An accomplished trial lawyer with more than 40 years of consistent and proven success, Mark has vast experience in all aspects of commercial and complex litigation, environmental and toxic tort litigation, and energy and maritime litigation.
As Counsel in the New Orleans office, Mark advises clients throughout the Gulf Coast region, including the energy, oil and gas, stevedoring and construction industries. Mark has held numerous leadership roles at the firm, including serving four terms as a member of the Executive Committee, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Practice Group Leader, and Strategic Planning Committee Member.
Mark’s career has been defined by significant achievements, handling corporate matters and obtaining successful trial verdicts and outcomes in maritime, casualty and commercial litigation in the offshore and onshore energy industry.
Mark frequently lectures on maritime law and offshore/oil field liabilities at professional and industry seminars, including the International Association of Drilling Contractors Contracts & Risk Management Conference. He has also been a regular speaker at IRMI's Construction Risk Conference since 1984 and its Energy Conference since its inception, and has co-authored several articles on maritime law for their “Risk Report.”
When Mark is not in the office advising clients, he enjoys being with his family and following the interests and activities of his children and grandchildren, doing charitable and community work, and playing golf.
Education
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Community Involvement
Mark is deeply involved in his community, currently serving as an Advisory Board Member for Tulane University's Center for Energy Law. Throughout his career, Mark has also been appointed to, and served on, numerous local advisory bodies and leadership positions in the following capacities: as the 2022-23 Board Chair of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, including 10 years as a board member, chairman of the Archbishop's Community Appeal in 2010, and current Core Committee Member; as a member of the Executive Committee and Super-Region Committee for GNO, Inc; as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce, where he also served as General Counsel; as a member of the Board of Directors for East Jefferson Hospital Foundation; as a former Steering Committee Member of the New Orleans Peace Project; and as Co-Chair of the Christian Brothers School's Capital Campaign.
Within the legal profession, Mark has served as a member of the New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, as a Proctor Member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States, and as a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association.
Areas of Practice
Acknowledgements
Mark is the recipient of countless awards and recognitions, including being listed in Best Lawyers®, Chambers USA, Louisiana SuperLawyers®, and being AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Additionally, Mark was honored with the "Words of Wisdom" Speakers Award presented by the International Risk Management Institute, Inc. in 2007, and named among the New Orleans CityBusiness "Leadership in Law," Class of 2009.
Professional Affiliations & Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans — Chairman of Board of Directors, 2022-23; Board of Directors Member, 2014-23; Chairman of Archbishop's Community Appeal, 2010, and current Core Committee Member
- Bar Association of the 5th Federal Circuit
- Christian Brothers School, 2010 Capital Campaign Co-Chair
- East Jefferson Hospital Foundation, Former Board of Directors Member
- GNO Inc.— Former Secretary, Board of Directors Member, Executive Committee Member, BRAC Super-Region Committee Member and Coalition for Coastal Resilience and Economy Member
- Jefferson Business Council, Former Board Member
- Jefferson Parish Chamber of Commerce-Former General Counsel, Board of Directors Member and Executive Committee Member
- Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel
- Louisiana State Bar Association
- Maritime Law Association of the United States Proctor Member and Former Chairman of Legislation Committee
- New Orleans Bar Association
- New Orleans Peace Project, Former Steering Committee Member
- Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Association
- Tulane University’s Center for Energy Law, Advisory Board Member
Related Knowledge
News
- Representation of the States of Texas and Oklahoma in successful recovery of damages to rebuild a bridge struck by a towing vessel with barges.
- Successful defense of a Spanish shipbuilding company in connection with a collision on the Mississippi River.
- Defense and management of exposures of a company in various lawsuits alleging maritime exposure to asbestos.