Crawford Lewis partner Michael T. Durham recently made a presentation at the 33rd Annual World Energy Engineering Congress in Washington, D.C., on December 8-10, 2010. At the conference, Michael presented "Counsel's Role in Sustainable Solutions: Pay Now or Pay Later," one of several presentations made by experts in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry. A copy of the article that formed the basis of the presentation can be downloaded here.

Crawford Lewis attorneys Michael Durham, James Lewis and Donnie Cunningham prevailed in litigation on behalf of the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (the "LCDA") and the City of St. Gabriel against multiple corporate taxpayers protesting the validity of a municipal bond issue by the LCDA on behalf of the City of St. Gabriel, as well as the legality of the underlying sales and use tax supporting the bond issuance. The case cumulated over fifteen years of litigation between the City of St. Gabriel and the corporate taxpayers concerning the validity of the sales and use tax. Following trial on the validity of the bond issuance, both parties appealed the ruling of the trial court. The Louisiana Court of Appeal, First Circuit, ruled that the proposed bond issuance was legal and valid, as was the underlying sales taxsupporting the sales and use tax.Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority v. All Taxpayers, et al., No. 11-0027 (La. App. 1 Cir. 02/02/11), 56 So 3d 1194, writ denied.

Lisa E. Maurer, a partner at Crawford Lewis that specializes in Public Finance was recently named by Best Lawyers as one of the Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Public Finance Law for 2011. This is the seventh consecutive year that Lisa has received this honor. During her twenty-two (22) years of practice, Lisa has participated in a wide range of complex public finance transactions, including general obligations bonds, revenue bonds, single family and multi-family transactions, complex special assessment bonds and natural gas prepay transactions.

On October 8, 2010, Scott Crawford was a speaker at the Louisiana City Attorneys Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. A copy of Scott's presentation materials may be downloaded here.

The Young Lawyers Section is composed of members of the association who are 36 years of age or younger or have been lawyers for five years or less and is dedicated to service to the bar and young lawyers in particular, the profession in general, and the community.

Crawford Lewis is pleased to announce that Judson G. Banks and Adam D. deMahy have been named partners in the firm. Crawford lewis is also pleased to announce that Jodi Bauer has joined the firm as an associate.

Crawford Lewis is pleased to announce that Cathy Giering, a partner in its Baton Rouge office, has been named a member of the Forty under 40 by the Baton Rouge Business Report. This honor shows the Baton Rouge community what we have known at Crawford Lewis for some time...Cathy is shining star at work and in the community.

On April 23, 2009, Scott Crawford was a speaker at the Louisiana Mid-Sized Cities Mayor's Conference in New Iberia, Louisiana on Economic Development Incentives for Public Finance. You may download a copy of the presentation here.