Burleson LLP Opens New Orleans Office, Extending Reach Across Gulf Coast And Expanding Litigation Services To Offshore Areas

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Oct 21, 2014, 05:05 ET

HOUSTON, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Burleson LLP has further strengthened its litigation practice with the opening of an office in New Orleans, headed by veteran litigator Mark L. Clark, that will extend the firm's reach across the Gulf Coast and broaden its capabilities in the offshore environment.

Mark L. Clark, partner in charge in New Orleans

Clark, who has more than 20 years of experience in complex litigation, will serve as partner in charge in New Orleans and head a new Offshore, Energy, and Marine Practice Group. He has deep experience and a broad background in a range of energy exploration and development matters in both onshore and offshore settings, and will also focus on self-insured tort, products, maritime, environmental, personal injury, insurance coverage, and breach of contract claims.

In addition to his extensive experience in state and federal litigation, Clark has been involved in arbitrating domestic and international matters in a variety of disputes, including construction, maritime contract claims, and insurance coverage issues.

Clark is a proven leader who understands how to successfully develop and direct a law office, having served eight years as managing shareholder of the New Orleans office of a widely known litigation firm. During that time, he opened the location and led a team of litigators through hundreds of claims, securing successful resolutions on behalf of an array of clients.

Joining Clark as a partner in New Orleans will be Lisa Africk. She will focus her practice on complex litigation involving maritime law and related coverage issues.

Africk spent many years in a practice heavily focused on litigation with concentrations in maritime, transportation, and construction law. She represents professionals, including engineers and architects, as well as officers and directors in both the maritime and the oil and gas support services fields.

Africk is well established in the New Orleans legal community and is experienced in a number of arenas, including personal injury and fatality cases with complex maritime and coverage issues. She serves several clients who require day-to-day legal advice, support, or action, regularly working on issues related to employment, contracts, business, strategy, and marketing.

Rick Burleson, managing partner of the Houston-based energy law firm, explained that the move to New Orleans was consistent with Burleson's ongoing growth strategy.

"We have built a strong litigation practice that serves oil and gas clients with interests in all the major onshore producing areas in North America," he said. "We will now be able to handle a more diverse range of client needs in offshore matters while at the same time expanding our services in other areas. This complements our existing oilfield litigation practices in all the major producing regions across the country where we have offices."

Clark, who is licensed in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, agreed.

"Burleson has had a traditional strength in matters related to onshore energy development," he said. "But now we can manage just about anything that occurs in the offshore environment as well. And a strategic location in New Orleans gives us a footprint throughout the Gulf region, which underscores the firm's commitment to being wherever oil and gas companies have a presence."

Added Africk, "To effectively serve the energy industry, you have to be where oil and gas companies are, and you need to have the diverse skills and capabilities they are demanding with ever increasing frequency. Burleson is clearly dedicated to these principles, and I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of – and contribute to – the firm's continued expansion."

Clark earned his undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and his J.D. from the South Texas College of Law. Africk earned her undergraduate degree and Master of Social Work from Tulane University and her J.D. from the Tulane Law School.

About Burleson LLP
Burleson LLP is a full-service law firm devoted primarily to the oil and gas industry. Burleson has a presence in every major North American onshore and offshore producing region – with unique experience in shale plays – and serves clients in the upstream, downstream, and midstream sectors. Many of the firm's attorneys have worked in the energy industry, including backgrounds as corporate general counsel, enabling Burleson to bring extensive understanding, knowledge, and insight to the companies and individuals it serves. With deep roots in oil and gas, complemented by broad-based corporate capabilities and mid-market rates, Burleson LLP is truly the law firm where energy matters. For further information, visit www.burlesonllp.com.

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SOURCE Burleson LLP