Marianna Knister Downer
Marianna Knister Downer

Marianna Knister Downer

Associate

mknister@gamb.com504.679.9824

201 St. Charles Avenue
40th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70170

504.679.9824 | mknister@gamb.com

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admissions

  • Louisiana
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of LA
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of LA
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of LA
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit

education

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D./D.C.L., 2019
  • Louisiana State University, B.A., 2012

languages

English

Marianna Knister Downer is a civil litigator and trial attorney representing clients in a wide range of industries including construction and energy. Her practice extends to complex litigation, appeals, civil procedure, commercial litigation and risk management.

Before joining Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett, Marianna was an associate attorney at Lobman Carnahan Batt Angelle & Nader. Prior to obtaining her law degree, Marianna served as the Executive Assistant to the Honorable Mary L. Landrieu, and as a Director of Governmental Issues at Van Ness Feldman in Washington, D.C.

Marianna obtained both her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. While at the Law Center, Marianna was a Senior Associate on the Journal of Energy Law and Resources and served as the Executive Director of Programming on the LSU Student Bar Association. She also earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Political Communication. While at LSU, Marianna was a member of Phi Sigma Theta honor society.

  • While at Lobman Carnahan, Marianna second-chaired a five-day jury trial, successfully defending the firm's clients against personal injury claims, resulting in a favorable 12-0 verdict.

  • Federal Bar Association
  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association
  • Women’s Energy Network - Southeast Louisiana Chapter Board of Directors - Public & Industry Relations Director (2022–2023) (2023-2024)
  • American Cancer Society's Shuck Cancer – Junior Executive Board Member (2022 - Present), Silent Auction Co-Chair (2022 - Present)
  • Professional Landman's Association of New Orleans – Member (2022 - Present)
  • Boys Hope Girls Hope Garden Gala – Committee Member (2022 - Present)
  • Pro Bono Project’s Justice for All Ball Committee – Committee Member (2020), Silent Auction Chair (2021, 2022)

  • John P. Laborde Endowed Scholarship Recipient

Marianna Knister Downer is a civil litigator and trial attorney representing clients in a wide range of industries including construction and energy. Her practice extends to complex litigation, appeals, civil procedure, commercial litigation and risk management.

Before joining Gordon Arata Montgomery Barnett, Marianna was an associate attorney at Lobman Carnahan Batt Angelle & Nader. Prior to obtaining her law degree, Marianna served as the Executive Assistant to the Honorable Mary L. Landrieu, and as a Director of Governmental Issues at Van Ness Feldman in Washington, D.C.

Marianna obtained both her Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. While at the Law Center, Marianna was a Senior Associate on the Journal of Energy Law and Resources and served as the Executive Director of Programming on the LSU Student Bar Association. She also earned her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University in Mass Communication, with a concentration in Political Communication. While at LSU, Marianna was a member of Phi Sigma Theta honor society.

languages

English

  • Business Transactions and Entity Formation and Governance
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction
  • Environmental and Toxic Torts
  • Insurance
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Litigation and Arbitration
  • Oil, Gas and Energy Regulatory
  • Real Estate and Commercial Leasing
  • Renewable Energy
  • Construction
  • Energy and Natural Resources
  • Insurance
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