Mark D. Sikes

Mr. Sikes graduated with a degree in Economics from UL Lafayette in 1979. He attended Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Louisiana State University, and earned his Juris Doctorate degree in May 1982.

Mr. Sikes began his career in law by serving the Sixteenth Judicial District Court, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, as a law clerk. He has been in private practice in Lafayette since 1983. Mr. Sikes is licensed to practice in all Federal and State courts in Louisiana.

His practice includes civil trial and appellate practice concentrated in business disputes, including lender/borrower relationships and disputes between owners of privately held companies. For over a decade Mr. Sikes has successfully represented oil company clients as defendants in numerous cases brought by landowners asserting claims of land damage or pollution arising from historic oil and gas exploration and production operations. These serious cases typically present demands in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Mr. Sikes’ experience in defending these “legacy” cases includes successfully resolving for his clients the early landmark reported decisions, and he continues to represent primarily independent oil companies in these disputes.

He has represented clients before state agencies such as the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality regarding various matters, including environmental compliance.

Mr. Sikes has advised clients in corporate, commercial and transactional matters, contract drafting and negotiation and related matters. He has advised several owners of significant oilfield service companies in matters ranging from negotiation and drafting of contracts including master service agreements to sales of such companies to global firms.