News

Liskow is proud to congratulate Matt Simone on being named to New Orleans CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law Class of 2025. Matt is recognized for his strong litigation practice, dedication to clients, and meaningful contributions to the energy industry, legal profession, and community.

Matt is an experienced trial and appellate litigator focused primarily on pipeline-related matters, including servitude acquisition, expropriation, and regulatory compliance. He has represented clients in nearly 100 eminent domain proceedings and has extensive experience before agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His work has helped advance pipeline and underground storage projects throughout the Gulf South.

Beyond litigation and regulatory issues, Matt advises clients on complex real estate, environmental, and transactional matters, including high-stakes toxic tort cases, mass environmental claims, and major infrastructure projects. His leadership extends outside the courtroom, serving on the Board of the Professional Landmen’s Association of New Orleans, where he was President from 2023 to 2024, as well as on committees for the Louisiana State Law Institute and Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, among others. Matt will be celebrated among other honorees Monday, October 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Profiles of the honorees will appear in the October 17 issue of CityBusiness.

Matt Jones was quoted in Law360’s “Top 5 Energy Decisions of 2025: A Midyear Report.” Matt shared insights on the $666 million verdict against Greenpeace. Read the article here.

Liskow is pleased to announce that Sam Allen has been selected for the Institute for Energy Law’s 8th Leadership Class, a program recognizing rising professionals in the energy industry.

Sam represents clients in a range of litigation matters. His work includes disputes involving oil and gas leases—such as royalty issues, lease interpretation, and conflicts between surface and mineral owners. He also handles cases involving joint operating agreements, purchase and sale agreements, mechanic’s and mineral liens, and title disputes. Outside of energy law, Sam works on litigation related to non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, trade secrets, fraud, property damage, defamation, and breach of contract.

This year’s Leadership Class curriculum covers important skills for energy professionals, including effective communication, leading teams in fast-paced settings, building trust, professional networking, making tough decisions under pressure, and business development. Participants will complete training designed to improve their leadership skills and industry knowledge.

Liskow is proud to announce that Marilyn Maloney received the Distinguished Real Estate Attorney Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. The award recognizes distinguished Texas real estate attorneys who have made significant and sustained contributions to the Texas real estate law bar throughout their careers.

Marilyn has been at Liskow for fifty years, serving clients across Texas, Louisiana, and the U.S. Her experience spans commercial lending, energy and real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and other complex commercial matters. Her practice includes representing borrowers and lenders in energy, real estate, and other commercial loans, handling industrial and commercial real estate developments, acquisitions and divestitures, and financings, and representing energy companies and lenders in acquisitions and divestitures of oil and gas-producing properties and midstream assets and construction of pipelines, platforms, and other facilities affecting properties onshore and on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf. A Fellow of both the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers (ACCFL). Marilyn served as President of ACREL in 2020 and remains actively involved in shaping the future of real estate law. She contributes extensively to the State Bar of Texas and the Louisiana Law Institute, participating in committees focused on the Uniform Commercial Code and business law reforms.

Her contributions have helped shape real estate law across jurisdictions and earned the respect of peers throughout the legal and business communities.

David Weiner, a real estate lawyer in the firm’s Houston office, was proud to present Marilyn with the award at the Real Estate, Probate, and Trust Law Section’s Advanced Real Estate Law Course on July 10, 2025, in San Antonio.

Liskow is pleased to be recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA, a respected legal directory that has been publishing rankings for more than 30 years. Chambers conducts over 285,000 interviews and surveys annually to assess law firms and attorneys across the country.

Firms and individuals are ranked in bands from 1 (highest) to 6, and inclusion in any band reflects recognition by clients and peers.

In the 2025 guide, Liskow received national rankings in Offshore Energy and Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York). The firm also received state-level recognition in:

• Banking & Finance – Band 2, Louisiana
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring – Band 3, Louisiana
• Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas – Band 1, Louisiana
• Environment – Band 1, Louisiana
• Labor & Employment – Band 3, Louisiana
• Litigation: Appellate – Band 1, Louisiana
• Litigation: General Commercial – Band 1, Louisiana
• Real Estate – Band 4, Louisiana

In addition, 32 Liskow attorneys are individually ranked in their respective practice areas.

Offshore Energy (National)

Jana Grauberger – Band 2

Oil & Gas Litigation (National)

James T. Kittrell – Band 2

Product Liability: Toxic Torts (National)

Charles B. Wilmore – Band 1

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

David Reisman – Band 2

Michael Golemi – Band 3

Raymond T. Waid – Band 3

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

Michael Fernandez – Band 3

Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Louisiana)

Joseph P. Hebert – Band 3

Philip K. “Kirk” Jones Jr – Senior Statespeople

Corporate/M&A (Louisiana)

Leon J. Reymond III – Band 3

Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas (Louisiana)

Lawrence P. Simon Jr. – Senior Statespeople

April Rolen-Ogden – Band 3

Jeff Lieberman – Band 3

Kelly Becker – Band 3

Environment (Louisiana)

Greg L. Johnson – Band 1

Lou Buatt – Band 1

Clare Bienvenu – Band 3

Environment: Litigation (Louisiana)

Robert B. McNeal – Band 1

Mark L. McNamara – Band 3

Michael Mims – Up and Coming

Labor & Employment (Louisiana)

Thomas McGoey II – Band 1

Litigation : Appellate (Louisiana)

Kelly Becker – Band 1

Kathryn Gonski – Band 2

Litigation: General Commercial (Louisiana)

James Brown – Band 1

Carey L. Menasco- Band 3

Carol “LuLu” Reisman – Band 3

Shannon Skelton Holtzman – Band 3

Tyler Trew – Band 3

Litigation: Securities (Louisiana)

George Denegre, Jr. – 2

Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Louisiana)

Sean Toomey – Band 2

Marine Finance (Louisiana)

Leon H. Rittenberg, III – Band 2

Tax (Louisiana)

Robert S. Angelico – Band 1

Caroline Lafourcade – Band 2

We are honored by this recognition and appreciate the continued trust of our clients and peers.

Liskow is pleased to announce that Kathryn Gonski and Michael Golemi have been elected to the firm’s Board of Directors.

Kathryn is a litigator and appellate lawyer who represents both individuals and local, national, and global companies in all areas of litigation, including energy, environmental, personal injury, and commercial disputes. Her corporate clients span a wide range of industries, including energy, maritime, and retail. Beyond her legal practice, Kathryn has played a key leadership role within the firm. She chaired Liskow’s Paralegal Committee from 2019 to 2022, serves as the New Orleans Representative on the firm’s Associate Committee, and has been a dedicated member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee since 2014.

“It is an honor to join Liskow’s Board of Directors and contribute to the firm’s future development and continuation of the exceptional client service we’ve consistently provided,” said Gonski. “As a first-time Board member, I look forward to bringing a fresh perspective and working with an amazing group of leaders I deeply respect.”

Michael, who previously served on the Board, returns with more than 25 years of experience handling high stakes maritime and energy litigation. Based in Houston, Michael focuses on trial and appellate matters involving marine casualties, toxic torts, insurance coverage, and products liability. He began his career in Liskow’s New Orleans office and was instrumental in establishing the firm’s Houston presence in 2005. Michael has served as Head of the Houston Office and currently serves as Co-Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Maritime Practice Group.

His firsthand experience growing the firm’s Texas presence, combined with his past leadership within the firm, allows him to bring a unique perspective to the Board.

“I am excited to return to Liskow’s Board of Directors and collaborate with an impressive group of leaders,” said Golemi. “Bringing both the insight of past experience and a broad, multi-jurisdictional perspective, I’m committed to helping shape a firm I deeply value—always with a focus on meeting the evolving needs of our clients and the industries they are in.”

Women’s Energy Network, Inc. (WEN) has officially registered its sunburst logo with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Liskow Shareholder Jana Grauberger, co-leader of the firm’s Energy Litigation Practice Group, and Of Counsel attorney Marilyn Maloney provided pro bono legal services to WEN to ensure its brand was protected. In 2009, Liskow attorneys also worked pro bono to register a service mark for the group’s name, “Women’s Energy Network.” Now, both of WEN’s word and design marks are registered on the USPTO’s Principal Register – the highest level of protection for trademark owners.

The effort was a passion project for Liskow’s attorneys, who work in the energy sector, because of WEN’s mission of supporting women in the industry. The firm has supported WEN since the group was established, and several attorneys have held leadership positions on its Board of Directors, including Jana, who served as President of WEN Global in 2020. 

“Liskow’s support of WEN goes beyond financial support and involvement. The firm has looked for ways to support WEN’s broader vision, brand, and mission,” said Gillian Flick, Global President of WEN. 

Liskow has been at the forefront of the energy industry for nearly a century, representing the full gamut of upstream, midstream, and downstream companies, from operators of all sizes to global energy giants.

59 Liskow attorneys have been named to the 2025 Louisiana Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists. James Brown and Tommy McGoey were named among the top 50 attorneys in the state of Louisiana. Additionally, Cheryl Kornick was recognized as one of the top 25 women attorneys in the state of Louisiana.

Super Lawyers

Lafayette
George Arceneaux, Energy & Resources
Brian Capell, Business Litigation
Julie Chauvin, Business/Corp
Jamie Rhymes, Energy & Resources
April Rolen-Ogden, Energy & Resources
Lawrence Simon, Jr., Business Litigation
Court VanTassell, Environmental Litigation

New Orleans
Marguerite Adams, Estate & Probate
Robert Angelico, Tax
Kelly Becker, Appellate
James Brown, Business Litigation
Lou Buatt, Real Estate
Ryan Christiansen, Real Estate
George Denegre, Jr., Business Litigation
Thomas Diaz, Transportation/Maritime
Kathryn Gonski, Appellate
Shannon Holtzman, Business Litigation
Keith Jarrett, Transportation/Maritime
Philip Jones, Jr., Business Litigation
Paul Kitziger, Real Estate
Cheryl Kornick, Energy & Resources
Caroline Lafourcade, Tax
David Leefe, Transportation/Maritime
Tommy McGoey, Employment & Labor
Mark McNamara, Energy & Resources
Robert McNeal, Energy & Resources
Devin Reid, Class Action
Carol “LuLu” Reisman, Business Litigation
David Reisman, Transportation/Maritime
Trey Reymond, Mergers & Acquisitions
Leon Rittenberg III, Tax
Kelly Scalise, Transportation/Maritime
Matt Simone, Energy & Resources
Laura Springer Brown, Energy & Resources
Cherrell Taplin, Civil Litigation: Defense
Sean Toomey, Criminal Defense: White Collar
Raymond Waid, Transportation/Maritime
Charles Wilmore, PI General: Defense

Rising Stars

Lafayette
Alexandra Gjertson, Business Litigation
Joe Heaton, Energy & Resources
Michael Ishee, Energy & Resources
Caleb Madere, Energy & Resources
John Parker, Energy & Resources

New Orleans
Alec Andrade, Business Litigation
Alexander Baynham, PI General: Plaintiff
Lance Bullock, Transportation/Maritime
Sheri Corales, Business Litigation
Hunter Curtis, Environmental Litigation
Melanie Derefinko, Business Litigation
Ellie George, Business Litigation
Hayley Landry, Energy & Resources
Nicholas Mole, PI- Products: Defense
Trinity Morale, Energy & Resources
Jessie Shifalo, Transportation/Maritime
Nicholas Simon, Transportation/Maritime
Emily von Qualen, Environmental Litigation

Baton Rouge
Hunter Chauvin, Environmental Litigation
Denice Redd-Robinette, Energy & Resources

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.

Shareholder Leon Rittenberg has been named to the Young Leadership Council’s (YLC) 2025 Role Model Class, a distinguished group of 10 business, community, and civic leaders recognized for their impact across the Greater New Orleans region.

Since 1986, YLC has recognized outstanding individuals who embody leadership, service, and commitment to the betterment of the Greater New Orleans region. YLC choses honorees based on their professional accomplishments, dedication to community, and impact on the city’s future.

Leon’s involvement in the New Orleans community is extensive. He serves on the Boards and Executive Committees of numerous non-profit organizations. In 2015, he served as chairman of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization’s Tax Law Advisory Committee. Leon also contributes to many philanthropic efforts. He and his family opened the “Rittenberg Family Food Pantry” in 2024 at the Ochsner Cancer Institute in New Orleans to provide free, healthful meal options to cancer patients and their families. He is also a recipient of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana’s 2024 Young Family Award for Professional Excellence, which honors individuals for outstanding leadership within the community.

Leon’s legal practice focuses on serving the needs of businesses and their owners; including taxation, finance, private equity, estate planning, probate, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, maritime and vessel transactions, philanthropy and non-profit law, and related matters. Leon represents the interests of a number of private investors, oil service businesses, family offices, marine transportation companies and physician groups. He is a Board Certified Tax Specialist and Board Certified Estate Planning & Administration Specialist, as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.

More on the 2025 Role Model Class:

The 2025 class was selected by a committee of YLC Board Members and past honorees. The 2025 class will be honored at the 39th Annual YLC Role Model Awards on Friday, October 10, at The Sazerac House in New Orleans.

We congratulate Leon on this well-deserved recognition and his continued leadership both in the legal field and in the broader New Orleans community.

Bob Angelico was honored with the prestigious Inspired Cross Award at the Ascension DePaul Foundation’s Keeping Our Promises Gala on April 12, 2025, in New Orleans. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to building healthier communities.

Leading up to the event, DePaul Community Health Centers President and CEO Michael G. Griffin highlighted Bob’s two decades of service on the DePaul Community Health Centers Board and his steadfast support for expanding access to health care in New Orleans.

Bob has served on the DePaul Community Health Centers Board since 2003, playing an instrumental role in its mission to provide high-quality care to all.

Bob is a nationally known tax lawyer with years of experience helping top-tier companies with sophisticated state and local tax issues throughout Louisiana. Bob works to minimize the taxes of his clients, which include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, non-profits, construction businesses and other entities of all types and sizes.

Clients frequently rely on Bob to represent them in state and local tax audits and administrative appeals as alternatives to the court system. Bob works extensively with the Louisiana Department of Revenue, Louisiana Tax Commission, Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals and local taxing authorities around the state.  In addition, he represents clients involved in state tax litigation, and parish and local tax litigation, at both the trial and appellate court levels. He is a Board-Certified Tax Specialist – as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization – and a licensed Certified Public Accountant. 

The Keeping Our Promises Gala raises critical funds each year to address health disparities and promote health equity throughout the region. Louisiana State Senator for District 5, Royce Duplessis, Mrs. Phyllis Taylor of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, and Dr. Corey Hébert were also honored at the event.