About Marshall Simien, Jr.
Marshall Simien, Jr. is a native of Lake Charles, Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Government from McNeese State University, and his Juris Doctorate (Law) degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University (“LSU”). He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in the State of Louisiana.
Marshall’s legal career began in New Orleans, Louisiana, serving as a judicial law clerk to former Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson, Louisiana’s first African-American chief justice of its highest court. After his clerkship, Marshall became an associate and eventually a partner with the law firm of Middleberg, Riddle & Gianna, practicing in the firm’s New Orleans office where he worked primarily conducting and overseeing complex litigation, representing Fortune 500 companies, major corporations, small businesses, insurance companies, and financial institutions, among others. Marshall’s trial experience includes the areas of business and commercial litigation, personal injury, class actions, toxic torts, employment litigation, medical malpractice and products liability.
In the fall of 1999, Marshall returned to Lake Charles and founded the Simien Law Firm, whose office is located at The Sanctuary on the Riverside at 2131-A Fitzenreiter Road. Marshall’s primary practice areas include personal injury, class actions, toxic torts, commercial and business litigation, and health care law.
Professionally, Marshall is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Southwest Louisiana Bar Association, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, American Bar Association, National Bar Association, and the Louis A. Martinet Legal Society. Civically, Marshall is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana, the Advisory Board of First Horizon Bank, a board member of the Alliance for Positive Growth, member of the Kiwanis Club of North Lake Charles, Advisory Board of the the Lake Charles Diocese St. Charles Retreat Center, Advisory Board of St. Louis Catholic High School, a 4th Degree member of the Knights of Peter Claver, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Holy Name Society.
Marshall’s public service includes appointment in 2003 by then Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco to serve on the Board of Commissioners overseeing the Port of Lake Charles, the 13th largest port in the United States. In 2005, Marshall was elected and served two terms on the Lake Charles City Council, representing District A which included the lakefront, downtown and northern areas of the City of Lake Charles. He served as City Council President and Vice-President. In 2014, Marshall was appointed to serve on the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury for one year to finish the term of a deceased member. In 2021, Marshall was appointed back to his former seat on the Lake Charles City Council until a special election was held to fill the seat of a deceased member. Currently, Marshall serves on the State Board of Commerce and Industry, having been appointed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.
Marshall is married to Dr. Paula Simien. They have 3 children, Marshall III, August, and Grace.