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Practices

Accidents in the workplace and elsewhere are unfortunate occurrences, and investigations or litigation arising from those incidents can be challenging for companies and individuals alike. Liskow’s depth of experience in handling complex personal injury, wrongful death, and property damage matters for over 40 years allows our clients to effectively and efficiently assess and mitigate exposure when those events arise.

Overview

Liskow’s maritime and oilfield casualty practice group includes over twenty lawyers across the firm’s four offices in New Orleans, Lafayette, Houston, and Baton Rouge. It is today one of the ten largest maritime groups in the country handling a wide range of marine incidents occurring offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and on the inland waterways of the United States. The group’s maritime specialists have in-depth knowledge of all aspects of maritime law, whether arising from the Jones Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (“OCSLA”), the Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act (“LHWCA”), the Death on the High Seas Act (“DOHSA”), or the General Maritime Law. 

Early Response and Assessment

We stress to clients the importance of early investigation and situational control. Our casualty and environmental lawyers are on-call twenty-four hours a day to promptly and effectively investigate any unforeseen incidents. Some of the benefits of the firm’s early involvement in the investigation of an incident are to provide prompt advice on regulatory reporting and investigations, assessment of civil and regulatory exposure, and guidance on insurance coverage and contractual rights, which often mitigates a client’s civil exposure. Our maritime and regulatory attorneys are currently integrated with the Emergency Response Teams of multiple national and international clients and are prepared to mobilize immediately after an incident arises.

Maritime Industry Experience

Liskow’s maritime practice group is unique in having multiple attorneys with marine industry experience. Four members of the group navigated vessels across the globe before joining the firm. Another brings unique casualty experience and capabilities based on his ten years of experience as general counsel for an international offshore construction and salvage company. 

Maritime Trial Experience

In the event early assessment and negotiations cannot resolve a maritime dispute, clients can rely on Liskow’s active and diverse trial practice to protect their rights through verdict and appeal. In the past four years alone, the maritime practice group has taken six cases to trial, each involving quite different aspects of the maritime industry, from maritime liens on Offshore Supply Vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico to a vessel allision on an inland waterway resulting in the flooding of a town. In a particularly notable success following a two-week trial, the Fifth Circuit recently affirmed a $22 million award in favor of a firm client arising from the fault of three vessels meeting at a bend on the Mississippi River, which can be viewed here: ARIS T Multiple Dock Collisions – YouTube

Notable Representations

Liskow is fortunate to enjoy a national reputation as a go-to firm for significant marine and oilfield casualties and resulting litigation. Our practice group has handled many recent large scale personal injury and wrongful death accidents including the DEEPWATER HORIZON explosion and oil spill (2010)(which are still ongoing), the GOLDEN RAY capsizing (2019), and the SEACOR POWER sinking (2021) as well as less well-known but no less significant barge sinkings on the Mississippi River, chartered drillships impacted by weather systems in the Gulf of Mexico, and vessel allisions on inland waterways and bays.    

Client Assessments

The firm takes great pride in satisfying our clients’ needs, and the following are a few client comments that we were thankful to receive:

  • “Liskow & Lewis is my go-to firm for admiralty and maritime matters, including litigation, contracts and regulatory issues. They are knowledgeable and greatly respected by the bench and bar. They get fantastic results in a cost-effective manner, and they never lose their focus on the client.”
  • “Liskow & Lewis is a very experienced firm in the area of offshore personal injury litigation including Jones Act and maritime law. They are very aware of anti-indemnity contract issues involving Louisiana and Texas law as related to insurance issues and contract structure.”
  • “Liskow & Lewis has deep knowledge, goes above and beyond to meet the client’s needs, and is cost-effective.”
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