Liskow is proud to announce that the Federal Bar Association – New Orleans Chapter is recognizing James A. Brown with the John R. “Jack” Martzell Professionalism Award. The award is presented annually to honor an attorney who best exemplifies outstanding professionalism in the practice of law.
James’s distinguished legal career, longstanding leadership within the firm and the broader legal community, and sustained commitment to the highest standards of the profession exemplify the professionalism, judgment, and integrity recognized by the Professionalism Award.
James is an experienced trial lawyer handling complex litigation in state and federal courts across Louisiana and the U.S. His practice focuses on banking, contract, and professional liability disputes, class action defense, and insurance coverage litigation, alongside his work advising clients on crisis management matters. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, James maintains a national reputation in key areas including corporate disputes, antitrust, and trusts and estates litigation. Throughout a career spanning more than four decades, he has represented national and international businesses, financial institutions, and major law and accounting firms in high-stakes cases characterized by their size, complexity, and large exposure.
At Liskow, James has held multiple leadership roles, including service on the firm’s Board of Directors and as Chair of the Commercial Litigation Section. He currently serves as the firm’s General Counsel and Loss Prevention Partner, and he leads the Professional Liability Group.
James’s commitment to the legal profession extends well beyond Liskow and the courtroom. He is the immediate past President of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, where he served as Chair of the Louisiana State Committee, currently chairs the College’s National Committee on Mental Health Awareness, and serves on the Podcast Committee. He has also served for more than three decades as an adjunct professor in Torts and Trial Advocacy at Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center and has co-chaired the Louisiana State Bar Association’s “P’s and Q’s” Ethics and Professionalism Program since 2004. His broader professional and civic leadership includes service as past Chair of the American Bar Association Presidential Standing Committee on Lawyers’ Professional Liability, chairing the U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel by appointment of the Chief Judge of the Federal Court, and serving on the New Orleans Ethics Review Board by mayoral appointment, including terms as Vice Chair and Chair.
James will receive the award at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting on August 17, 2026.