future-focused

Practices

As we react in the immediate aftermath of an explosion, we are already creating the strategy and analyzing the long-term risks. Known for achieving the best possible outcomes, Liskow brings trusted relationships with the regulatory authorities and almost 100 years of blowouts experience to ensure optimal recovery for our clients.

Overview

For operators, an explosion can be catastrophic, leaving you to fend off numerous claims from insurers, landowners and partners, or face investigations by state and federal authorities. From hotly contested jury trials to hostile forums, we’ve negotiated settlements, defeated injunctions, and won multi-million-dollar verdicts on behalf of our clients. This is because our lawyers understand all the components of exploration and production projects and the nuances of these cases: the policies, tools and techniques, as well as the major players, experts and the opposing counsel. And they know us.

A language that isn’t foreign to us

We know the industry and speak its language. Over many decades, drilling operations have become second nature to us: with an unmatched technical comprehension, our litigators could design a well casing program or analyze micropaleontological and 3D seismic data. When we look at your case, chances are, we’ve seen it before. We know the oil patch better than most, and we know exactly what the insurance policy says.

Expect experience-based intuition

Beyond making the right call, our clients quickly realize that we possess an uncanny intuition for knowing the right questions to ask a witness, finding the compelling words for a judge on a particular day, or knowing that a better settlement exists beyond the seemingly final offer. This intuition is based on our deep experience dealing with expert witnesses, insurance policies and scientific data, day in and day out. In other words, we’ve been doing it so long, it’s our natural instinct.

Count on surpassed expectations

Our clients know to expect clarity and an immediate understanding of their issues from their Liskow team. By the end of our first conversation, we have a plan. We look at the risks and benefits of each step, ensuring that they align with our client’s overall strategy and then create a powerful narrative.

You should also expect collegiality, which is a core value of our culture: we like, respect and trust one another. We accommodate each other’s individual working style but share a client-first work ethic. This is how Liskow works, and this is what makes our teams cohesive – and rigorously responsive. And we continue to hone our skills and perfect our craft. With an open-door and open-file policy, our undivided focus is on you.

No claim left behind

In the end, an explosion may destabilize your capital structure, with far-reaching implications extending far beyond damage control. There are many moving parts in a well – from high temperatures and volatility to immense pressure. Our goal is to take the pressure off you by responding immediately and intelligently, and getting you the best possible result. What’s more, once the fire is out, operators may still have well control insurance claims they can bring against their insurers. This is another time when clients turn to Liskow because our lawyers have extensive experience negotiating and trying these cases successfully.

Notable Experience

  • Liskow is often the first call when something goes wrong for a well operator, whether it’s a land-based rig or a deep-water operation.
    We represent major and independent oil companies in drilling and completion accidents, well blowouts, reservoir damage, pipeline accidents, and other oilfield tort claims.
  • Because we are fast on our feet in responding to a catastrophe, we are often trusted to proceed on a first-name basis with regulatory agencies. Our willingness to always cooperate to resolve the problem – and help by preserving the evidence – is broadly known in the industry.
  • We have vast experience handling marine, offshore and onshore personal injury claims, oilfield property damage incidents, casualty investigations, vessel collisions, pipeline ruptures, vessel limitation of liability actions, environmental spill claims and shipyard disputes.
  • Outside of oil and gas, our capabilities extend to refining, utilities, product liability cases and more – where our deep understanding of engineering makes all the difference for our clients.
Liskow & Lewis is a go-to firm in the area. The firm does a really good job of managing both docket and expenses. They choose the right people for matters.
2022 Chambers and Partners
Energy & Natural Resources, Band 1
Our Team

INSIGHTS