Diana Dutton passed away on Feb. 3, 2025. Dutton was the first female attorney hired by the Environmental Protection Agency in the South-Central Region and among the few women at the EPA nationally in 1972. In 1981, she joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where she was a partner until her retirement.
Charles Hoffman passed away on Jan. 30, 2025. Hoffman, who served four years in the U.S. Air Force prior to law school, retired as senior counsel of ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Company in 2002. In his career, he argued several cases before the D.C. and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeals, and he contributed to the briefs for two Supreme Court cases.
James Coffee passed away on Jan. 7, 2025. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Coffee was deputy general counsel at Atlantic Richfield Company from 1973 until his retirement in 1998.
Jayne Piana has been named co-chair of Brown Rudnick’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board practice group after joining the firm in 2024. Piana advises clients on IP protection issues including technology transactions, disputes and freedom-to-operate cases.
Erick Robinson has been named co-chair of Brown Rudnick’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board practice group after joining the firm in 2024. Robinson is an experienced trial attorney, patent litigator and IP strategist with a background in biotechnology, computer science and electronics.
James C. Lawler has since worked as a national security consultant since retiring as a senior CIA Operations officer in 2005. Lawler, who received The Trailblazer Award, the Director’s Award, the HUMINT Collector Award and the Donovan Award while with the CIA, has published two spy novels: “Living Lies” and “In the Twinkling of an Eye.”
Junish Arora has a new position as the deputy director of the Office of Civil Rights for the United States Department of Commerce. He currently serves as chair of the Council’s Infrastructure Workstream and held numerous positions in the Department of Homeland Security before joining Commerce.
Greg Flores has been named a partner at Nichols Weitzner Thomas in Houston. Flores, who focuses his practice on healthcare regulation and litigation, was honored in the 2023 and 2024 editions of ‘”Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers of America.
Thomas Nguyen competed in Netflix’s “Squid Game: The Challenge,” a reality competition series based on the South Korean drama series. Nguyen works in commercial real estate at Global Commercial Real Estate Services and co-founded the South African Peli Peli restaurants.
Charles Lee has been appointed senior advisor to acting chairman Mark T. Uyeda at the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Thomas Burton has joined Steptoe & Johnson’s Business Department as of counsel at the firm’s Dallas office. Burton specializes in corporate matters and previously served as chief legal officer of Service King Collision.
Reid Barnes has joined Steptoe & Johnson’s Dallas office as an associate. A double Longhorn, Barnes specializes in commercial real estate properties and is a member of the Dallas Bar Association.
Ronnie Skloss has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in the firm’s Austin office. Skloss, who was previously a shareholder with Greenberg Traurig, focuses his practice on strategic business transactions.
Lisa Magick is the co-founder of Bathe Austin, the city’s first bathhouse, which will open in fall 2025. In addition, Magick is an interior designer and is president of lifestyle brand Vacay Vans.
Gregory Smith was named partner at Vela Wood in Dallas. Smith, who focuses on real estate, corporate finance, and general business transactions, is a four-time Super Lawyers Rising Star recipient and a Texas Bar Foundation fellow.
Ricky Brent Keis passed away Feb. 1, 2025. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Keis began his law career as an attorney in Fort Worth and was later appointed to the bench at County Court at Law No. 1, where he served until his retirement in 2010.
Marysia Laskowski has been promoted to counsel at Hunton Andrews Kurth in Dallas. Laskowski focuses her practice on corporate and regulatory matters involving banks and other financial institutions.
Joe Lawlor has been promoted to partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Houston. Lawlor represents clients in the energy industry and focuses his practice on renewables and oil and gas transactions.
Mason Harry has been promoted to partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Houston. He represents clients in the acquisition, development, financing and disposition of energy projects across the United States.
Luis A. Reyes, a regulatory attorney and former high-ranking government official, has joined Troutman Pepper Locke as a partner in its Regulatory Investigations, Strategy and Enforcement Practice Group in Austin. Reyes, who most recently was a partner at Ashcroft Sutton Reyes, has over two decades of experience counseling clients at the White House, Department of Justice, and other federal and state agencies.
Judy Kostura, a partner at Sorrels Law, is the recipient of the 2025 Luther (Luke) H. Soules III Award from the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section. This prestigious honor recognizes attorneys who demonstrate excellence in the practice of law, outstanding professionalism, and exemplary service to the Bar.
Sammi L. Renken has been appointed vice president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates for the 2025-26 year. A double Longhorn, Renken is a shareholder and vice president at the law firm Johnson & Bell.
Marissa Marquez has been inducted into the Texas Lyceum, a nonpartisan group of community leaders that explores and addresses issues facing Texans. Marquez currently is the manager, labor and employment legal counsel for Houston Methodist Hospital.
Edgar Foy Norton passed away on Jan. 25, 2025. Norton served in the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corp (JAG) before continuing his professional life as an oil and gas attorney and landman in the Western U.S.
Gary Zausmer has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow in Austin. Zausmer, who brings over 35 years of experience in litigation and client representation in multiple areas, most recently practiced at Enoch Kever.
Jessica Soos has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow’s Austin office. Soos, whose practice focuses on the dynamic evolution of the competitive and regulated electric markets in Texas and across the United States, previously worked at Enoch Kever.
Martha Smiley has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow’s Austin office. Smiley, who offers telecommunications clients counseling and strategic business analysis of legal, regulatory, and legislative developments, previously practiced at Enoch Kever.
Shelby O’Brien has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow’s Austin office. Previously, O’Brien practiced at Enoch Kever and served as a staff attorney for the Texas Supreme Court.
Bill A. Moore has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow in Austin. Moore, who counsels energy industry clients on regulatory, business, litigation, and legislative matters, previously practiced at Enoch Kever.
Melissa Lorber has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow in Austin. Lorber, who represents businesses in litigation at both the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, previously practiced at Enoch Kever.
Andrew Kever has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow in Austin. Kever, who has served as an advocate and counselor for the electric and communication industries for many years, previously practiced at Enoch Kever.
Heather Holmes has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow in Austin. Previously, Holmes practiced at Enoch Kever and was a staff attorney at the Supreme Court of Texas.
Elana Einhorn has joined the Specialized Advocacy practice group at Butler Snow in Austin. Previously, Einhorn practiced at Enoch Kever and also has been an adjunct professor at Texas Law.
Michael Calhoon has joined Bourelly George & Brodey, a Washington, D.C.-based boutique litigation firm. Previously, Calhoon practiced at Baker Botts, where his team scored a nearly billion-dollar verdict in a complex securities fraud case.
Marcus Brooks joined Jackson Walker law firm as a partner in the tax practice group. Brooks advises clients on complex tax matters and represents them in disputes before the IRS Appeals Office, and proceedings before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Erleigh Wiley has been honored with the “Living Legend Award” for legal excellence by the Dallas Bar Association. Wiley serves as the Kaufman County district attorney and is the current chairman of the Texas District & County Attorney’s executive board.
Chad Craycraft was appointed to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission by Governor Greg Abbott. Previously, Craycraft served on the Texas Ethics Commission where he was twice elected chairman.
Mario J. Martinez passed away on Jan. 20, 2025. Martinez served as assistant U.S. attorney in 1965-67 and was subsequently appointed United States commissioner and United States magistrate. He entered private practice in 1973 and maintained his solo practice for the more than five decades.
Former First Court of Appeals Justice Peter Kelly has formed Kelly Watkins McPheeters, a statewide appellate law firm offering a range of services in state and federal court. Kely is board-certified in Civil Appellate Law and a member of the American Law Institute and Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee.
Anna MacFarlane has been appointed to the San Antonio Bar Foundation Fellows Program newly elected class of 2025, in recognition of her professional achievement, exemplary reputation, and commitment to the legal community. MacFarlane is an associate with Pulman, Cappuccio & Pullen in San Antonio.
Stephanie Dodge Bigley has been appointed to the San Antonio Bar Foundation Fellows Program newly elected class of 2025, in recognition of her professional achievement, exemplary reputation, and commitment to the legal community. Bigley is of counsel at David Santos in the San Antonio area.
Michelle Casillas has been appointed to the San Antonio Bar Foundation Fellows Program newly elected class of 2025, in recognition of her professional achievement, exemplary reputation, and commitment to the legal community. Casillas is vice president and trust officer for Jefferson Bank, providing clients comprehensive guidance in trust administration and estate settlement.
Edward Snyder has been appointed to the San Antonio Bar Foundation Fellows Program newly elected class of 2025, in recognition of his professional achievement, exemplary reputation, and commitment to the legal community. Snyder heads his own San Antonio-based firm, specializing primarily in business law.
Ben Love has joined Baker Botts as a litigation partner in the firm’s Houston office. Love, who is recognized as a global leader in international arbitration and public international law, will focus on the firm’s international disputes practice.
John K. Boyce III has been appointed to the San Antonio Bar Foundation Fellows Program newly elected class of 2025, in recognition of his professional achievement, exemplary reputation, and commitment to the legal community. Boyce specializes in business law and alternative dispute resolution at his San Antonio-based firm.
Marla D. Broaddus has joined McGinnis Lochridge as a partner in the firm’s oil & gas practice group. Broaddus, who has more than 28 years of experience litigating oil and gas matters, is a former original proceedings staff attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas and a also was a staff attorney for former Justice James A. Baker.
Charles “Chuck” Louis Strehli passed away Jan. 17, 2025. After serving in the U.S. Army and graduating from law school, Strehli ran his own independent Amway business for 60 years.
Anne W. Johnston passed away Dec. 8, 2024. In addition to her numerous charitable pursuits, Johnston, who helped found the Texas Lawyers Auxiliary, practiced law full-time after her sons were grown and was board certified in estate planning and probate law.
Stephen Howell has joined Cantey Hanger’s transportation practice area in the firm’s Fort Worth office. Howell specializes in aviation litigation and is a certified mediator and a member of the Defense Research Institute.
Stephanie E. Kaiser has joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan as a director in the firm’s Dallas office. She is a member of the Financial Services Practice Group and the Business and Corporate Transactional Practice Group.