Maureen Gershanik

Maureen Gershanik

New Orleans, LA recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020
Fishman Haygood LLP

24 Best Lawyers awards

Fishman Haygood LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Corporate Law Securities / Capital Markets Law Corporate Governance Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law Securities Regulation
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in New Orleans.

Biography

Maureen Brennan Gershanik is a partner in Fishman Haygood’s Business Section. She practices primarily in the areas of corporate law and governance, securities law, and mergers and acquisitions. She also advises clients on ESG initiatives.

Maureen has an active business transactional and advisory practice. She works with clients on public and private offerings of debt and equity securities, acquisition transactions, restructuring transactions, business separations, new business formations, and other transactions. She also advises a range of public companies and private businesses and counsels boards of directors on corporate governance, securities law compliance, SEC reporting, executive employment matters, and executive compensation.

Additionally, Maureen is active in business law reform efforts in Louisiana and nationally. She is an appointed member of the Corporate Laws Committee of the American Bar Association, which oversees and continually revises the ABA’s Model Business Corporation Act, one of the most significant responsibilities of the ABA’s Business Law Section. She is also a member of the Corporations Committee of the Louisiana State Law Institute, which was responsible for the comprehensive revision of the state’s corporation statute that took effect in 2015, and is currently re-drafting the Louisiana limited liability company statute.

Maureen dedicates her time to professional and civic organizations. She is a past chairperson and council member of the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Section on Corporate and Business Law. In the community, she is a board member of the National Council of Jewish Women – Greater New Orleans and serves on the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Board of Directors. She is a former member of the Board of Trustees at Touro Synagogue (New Orleans). Maureen also serves on the Advisory Committee for the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Impact 100 women’s giving initiative.

Maureen has spoken on securities and corporation law at legal seminars and graduate schools, and she serves as co-instructor of the Corporate Governance mini-course at Tulane University Law School.

Since 2013, Maureen has been recognized by Chambers and Partners as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A. Chambers notes that clients consider Maureen’s understanding of corporate governance “invaluable.” She is also known to be “a talented, insightful, and dedicated attorney who reflects most positively on the legal profession.”

She was also recently listed among New Orleans Magazine’s 2025 Top Women in Law for Mergers and Acquisitions and Securities/Capital Markets Law.

Fishman Haygood LLP

24 Best Lawyers awards

Fishman Haygood LLP logo

Overview

  • Louisiana State University, JD, graduated 2000
  • Georgetown University, BSFS, graduated 1992

  • Louisiana, 2000
  • Texas, 2014
  • Louisiana, 2000
  • Texas, 2014
  • Louisiana State University, JD, graduated 2000
  • Georgetown University, BSFS, graduated 1992

Client Testimonials

Closing our recent acquisition with Maureen and her team was confidence inspiring. In a difficult deal, with limited time, Maureen was completely engaged, available and in control. Her comfortable communications style and practical advice was helpful in keeping the tone cooperative. I truly appreciate Maureen's extreme level of effort and commitment to our transaction.

David Cedro (Danos, LLC)

Maureen’s experience and expertise in corporate law, securities work and corporate ESG matters is unmatched. Her communication skills with every constituency of the company, from the board of directors and executive team to rank and file employees was a joy to watch. Her effectiveness was flawless.

Mike Cockrell (Sanderson Farms, Inc. (formerly))

Maureen is one of the best lawyers our company has ever hired or interacted with. She has that winning combination of being professional, and extremely knowledgeable, while also interacting with you like a human being. Maureen has a knack for explaining complex situations in such a way that she can be easily understood which is a relief to the client needing to understand. Maureen also acts in a very timely manner. At no point in time did we feel like we were having to hound her to receive deliverables. She exhibited an extremely strong work ethic and dedication to us as clients. Again, it was a pleasurable interaction with Maureen every step of the way, and we will absolutely continue to use her in the future. Not only will we continue to use her, but we will have no hesitation whatsoever to recommend her to others. The firm is lucky to count her in as part of their crew. It is people like Maureen, who assist in projecting an excellent reputation of that firm.

Anne Fuselier (Theodent LLC)

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Corporate Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Securities / Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2025 - Securities Regulation Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Mergers and Acquisitions Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Securities / Capital Markets Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Securities / Capital Markets Law
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Corporate Law, New Orleans (2026)
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law, New Orleans (2026)
  • Securities Regulation, New Orleans (2025)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law, New Orleans (2023)
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law, New Orleans (2023)
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law, New Orleans (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Corporate Governance Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Securities Regulation

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