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.