Demarcus J. Gordon

BIOGRAPHY

Demarcus Gordon is a partner in the Oil and Gas/Energy and Environmental Litigation sections and specializes in litigation involving the oil and gas industry. He has experience representing clients in cases involving premises liability and personal injury, particularly in cases involving chemical exposures such as asbestos, benzene, or naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Mr. Gordon also defends oil and gas exploration and production companies in legacy litigation by landowners and public entities alleging environmental damage.

Mr. Gordon is skilled in developing litigation and trial plans, identifying key expert and fact witnesses, and preparing them for deposition and trial testimony. He often handles cases that may go to trial. Additionally, Mr. Gordon has experience responding to crisis situations, where he has collected initial witness statements, identified potential hazards, collected and preserved evidence, communicated with regulatory agencies, and implemented damage control measures.

Mr. Gordon earned his J.D. from St. Louis University in 1997 and his B.S. from the University of Illinois in 1991.

EXPERIENCE AND HIGHLIGHTS

• Served as lead counsel in lawsuits involving environmental damage to real property and personal injuries, including mass tort, toxic tort, and alleged chemical exposures
• Representation of companies in case management and complete work-up of defense claims involving both living plaintiffs and wrongful death and survival claims brought by families of deceased contractors, employees, or family members who allegedly died as a result of exposures to asbestos-containing products
• Representation of multiple clients with respect to notices of violations of environmental laws asserted by LDEQ, LDNR, and Louisiana State Police
• Representation of oil and gas company in the immediate response to an ongoing investigation by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard due to an offshore platform blow out and fire
• Defense of former gas plant owners in suits alleging damage from historic operations and alleged pollution
• Defense of Louisiana Department of Natural Resources enforcement actions directed at alleged regulatory violations
• Assistance with environmental due diligence in corporate and property transactions
• Defense of legacy oil field contamination lawsuits involving alleged property damages related to oil and gas operations
• Defended Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality enforcement actions directed at alleged clean air and water violations
• Defense of environmental personal injury and property matters concerning oilfield pipe cleaning operations in Louisiana
• Representation of multiple clients with respect to notices of violations

REPRESENTED REPORTED CASES:

• Kinder Gas, Inc. v. Reynolds, 2012 WL 280668 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/1/12) (No. 11-1012)
• Lexington Ins. Co. v. Sewerage & Water Bd. of New Orleans, 2010 WL 4366430 (E.D. La. 2010)
• Minvielle, LLC v. Atlantic Refining Co., 2007 WL 2668715 (W.D. La. 2007)

AFFILIATIONS

• American Bar Association
• Louisiana State Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• LSU Mineral Law Institute Advisory Council
• Defense Research Institute
• Kelly Hart & Hallman, Diversity Committee Co-Chair
• Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation (GNOSF), Board of Directors
• Professional Landmen’s Association of New Orleans (PLANO)

HONORS

• Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News & World Report, 2022-2025
  • Energy Law
  • Litigation – Environmental
• Louisiana Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025
• Av Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Leadership in Law Honoree, New Orleans CityBusiness, 2017
• Benchmark Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – Future Star, 2014

EDUCATION

• St. Louis University, J.D., 1997
• University of Illinois, B.S., 1991

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Illinois, 1999
• State Bar of Louisiana, 2003

SPEECHES & PUBLICATIONS

• Featured Speaker, Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board’s Continuing Legal Education Series Seminar, “Crisis Management in the Age of Social Media: Litigating Your Case Before the Public and the Jury,” September 2017
• “Will The Proposed Legislative Changes Reign in Legacy Lawsuits and Bring Energy Development Back to Louisiana?” Gordon Arata “Drill Deeper” Blog, April 2014
• “Louisiana Supreme Court Upholds Subsequent Purchaser Doctrine,” LOGA 2012