglas and Philip Dore obtained a complete victory in a mass toxic tort trial involving 2900 plaintiffs that was tried for several weeks in Civil District Court after the other defendants settled. The judgment dismissed all claims against our client, finding that it had no liability for a chemical release that occurred in New Orleans.

Liskow is pleased to announce forty-four firm lawyers are among New Orleans Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2016. 

The voting to determine the top New Orleans attorneys was open to all licensed attorneys in New Orleans, Louisiana. Voters were asked which attorney, other than themselves, should appear on the New Orleans list. The list includes: 

Neil C. Abramson, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions 

Marguerite L. Adams, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates 

Robert S. Angelico, Tax Law 

John C. Anjier, Securities Regulation, Securities/Capital Markets Law 

Kelly B. Becker, Appellate Practice, Energy Law 

William B. Bennett, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Governance and Complaints Law, Gaming Law 

James A. Brown, Bet-the-Company Litigations, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law 

Louis E. Buatt, Energy Law, Environmental Law 

George Denegre, Jr., Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation 

James C. Exnicios, Tax Law 

S. Gene Fendler, Admiralty & Maritime Law 

Monica Derbes Gibson, Environmental Law 

Don K. Haycraft, Admiralty & Maritime Law 

Robert E. Holden, Environmental Law 

Shannon S. Holtzman, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law 

Jonathan A. Hunter, Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law 

R. Keith Jarrett, Admiralty & Maritime Law 

Greg L. Johnson, Environmental Law 

Philip K. Jones, Jr., Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

Paul C. Kitziger, Real Estate Law 

Cheryl M. Kornick, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law 

Gene W. Lafitte, Appellate Practice 

Mark D. Latham, Personal Injury Litigation, Workers Compensation Law 

David W. Leefe, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Transportation Law 

Thomas B. Lemann, Non-Profit/Charities Law, Trusts and Estates 

Thomas J. McGoey, II, Labor and Employment Law 

Robert B. McNeal, Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law 

Carey L. Menasco, Commercial Litigation 

Joe B. Norman, Energy Law, Oil and Gas Law 

Dena L. Olivier, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

Carol Welborn Reisman, Construction Law, Product Liability Litigation 

Leon J. Reymond, III, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Governance and Complaints Law 

Leon J. Reymond Jr., Mergers and Acquisitions Law 

Kelly T. Scalise, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation 

Scott C. Seiler, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, Product Liability Litigation 

Matthew D. Simone, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law 

Randye C. Snyder, Employee Benefits Law 

Dorothy M. Taylor, Criminal Defense White Collar 

Raymond T. Waid, Admiralty & Maritime Law 

Stephen W. Wiegand, Environmental Law 

Michael S. Williams, Employee Benefits Law, NonProfit/Charities Law 

Charles B. Wilmore, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions 

John M. Wilson, Bet-the-Company Litigations, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Natural Resources Law 

John D. Wogan, Trusts and Estates 

Liskow is pleased to announce four attorneys have joined the firm.

Houston

Wilka V. Toppins is a fully bilingual immigration lawyer practicing in the Houston office of Liskow & Lewis. With over 26 years of legal experience, Wilka’s practice focuses on advising and assisting international public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investors with immigration and EB5 visa program solutions. Wilka graduated with honors from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans, worked in-house with Exxon Company, USA and later, SBC Communications, was the first Latina to hold a corporate vice president position with Macy’s – serving as Vice President – Diversity – and has managed her own law practice in Houston for the past 12 years.

New Orleans

Alex Baynham is a member of the firm’s Maritime, Oilfield, and Insurance practice area. Prior to joining the firm, Alex served as a law clerk to The Honorable Chief Judge Dee D. Drell of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He received his Juris Doctor and Degree in Comparative Law, magna cum laude, from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University in 2015. While in law school, he served as a Senior Editor for the Louisiana Law Review. Alex received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University in 2012. 

A’Dair Flynt is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation practice area. She received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2016. A’Dair served as a member of the Louisiana Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. She received both her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, and her Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University. Upon receiving her B.A. degree, she was also awarded the University Medal. 

Spencer Sinclair is a member of the firm’s Business Law practice area. He received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Tulane University Law School. He served as a Managing Editor of the Tulane Law Review, and was awarded the Rufus C. Harris award for the best student writing on a Civil Law topic. Spencer also received the David L. Herman award for academic achievement. He served as the law clerk to United States District Judge Martin L. C. Feldman in the Eastern District of Louisiana before joining the firm.