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Adams and Reese had three New Orleans office attorneys: Marshall Hevron, Lee Reid and Mark Surprenant, selected among the New Orleans CityBusiness “Leadership in Law” 2015 honorees, recognizing 50 legal professionals who have helped move the legal community forward with energy, innovative ideas, achievements and a commitment to excellence.

They will be featured in a special insert profiling all the honorees in the March 20th issue of CityBusiness.

Leadership in Law is in its 11th year, will recognize court-associated attorneys, in-house counsel and firm-associated attorneys.

Hevron is an Associate in the Litigation Practice Group and he represents utility companies in numerous expropriation cases, has experience working on commercial business disputes, advises clients on a number of government contracting issues and assists clients in complying with the Louisiana Public Bid Law. Prior to law school, Hevron worked in the Washington DC and New Orleans offices of United States Senator Mary Landrieu. He advised Senator Landrieu on national security and veterans policy as well as storm recovery issues. In the community, Hevron is the former commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8973 in New Orleans. Hevron has aided a recruiting campaign to add close to 200 veterans to the ranks, most of who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Post now provides many services to vets, including assistance with VA claims, job counseling, and pro-bono legal assistance. Hevron also assisted New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to secure housing for 227 homeless veterans. Hevron serves on the City's Board of City Trusts, and is a board member of the Louisiana Military Family Assistance Fund, Save Our Cemeteries, and the Louisiana State Democratic Central Committee.

Reid is a Litigation Practice Group Leader and Partner in the Adams and Reese New Orleans office. Reid practices in the areas of education, business services, aerospace, governmental relations, economic development and litigation. He has been instrumental in the development of charter schools across Louisiana, representing a diverse array of stakeholders and dedicating numerous hours of pro bono assistance to improving the environment for charter schools in the State. He was recently named a recipient of the Louisiana Appleseed Good Apple Gala Award for researching and editing the Louisiana Charter School Board Legal Handbook, as well as developing and presenting related CLE programs to assist administrators in addressing some of the more pressing legal and organizational issues facing Louisiana's charter schools. Reid served as Special Assistant to the General Counsel for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, during the investigation into the Columbia shuttle disaster in 2003. He took a leave of absence from Adams and Reese and assessed the legal needs of the Agency, formulating timely and workable response plans and meeting with search teams and governmental representatives from the debris fields in Hemphill, Texas, to Washington, DC, Reid’s efforts led to a “by-name” appointment to the Return to Flight Implementation Team, and he was awarded the NASA Astronaut’s Personal Achievement Award, the “Silver Snoopy,” in recognition of this work. Reid currently serves on the New Orleans Public Library Board, appointed by Landrieu. As a former Chair of the New Orleans Public Library Board, Reid oversaw the construction of five new libraries and rehabilitation or renovation of five others as part of post-Hurricane Katrina rehabilitation efforts. He is a Past President of the Young Leadership Council, an organization of over 1,400 members who create, run, fund, and oversee ongoing community service projects in the New Orleans metro area. Reid also serves on the Board of Directors for Infinity Science Center and Partners for Stennis, among others. He was most recently appointed to Commissioner on the Board of The Arts Council of New Orleans.

Surprenant, an attorney at Adams and Reese since 1977, is a Partner and serves as Practice Team Leader of the Agricultural Chemicals team and as Liaison Partner of the Pro Bono Services Committee. Surprenant is immediate past president of the New Orleans Bar Association. Surprenant has served as lead counsel on a number of very significant, high-profile environmental toxic torts and products liability cases pending in a number of states. Since the beginning of his career, Surprenant has also been dedicated to community service. In 1988, he created HUGS — the firm’s corporate philanthropy program — and in 2000 he established CA&RE — the firm’s official pro bono program. Surprenant is also the Co-Founder of SOLACE, Inc. (Support of Lawyers/Legal Personnel All Concern Encouraged). SOLACE is a statewide volunteer organization with more than 6,000 volunteers. It reaches out to assist those in the legal community who have experienced some significant, potentially life-changing event in their lives. Surprenant’s years of dedicated volunteerism and many contributions to the community has garnered him several honors including: "Glass Honoree Award," Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (2014); David A. Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, Louisiana State Bar Association (2014); Loving Cup Award from The Times-Picayune (2013); William Reece Smith, Jr. Special Services Pro Bono Award from the National Association of Pro Bono Professionals (2013); Pro Bono Award from the Legal Services Corporation (2013); the Distinguished Donor Award from The Pro Bono Project (2012); Friend of Pro Bono Award from The Pro Bono Project (2011); Presidents Award from the New Orleans Bar Association (2010); Camille F. Gavel, Jr. Pro Bono Award from the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (2008); the Leah Hipple McKay Memorial Award for Outstanding Volunteerism from the Louisiana State Bar Association (2008); “Role Model of the Year” by the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans and “Great Gentleman for 2007” by the East Jefferson General Hospital Auxiliary. Surprenant served as Chair of the Board of Directors for The Pro Bono Project in New Orleans in 2008. He also serves on the Board of St. Andrew’s Village, which reaches out to assist adults with developmental disabilities, and on the Board of the Catholic Foundation.  He teaches Environmental Toxic Torts as an adjunct professor at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.