Michael Durham Joins Fishman Haygood’s Transactional Team

Fishman Haygood, L.L.P. is pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Durham, an accomplished attorney and businessman with over two decades of professional experience.

Durham joins the firm’s Baton Rouge office as Special Counsel in its Transactional section. He previously practiced law at Adams and Reese where he worked in energy, finance and construction.

After leaving Adams and Reese, Durham became the first General Counsel of Bernhard, LLC. While at Bernhard, Durham helped to develop the company’s Energy-as-a-Service model, which has successfully been deployed throughout the U.S. Prior to the sale of Bernhard in 2021 by Bernhard Capital Partners, Durham left to pursue energy infrastructure development with one of his former clients, Johnson Controls. While at Johnson Controls, he was awarded the Master’s Award for closing the largest energy infrastructure deal in company history. He also was instrumental in working on infrastructure projects throughout many commercial and industrial, higher education, sports and healthcare facilities.

At Fishman Haygood, Durham once again will focus his practice on energy, finance and construction. The firm currently is involved in several sustainable energy and energy efficiency deals and projects, as well as community-focused engagements, including plans for financing a new on-campus arena and surrounding mixed-use development at LSU.

“Michael has been part of noteworthy economic development projects throughout Louisiana,” said Fishman Haygood Partner Charles Landry. “He is a proven leader, and we are excited not only about the value that he adds to our team and provides to our clients but also what he brings to the community as a whole.”

“I have had the good fortune to cross professional paths with Michael many times, and his business acumen has always impressed me,” said Fishman Haygood Partner Scott Chenevert. “I welcome the unique perspective he will provide the firm.”

“I am excited to rejoin the legal world and honored in the trust placed in me to do so at a firm with such a remarkable reputation of good, honest and efficient work,” said Durham. “Through years of working alongside the firm on many projects and deals, I have built great relationships with the leadership here. Combining our mutual respect for each other with the strong team they have created, I look forward to the work we will do throughout Louisiana and beyond.”

Durham received his law degree from Louisiana State University, an LL.M. from the University of Denver, and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University.