future-focused

Practices

Assistant

Paige Guillotte

504.556.4065

“In addition to hiring a good lawyer who will fight for them, I understand that many clients are looking for their lawyer to be creative in seeking economic, business-oriented solutions to their cases. I see myself as a lawyer/business partner, always mindful of the business nature of my relationships with clients.”

Overview

Neil Abramson is a registered Louisiana Lobbyist and an environmental litigator. He advocates on behalf of energy and environmental companies in legislative matters, including policies that promote increased economic growth and industrial development. Neil has recently worked with clients on policies involving renewable matters including carbon capture projects. Neil draws on his experience as the State Representative for the 98th District of Louisiana for 12 years as well as his involvement with the House Ways & Means Committee, the House Civil Law Committee, the Louisiana Commerce and Industry Board, and the Louisiana Law Institute Civil Procedure Committee.

Neil’s environmental experience includes representing businesses in difficult cases involving toxic torts, class action litigation, insurance coverage and defense litigation, maritime personal injury, and products liability. His clients are often chemical manufacturers facing high-stakes class action cases involving the release of chemicals.

Companies in the manufacturing, energy and product sectors rely on Neil. For example, he regularly defends petroleum companies, chemical manufacturers and product developers in personal injury and property damage claims, including short term toxic exposures, long term occupational chemical exposures and product liability claims and has also counseled and represented clients regarding indemnity and insurance coverage matters.

In the indemnity and insurance-related portion of his practice, Neil has represented small and large businesses both in defense of and in prosecution of claims involving defense, indemnity and insurance relating to both personal injury and property damages cases. He has also represented domestic and foreign insurance companies both in defense of and on coverage issues relating to personal injury and property damages.

Talks about

#governmentrelations #louisianalegislation #energyindustry #legislativeadvocacy #classactions

Highlights

News

Neil helped pass legislation supporting carbon capture initiatives in Louisiana. Neil has also assisted clients with building local community support for CCS projects, including the creation of what may be the first environmental justice program in the CCS space.

Experience

Neil served as the State Representative for New Orleans (2008 to 2020)

Client Comment

“Neil Abramson, in particular, of Liskow & Lewis did an outstanding job representing us, with excellent local expertise in the law, courts, judiciary, and legal landscape. We will definitely use him again.” – Best Lawyers Client Comment, 2022

Notable Experience

  • A chemical manufacturer was facing a class action certification in Louisiana state court in a chemical release case. Neil helped get the case removed to federal court, where he whittled down the claim through motion practice. Eventually, the class certification was defeated, and that lawsuit was withdrawn by the plaintiff.

Toxic Tort Litigation and Class Actions

  • Chemical manufacturing companies in defense of class action cases involving the release of various chemicals. These incidents generally result in thousands of individual claims for personal injury, property damage, business interruption and inconvenience.
  • A petroleum company in defense of tort and maritime personal injury and property damage claims, including long-term, occupational chemical exposures. Also provided counseling on oilfield indemnity and insurance coverage matters.
  • Insurance company in defense of a statewide class action by policyholders asserting breach of contract, detrimental reliance and unjust enrichment claims.
  • A railroad company in defense of three class action cases involving claims for personal injury, property damage, business interruption, inconvenience and environmental damage. The first case involved potential claims by 20,000 individuals and businesses arising out of the derailment of a train containing hazardous material. The second case involved claims by a nationwide group of employees for alleged chemical exposure in the workplace. The third case involved claims for alleged exposure to hazardous substances by residents living near a soil-blending facility on railroad property.
  • Chemical manufacturer for toxic tort, class action, occupational exposure, and asbestos cases.
  • Dock and terminal owner in defense of two class action cases arising out of separate releases of crude oil fumes. These cases involve several thousand individual claims for personal injury, property damage and inconvenience.
  • Oil and gas companies in legacy suits involving claims of property and groundwater contamination.
    Insurance companies – ¬domestic and foreign –¬ in defense of Hurricane Katrina claims, including issues involving the water damage exclusion, Valued Policy Law (VPL) and adjustment practices.
  • Insurance company in defense of a suit by a Louisiana legislatively-created body asserting claims for breach of statutory obligations and fraud.

Personal Injury / Property Damage

  • Nationwide retailer in defense of personal injury and property damage claims in the State of Louisiana.
  • Insurance companies in defense of direct action claims by plaintiffs asserting coverage for property damage and personal injury claims involving residential and commercial construction, including defective design allegations and water and mold damage.
  • Recreational watercraft manufacturer in defense of maritime personal injury and products liability claims. Neil also represents the company in defense of claims for rescission of sale and property damage.
  • Dock and vessel owner in defense of maritime personal injury and property damage claims.
  • Vessel operators in defense of maritime personal injury and property damage claims.
  • Office products manufacturer in defense of product liability/personal injury claims involving allegations of manufacturing defects and failure to warn.
  • Professional hockey team, in defense of personal injury and premises liability claims.
  • Corporate owner of local restaurant franchise on matters involving personal injury, property damage, insurance coverage, and contract counseling.
  • International product manufacturers in product liability litigation involving serious personal injuries.

Involvement

Professional

  • State Representative for District 98
    • House Ways & Means Committee, Current Chairman
    • House Civil Law Committee, Former Chairman
    • Louisiana Hurricane Recovery Committee, Original Chairman
    • Louisiana Legislative Audit Advisory Council, Former member
    • Hurricane Katrina Memorial Committee, Former Member, 2008-2020
  • Louisiana State Bar Association, Member
  • New Orleans Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Toxic Tort and Environmental Law Committee
  • Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, Member
  • Louisiana State Law Institute, Legislative Appointment by Speaker of the House, 2012-2016
  • Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel, Member

Community

  • World Trade Center of New Orleans, Former Member
  • Fleur de Lis Ambassador for the City of New Orleans, Former
  • Unity of Greater New Orleans
  • Board Member of YMCA Camp Coniston

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2021-2024
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Environmental, 2024
  • New Orleans Magazine’s List of “Top Lawyers,” 2015-2016, 2019
  • Louisiana Super Lawyers, 2013-2015

Credentials

Education

  • Louisiana State University, Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D., 1992)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Louisiana Law Review, Editor-in-Chief
  • Dartmouth College (B.A., 1989)

Bar Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1992

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District, Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District, Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Western District, Louisiana
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit

Clerkships

  • Served as a Law Clerk for The Honorable Frank J. Polozola, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Presentations

  • "Navigating the Regulatory and Legislative Maze of CCS in Texas and Louisiana," Liskow's Energy Law Seminar, October 26, 2023, Houston, TX
  • “Second Annual State Court Summary Judgment Practice – Risks and Opportunities CLE,” New Orleans Bar Association, October 12, 2023
  • “State Court Summary Judgment Practice – Risks and Opportunities CLE,” New Orleans Bar Association, September 23, 2022
  • “Summary Judgments – The New Article 966,” LSBA “Motions” CLE, New Orleans, December 5, 2016
  • “Trends in Legislation: Selected Legislation for the Civil Practitioner,” CLE Legislative Legal Seminar, State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA, December 3-4, 2015
  • “Louisiana Legislature,” Continuing Legal Seminar State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA, December 6, 2013
  • “Legislative Updates,” Back to Basics: LSBA Annual Meeting and LSBA/LJC Joint Summer School, June 10, 2016
  • “Trends in Legislation and Recent Changes in Motion for Summary Judgement Practice,” Louisiana Association for Justice’s CLE a la Carte program, December 29, 2015
  • “Trends in Legislation: Summary Judgment Law,” Louisiana Association for Justice’s CLE a la Carte Seminar, Windsor Court Hotel, December 29-30, 2015
  • "Legacy Law Developments and Pending Legislation," Liskow & Lewis Oilfield Indemnity and Insurance Seminar, October 30, 2014, Houston, Texas
  • “Trends in Legislation,” Louisiana Judicial Annual Torts Seminar, December 13, 2013
  • “Legislative Preview,” Joint Session with Louisiana Judicial College and Representative John Bel Edwards, LADC Defense Lawyers’ Seminar, December 13, 2013
  • “Legislative Updates and Trends,” 21st JDC Bar Association CLE Event with Representative John Bel Edwards, December 13 & 14, 2013
  • “Trends in Legislation,” Louisiana Association for Justice’s CLE a la Carte Seminar, Windsor Court Hotel, December 27-28, 2012
  • “Selected Legislation from the 2012 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature,” Louisiana House of Representatives, December 7, 2012
  • “Selected Legislation for the Civil Practitioner,” CLE Legislative Legal Seminar, State Capitol, Baton Rouge, LA, December 6-7, 2012
  • “Trends in Legislation,” 21st Judicial District Court Bar Association CLE Event, New Orleans, LA, December 14, 2012
  • “Public Policy,” New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI), Wednesday, November 14, 2012
  • “Legislative Developments and Future Expectations,” Louisiana Lobbyist Association, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, November 12, 2012
  • “Opening Remarks and Legislative Developments,” American Tort Reform Association, Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, November 12, 2012
  • “Louisiana Legislature: Fiscal Issues, Geymann Rule, and The Budget,” Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, June 28, 2012
  • “Great Debate: Legislation - Yesterday's Developments & Tomorrows Trends,” LSBA Annual Meeting and LSBA/LJC Joint Summer School, June 8, 2012
  • Speaker at CLE Conference on Human Trafficking at Loyola University, New Orleans, LA, October 27, 2012
  • “Trends in Legislation,” Louisiana Association for Justice’s CLE a la Carte Seminar, Windsor Court Hotel, December 29, 2010
  • “Trends in Legislation,” Louisiana Association for Justice’s CLE a la Carte Seminar, Windsor Court Hotel, December 28-29, 2011
  • “Trends in Legislation,” Louisiana Association for Justice’s CLE a la Carte Seminar, Windsor Court Hotel, December 30, 2009
  • Speaker at New Orleans Bar Association's Annual Dog & Pony Show: Review of the 2009 Legislative Session, September 16, 2009

Publications

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