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J. Michael Fussell, Jr.

Mike Fussell is an experienced litigator at both the trial and appellate court levels with first chair trial experience. He has handled a diverse array of matters including commercial disputes and oil and gas issues. He also has an active practice protecting the interests of credit unions and banks.

Mr. Fussell earned his J.D. and Bachelor of Civil Law Studies from Louisiana State University Law School in 2005, and received his B.S. cum laude from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2001.  Mike is admitted in Louisiana, Texas and Wyoming.  Mike is an “AV-Preeminent” rated attorney by the venerable Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings for both ethical standards and legal ability. AV-Preeminent is the highest rating possible.

Mr. Fussell was also designated by Super Lawyers as recently as 2024 and was previously named to its Louisiana Rising Star list. Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. No more than 2.5% of the lawyers in Louisiana are named to the Rising Star list.

Mr. Fussell has been included multiple times in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Oil and Gas law.  Best Lawyers is the oldest peer-review publication service in the legal industry.  Their methodology is designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical and practice area.  Being listed signals not only legal expertise, but also ethics and professionalism of the highest caliber.

Acadiana Profile Magazine named Mr. Fussell as a top lawyer in the Acadiana area. Voting to determine the top attorneys for Acadiana Profile Magazine was open to all licensed attorneys in the Acadiana, Louisiana market area. Each attorney was asked which attorney, other than himself or herself, he or she would recommend in a given practice area. Mike was selected as a top lawyer in multiple practice areas.

Mr. Fussell is active in the community having won the prestigious Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana “Big Brother of the Year Award” in 2007. He also served as a Board Member for Children’s Shelters of Acadiana Youth, Inc.

Mr. Fussell previously served as a board member for the American Petroleum Institute’s Acadiana Chapter. He also served as a board member of the Lafayette Young Lawyers Association from 2009 – 2010.  He is a member of the Lafayette Association of Professional Landmen as well as the Lafayette Bar Association, the Louisiana State Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Montana State Bar, and the Wyoming State Bar.


Presentations

Presenter and co-author of The CPA as a Necessary Expert for Complex Oil & Gas Litigation (Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants Seminar, December 2017)

Co-Presenter of the “Multi-State Case Law Update” (HAPL 48th Annual Technical Workshop, April 2017)

Presenter and Co-Author of the “Oil & Gas Update” (Louisiana State University 63rd Annual Mineral Law Institute, March 2017)

Co-Presenter of the “Recent Developments in Louisiana Oil and Gas Law” (Seminar, August 2016)*

Co-Presenter of the “Recent Developments in Louisiana Oil and Gas Law” (Seminar, June 2016)*

Co-Presenter of the “Recent Developments in Louisiana Oil and Gas Law” (Association of Corporate Counsel Seminar, May 2016)

Speaker at the American Petroleum Institute panel discussion luncheon (API, Acadiana Chapter, May 2016)

Presenter and co-author of The Challenge of Change (National Association of Royalty Owners Louisiana Chapter, April 2015)

Co-Presenter of The 411 on Land, Lease and Title Issues: What Every Landman Should Know (Seminar, October 2014)*

Presenter and co-author of Handling Disputes Between Surface and Servitude Owners & Recent Developments (Lorman Education Services’ “Oil and Gas Rights in Louisiana” Seminar, September 2014)

Presenter and co-author of Two States Separated by a Common Law: A Comparison of Select Topics in Texas and Louisiana Oil & Gas Law (Seminar, 2012)*

Presenter and author of Medical Malpractice 101 (Continuing Legal Education, Lafayette Bar Association, 2009)

* Presented prior to joining Ottinger Hebert, L.L.C.