News

On September 24, 2024, Liskow filed a lawsuit on behalf of the State of Maryland, the Maryland Attorney General, and all State agencies in matters related to the DALI’s allision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. With one of the largest maritime practice groups in the country, Liskow has played a lead role in many of the largest maritime incidents in the world. We are proud to represent the State of Maryland, as well as clients all over the country. Please see the press release for more information: https://lnkd.in/ePaa8TDg.

New Orleans CityBusiness has recognized Liskow shareholder Clare Bienvenu as an honoree for the Women of the Year Class of 2024. Honorees were selected based on business and community involvement and achievements that have set the pace for the overall community.

Clare Bienvenu is an environmental regulatory and litigation lawyer who has practiced in both Louisiana and California, working with clients across the United States. Clare counsels clients regarding complex environmental regulatory, enforcement, and permitting issues spanning the range of air, water, and waste matters. She draws on her significant litigation experience to guide regulatory issues to sound legal outcomes and has successfully defended permitting records and agency decisions in court. Clare uses her engineering background on behalf of clients to navigate complicated regulatory programs and effectively communicate with regulators and consultants on technical matters.

Clare facilitates the permitting and regulatory aspects of major industrial development projects. Her recent experience extends to the energy transition where she has advised on renewable energy, clean energy, and carbon sequestration projects. She regularly advises on environmental justice considerations in the context of project development and agency permitting.

Clare is also involved in many professional and community organizations. As a member of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, she contributes to advancing legal frameworks related to environmental and energy issues. Her involvement with the Air & Waste Management Association’s Louisiana Section and the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Section of Environmental Law further underscores her commitment to addressing environmental challenges through legal and regulatory means. Clare’s leadership as Chair of the Environmental Committee for the New Orleans Bar Association highlights her influence in shaping local environmental policy and practice. Additionally, her participation in the GNOwind Alliance with GNO, Inc. reflects her support for renewable energy initiatives, while her membership in the Women’s Energy Network emphasizes her role in fostering women’s leadership within the energy sector.

Clare’s recognition comes on the heels of Liskow being recognized by New Orleans CityBusiness once again as an organization that supports, elevates, and empowers women.

Liskow is proud to announce that Michael Rubenstein and J.T. Kittrell have been selected to the 2024 Texas Super Lawyers list.

Super Lawyers lists outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Texas Super Lawyers includes a statewide nomination process, a peer-review survey by practice area, and independent research on candidates. The process results in a list of the top five percent of attorneys in each state, as nominated by their peers, which is then reviewed by an independent research team that focuses on professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

We are proud to announce that Keith Jarrett has been inducted into the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Keith is a highly accomplished trial lawyer with a distinguished career specializing in complex litigation. His expertise spans maritime accidents, environmental damage, toxic torts, ship construction, and oilfield disputes. He has also led cases involving catastrophic explosions, engineering malpractice, and property construction disputes.

In addition to his successful litigation practice, Keith served as Liskow’s President and Managing Partner from 2009 to 2015. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been recognized for his excellence in admiralty and maritime law, as noted in The Best Lawyers in America. His induction into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers is a testament to his outstanding contributions to the legal profession and his unwavering commitment to integrity and professionalism.

Founded in 1954, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers is one of the most esteemed organizations for trial lawyers globally, limiting its U.S. membership to 500 active members and including over 150 international Fellows from nearly 40 countries. Membership is by invitation only and requires rigorous peer and judicial review. The Academy honors lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional skill in the courtroom and a strong commitment to their communities through pro bono work.

Liskow is proud to announce the firm has once again been named by CityBusiness Empowering Women as an organization that supports, elevates, and empowers women in the New Orleans area.

The CityBusiness Empowering Women program, launched last year, recognizes companies and organizations that have long shown a solid commitment to supporting and elevating women in the New Orleans area. The program was designed to showcase organizations’ tangible and innovative efforts to advance women in the workplace and community. Liskow, along with other deserving companies, will be recognized in the CityBusiness August 23rd issue.

Liskow boasts an impressive track record of hiring, mentoring, and promoting women:

• The firm’s 2024 Summer Attorney Clerkship Program is 53% female.
• The firm’s Board of Directors includes 57% women..
• The firm’s C-Suite is 60% women.
• The firm’s total company leadership is nearly 50% female.

“At Liskow, we invest in progressive strategies and programs to ensure our diversity efforts are not only impactful today but also sustainable for the future,” said Cherrell Simms Taplin, Liskow’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “Our vision is to continuously evolve our practices to foster an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive and contribute. We continue to renew our commitment to supporting and elevating women at all levels in the firm.”The firm is consistently recognized by its clients for its diversity efforts, receiving Chevron’s Law Function’s Law Firm Diversity Award in 2019 and the inaugural BP Legal Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2017. The firm works tirelessly to combat inequality through a wide range of philanthropic and pro bono efforts, supporting dozens of organizations including those that empower women:

• Women’s Energy Network Regional and National Events
• Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association Events
• University of Texas Women’s Power Summit on Law & Leadership

Liskow and the firm’s women lawyers regularly receive recognition in publications such as New Orleans CityBusiness, Best Lawyers, Acadiana Profile, and Chambers & Partners. Its female attorneys also have gone on to serve in impressive roles, such as former Liskow lawyer Dana M. Douglas becoming the first Black Woman to be confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Learn more about how Liskow empowers women by watching the video below.

Two attorneys were honored in Lawdragon’s inaugural 500 Leading Global Real Estate Lawyers list, which showcases over 500 top real estate lawyers worldwide. This list recognizes their expertise in various areas, including land use, real estate investment trusts (REITs), restructuring, and construction. The featured attorneys and their recognized practice areas are:

• Paul Kitziger: Real Estate Transactions, Construction, Finance
• David Weiner: Real Estate Leasing, Sales, Finance

Liskow is pleased to congratulate Ryan Christiansen on being selected to New Orleans CityBusiness’ Leadership in Law Class of 2024. Ryan is recognized for his outstanding legal practice, commitment to the firm, and contributions to the community and profession.

Ryan helps corporate clients in the areas of commercial real estate, banking and financing, construction, negotiated acquisitions, and commercial transactions. He represents a wide range of clients on a number of matters. Ryan is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the premier organization of U.S. real estate attorneys, and he is recognized by The Best Lawyers America for his real estate practice and banking and finance practice.

Honorees will be celebrated on Oct. 7 at the New Orleans Museum of Art from 4 to 6 p.m. A Leadership in Law insert profiling all honorees will run in the Oct. 18 issue of CityBusiness.

Liskow is pleased to announce that 118 lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® (BL Rankings). 7 of these lawyers are listed as the “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas. Only one attorney in each practice area and designated metropolitan area receives this recognition.

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

• George Arceneaux – Litigation – Environmental (Lafayette)
• James Brown – Litigation – Trusts and Estates (New Orleans)
• Greg Johnson – Environmental Law (New Orleans)
• James Mansfield – Energy Law (Lafayette)
• Thomas McGoey – Employment Law – Management (New Orleans)
• Jerome Reso – Nonprofit / Charities Law (New Orleans)
• John Rouchell – Elder Law (New Orleans)

Those recognized as Best Lawyers^® Award Recipients include:

• Donald Abaunza – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Commercial Litigation, and Energy Law
• Neil Abramson – Litigation – Environmental, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Marguerite Adams – Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates
• Paul Adkins – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
• John Almy – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Alec Andrade – Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Robert Angelico – Tax Law
• Vanessa Anseman – Energy Law
• George Arceneaux – Litigation – Environmental and Oil and Gas Law
• Erin Bambrick – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
• Kelly Becker – Appellate Practice, Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
• Clare Bienvenu – Environmental Law
• Nora Bilbro – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• James Breaux – Real Estate 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 – Energy Law and Litigation – Environmental
• Lou Buatt – Environmental Law
• Brittan Bush – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
• Brian Capell – Energy Law and Energy Regulatory Law
• Michael Cash – Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Hunter Chauvin – Energy Law
• Julie Chauvin – Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Ryan Christiansen – Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law
• Sheri Corales – Commercial Litigation
• George Denegre – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Securities
• Melanie Derefinko – Commercial Litigation
• Thomas Diaz – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Billy Domingue – Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate Law
• Kathleen Doody – Banking and Finance Law, Energy Law, and Oil and Gas Law
• Jonathan Fox – Energy Law and Litigation – Environmental
• Joseph Giglio – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law
• Michael Golemi – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Kathryn Gonski – Energy Law
• Jana Grauberger – Energy Law
• Joseph Hebert – Energy Regulatory Law
• Shannon Holtzman – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction
• Keith Jarrett – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Brian Johnson – Real Estate Law
• Greg Johnson – Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental
• Matt Jones – Energy Law
• Philip Jones – 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
• Caroline Lafourcade – Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• James Lapeze – Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
• Mark Latham – Admiralty and Maritime Law, Environmental Law, and Litigation – Environmental
• Amy 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, Energy Regulatory Law, and Litigation – Environmental
• Marilyn Maloney – Banking and Finance Law, Energy Law, and Real Estate Law
• James Mansfield- Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, and Litigation – Environmental
• Thomas McGoey – 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 – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 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
• LuLu Reisman – Commercial Litigation
• David Reisman – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Jerome Reso – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• Trey Reymond – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Jamie Rhymes – Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Oil and Gas Law
• Leon Rittenberg – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 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
• Kelly Scalise – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Stephen Schott – Litigation – Real Estate and Real Estate Law
• Bill Schwartz – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Scott Seiler – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Alma Shields – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Lawrence Simon – Natural Resources Law and Oil and Gas Law
• Matthew Simone – Energy Law
• Cherrell Taplin – Energy Law
• Tyler Trew – Commercial Litigation
• Court VanTassell – Environmental Law
• Raymond Waid – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• David Weiner – Real Estate Law
• Elizabeth Wheeler – Energy Law
• Jill Willhoft – Admiralty and Maritime Law and Commercial Litigation
• Charles Wilmore – Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• John Wilson – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Environmental
• Joseph Wilson – Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates
• Brett Wise – Admiralty and Maritime Law

Those named to 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America include:

• Alex Baynham – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Zachary Berryman – Litigation – Environmental
• Lance Bullock – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Transportation Law
• Melanie Cruthirds – Commercial Litigation
• Hunter Curtis – Energy Law and Litigation – Environmental
• Mark Deethardt – Energy Law
• Ellen George – Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation
• Rebecca Guidry – Energy Law
• Joe Heaton – Energy Law
• Jackie Hickman – Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Randee Iles – Energy Law
• Michael Ishee – Energy Law
• Gus Laggner – Litigation – Environmental and Oil and Gas Law
• Hayley Landry – Energy Law
• Caleb Madere – Energy Law
• Elizabeth McIntosh – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Transportation Law
• C.J. Miller – Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate Law
• Michael Mims – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Nicholas Mole – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Trinity Morale – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Jared Nelson – Energy Law and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Colin North – Energy Law and Environmental Law
• John Parker – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Benjamin Parks – Energy Law
• Jonas Patzwall – Energy Law
• Denice Robinette – Environmental Law
• Michael Schimpf – Energy Law
• Jessie Shifalo – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Nicholas Simon – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Cristian Soler – Energy Law and Litigation – Environmental
• Amy Tomlinson – Energy Law
• John Troutman – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Cecilia Vazquez – Energy Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Transportation Law
• Emily Von Qualen – Administrative / Regulatory Law and Energy Law

Liskow is proud to announce that James A. Brown has been elected President of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel (LADC). The LADC, one of the largest defense-lawyer organizations in the United States, promotes the interests of the Louisiana defense bar and serves over 1,000 members. Recognized by the Defense Research Institute as an outstanding defense organization, the LADC continues to set a high standard in legal defense advocacy.

James is the immediate past Chair of the Louisiana State Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and currently Chairs the College’s national Task Force on Mental Health Awareness. His extensive leadership experience includes serving as a past Chair of the American Bar Association Presidential Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability, a position appointed by the President of the ABA. He has contributed significantly to the ABA National Legal Malpractice Conference, which attracts hundreds of leading attorneys and insurance industry professionals nationwide. Within Liskow, James has held multiple terms on the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee, and as Chair of the Commercial Litigation Section. He now serves as the firm’s General Counsel and Loss Prevention Partner.

A seasoned trial lawyer, James handles complex litigation and trials throughout Louisiana and the U.S. His practice areas include banking, contract, and professional liability disputes, class action defense, and insurance coverage litigation. Additionally, he provides crisis management advice to clients. Over his four-decade career, James has represented national and international businesses, financial institutions, national legal malpractice carriers, and law and accounting firms, successfully trying high-stakes cases in both state and federal courts.

Reflecting on his new role, James shared, “I am privileged to serve as President of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel for the 2024-25 year. For over 60 years, LADC has been a leading voice and advocate for the defense bar in Louisiana. We provide a broad array of resources to our 1,000-plus members, including high impact publications and programming, advocacy of our members’ interests before the Louisiana legislature and through filing of amicus briefs in select cases pending before the Louisiana Supreme Court, and many other services. We also provide numerous leadership and development opportunities for young lawyers. I strongly encourage all members of the defense bar to consider joining our membership.”

Liskow is pleased to announce that the firm has been recommended in the 2024 Legal 500 United States guide for Industry focus – Transport: Shipping – Litigation and Regulation. Only 13 law firms were ranked in this area in the United States.

“Liskow’s maritime practice group is well known for its representation of oil and gas company clients in large offshore incidents. The practice also covers inland and ocean carriers, as well as the full range of maritime litigation across the US. Among the firm’s several active practitioners, salvage and wreck removal lawyer David Reisman ‘gives sound advice and excellent client care’; Keith Jarrett acts for oil majors in large maritime cases in the Gulf of Mexico; and Raymond Waid’s recent experience includes being first chair trial counsel in maritime litigation in New York, Maine, Maryland, Florida, Texas, Washington, Louisiana, and Panama. Michael Golemi in Houston is an expert in mass barge breakaway cases; Thomas Diaz is a go-to maritime lawyer for the oil and gas industry; and Jill Willhoft represents family-owned vessel operators in south Louisiana,” says The Legal 500.

Elizabeth McIntosh, Jessie Shifalo, and Elizabeth Strunk were also listed as key lawyers on the maritime team.

“There is always coverage within the team day or night, and no matter the time zone.”

“Clients appreciate that when they have a question, there is always someone to respond.”

Client Testimonial

About The Legal 500

The Legal 500 analyzes the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research program revised and updated every year to bring the most up-to-date vision of the global legal market. The Legal 500 assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions highlighting the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel. The research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers, and a team of experienced researchers.