Charles Foster, chairman of Foster LLP who served as chair of the Asia Society Texas Center Board of Directors for 24 years, was honored with the 2026 Stephen L. Kleinberg Award by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University for his decades of leadership and advocacy for a more inclusive, globally connected Houston. A double Longhorn, he was also honored with the ASTC’s inaugural 2026 Roy Huffington Lifetime Achievement Award.
Richard Hood has joined Ryman Clark, a new trial firm in Round Rock founded by two fellow Texas Law alumni. Hood, who is of counsel at the firm, specializes in construction defect, tenant health and safety, and mold-related issues. The U.S. Army veteran previously ran his personal practice, Richard R. Hood.
Josh Davis has joined Ryman Clark, a new trial firm in Round Rock founded by two fellow Texas Law alumni. Davis, who is of counsel at the firm, served as a JAG Officer in the U.S. Army before starting his own private practice.
Martin Gatens has joined Ryman Clark, a new trial firm in Round Rock founded by two fellow Texas Law alumni. Martin previously worked at Beck Redden, handling complex real estate and property harm litigation cases.
Alex McClintic has joined Ryman Clark, a new trial firm in Round Rock founded by two fellow Texas Law alumni. McClintic, who is of counsel at the firm, works with a large range of legal disputes spanning consumer protection and real estate.
Jason Clarke Marshall passed away on March 31, 2026. Marshall served as a shareholder of Winstead, Sechrest, and Minick before he started the Marshall Firm, specializing in real estate and property tax matters.
Kyle Ryman, along with fellow Texas Law alumnus Alexander Clark, have formed the trial firm Ryman Clark in Round Rock where both will be co-managing partners. Before running his own firm, Ryman Litigation, the U.S. Army veteran practiced at McKool Smith and clerked for Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.
Alexander Clark, along with fellow Texas Law alumnus Kyle Ryman, have formed the trial firm Ryman Clark in Round Rock, where both will be co-managing partners. The Air Force veteran brings his experience in insurance recovery, trials, and crisis management practice groups after five years at Haynes Boone, during which time he also served as a teaching assistant for insurance law courses at two law schools. Clark previously Alex served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lee Yeakel of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Jim Noles, professor of environmental law at Auburn University, was awarded the Student Government Association’s 2026 Outstanding Faculty Award for the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment.
Art Bayern is retiring from the San Antonio Spurs’ stats crew after a 50-year run. Bayern, who specializes in estate planning and probate work for the firm of Langley & Banack, was honored on the court before the Spurs’ regular-season finale game on April 12.
Jay Ellwanger has joined the Austin panel of JAMS, which provides mediation and arbitration services. A longtime adjunct professor at Texas Law and founder of Ellwanger Henderson LLLP, he has more than 25 years of legal experience.
Stewart Hoffer has been named to the Texas Legal Elite list in the Super Lawyers 2026 edition. Stewart currently serves as partner at Hicks Thomas LLP, focusing on civil arbitration and civil litigation.
Pamela Beachley passed away on April 4, 2026. A double Longhorn, Beachley was a renowned expert in workers’ compensation, and once served as general counsel for the Joint Select Committee on Workers’ Compensation and as executive director of the Business Insurance Consumer’s Association. In her lobby career, Beachley represented business and governmental entities through the 2021 legislative session.
Ryan Gorsche has joined O’Melveny as a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Private Equity Group at the firm’s Dallas office. He makes the move from BakerHostetler, where he worked on complex domestic and cross-border transactions.
Katie Brien has joined O’Melveny as a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice and Private Equity Group at the firm’s Dallas office. She most recently worked at BakerHostetler, focusing on M&A transactions, dispositions, and other corporate matters.
Dudley McCalla passed away on March 29, 2026. A double Longhorn and Navy veteran, McCalla’s successful career in public law started with the Office of the Attorney General and included many years in private practice. He authored “Texas Administrative Law” and received the Trial Lifetime Achievement Award by the Administrative Law and Public Law section of the Texas State Bar.
Arthur Schechter passed away on April 13, 2026. He founded his own law firm in 1976, representing injured clients with a focus on maritime workers. Schechter served as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas under President Bill Clinton and later chaired the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston.
David Woodcock has been named the director of the Division of Enforcement by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Woodcock previously served as a partner in SEC Enforcement, Investigations, and Corporate Securities at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher while teaching a Securities Law Enforcement course at Texas A&M University School of Law.
Marissa Marquez has been named the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Senior Counsel of the Year for a Nonprofit/Governmental Agency by the Texas Lawbook and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston chapter. Marquez, who is labor and employment legal counsel at Houston Methodist Hospital, will be honored at an award ceremony in Houston May 28.
Adrienne Wall has been appointed managing shareholder of the Munsch Hardt’s Fort Worth office. Wall’s experience includes representing commercial banks and lenders in finance transactions secured by real estate and business assets.
Amy Sutton has been appointed as regional president of Southside Bank’s Wealth Management & Trust division in Tyler, Texas. Sutton has over 30 years of expertise in wealth management and estate and tax planning to the branch.
Michael Cotton has been promoted to chair of the Opinion Committee for the Texas Attorney General’s Office after previously serving as the committee’s deputy chief. He will head the committee’s efforts to conduct legal research, draft formal opinions, and provide counsel to state and local officials on complex legal matters.
Corinne Sullins Davis has been promoted to partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Houston office. Davis’s expertise lies in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and corporate governance matters throughout a variety of industries.
Stephani Michel has joined the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright as a senior associate. She previously served as a senior appellate associate at the boutique litigation firm Tillotson Johnson & Patton.
Kelli Bills has joined the Dallas office of Norton Rose Fulbright as senior counsel. She previously was counsel at the boutique litigation firm Tillotson Johnson & Patton.
Andres Contreras has been promoted to shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr P.C. in Houston effective April 1, 2026. Contreras focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts.
Randy Johnston has been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers list—marking his sixth consecutive selection—as well as the Texas Super Lawyers list. A co-founder and shareholder at Johnston Tobey Baruch in Dallas, he is recognized for his work in professional liability, legal malpractice, fiduciary litigation and investment fraud.
Robert Tobey, a shareholder at Johnston Tobey Barush in Dallas, has been included on the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers list—marking his sixth consecutive selection—and was named as Texas Super Lawyer. Board certified in consumer and commercial law, he is recognized for handling complex commercial litigation, professional liability and business disputes.
James Barksdale Jr. passed away on Feb. 24, 2026. Barksdale had a distinguished career in patent law, first with Monsanto Chemical, then with IBM for 30 years.
Alistair Dawson will be posthumously inducted as a Legal Legend by the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas. Dawson, who passed away in 2025, was a respected partner and trial attorney at Beck Redden, president of the Houston Bar Association, chairman of the Texas Bar Foundation, fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Jane Webre will receive the 2026 Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. Webre is a partner at Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP in Austin, where she focuses on civil appellate law and handles the majority of the firm’s appeals.
Fred Hagans will receive the 2026 Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. The award, which is given annually to an active trial lawyer who demonstrates outstanding trial skills, ethical standards, and professional conduct, will recognize Hagans’ acclaimed career with his firm Hagans Law.
Luis A. Galindo has been appointed to the Fort Worth ISD board of managers. Galindo, an attorney specializing in construction, business, and real estate law, teaches at Texas Wesleyan University and is an adjunct supervising attorney with the Texas A&M School of Law.
Pete Geren has been appointed president of the Fort Worth ISD board of managers. Geren, a double Longhorn who formerly served as a U.S. House representative and in the Department of Defense, currently is president and chief executive officer of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation.
Becky Diffen has been named to Tamarindo’s Legal Power List 2026, which recognizes the 100 most influential lawyers in the clean energy and infrastructure sectors. A partner with Norton Rose Fulbright in Austin, Diffen is also an adjunct professor at Texas Law, teaching a course in wind and solar law.
Kalyani Adusumilli has written her debut novel, “The Invisible Canvas,” which explores themes of resilience, identity, and mental health. Adusumilli worked as an epidemiologist and an attorney before turning to writing fiction and is also author of The Happy Wildflower series, collections of reflective essays and poetry.
Dustin Fillmore has been named a shareholder and director at McDonald Sanders in Fort Worth. His practice focuses on business transactions with an emphasis on real estate, energy, and finance. Fillmore has experience in both litigation and transactional matters and continues to support clients across a wide range of industries.
Phyllis Y. Young has joined Eversheds Sutherland as a partner and head of Texas Finance in the firm’s Houston office. Young advises on finance and restructuring matters for public and private companies, financial institutions, investors and other market participants. She has successfully guided financings across multiple industries and has played a significant role in assisting companies and lenders through in-court and out-of-court restructurings.
Jeffrey Neill has taken on a new role as executive director of the Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL) and senior procurement executive at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to his roles at VA, Neill worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Texas A&M University System, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the Department of the Treasury.
Kerrie Ann Nanni has a new position as management officer at the Office of the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia at the United States Department of State Embassy in Croatia. She previously served as financial management officer at the Office of the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo.
Ryan Newman has started a new position as chief deputy attorney general with the Florida Office of the Attorney General. He previously served as general counsel with the Florida Executive Office of the Governor.
Sam Waldon has a new position as acting director at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement. He previously served as deputy director and chief counsel in this division.
William “Bill” Dorsaneo passed away on March 15, 2026. Dorsaneo was a faculty member at Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law for more than four decades and was the principle author of the 26-volume Texas Litigation Guide, referred to by generations of attorneys simply as “Dorsaneo’s.” He also served for decades as a member of the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee.
Joe Deming passed away on March 17, 2026. Deming worked as an attorney for various oil companies including Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell until his retirement in 2010.
Richard Orsinger was honored with the John F. Sheehy Jr. Distinguished Attorney Award at the Texas Board of Legal Specialization 51st annual induction ceremony. The award recognizes dedication to public service, professionalism, and excellence in the legal profession. Orsinger, who also was the keynote speaker at the event, has spent decades advancing family law through scholarship, teaching and mentorship across Texas.
Leslie “Les” Acker passed away March 15, 2026. A double Longhorn, Acker started his career in Midland, Texas, working in the City Attorney’s Office and later serving as the Midland County attorney before relocating to Post, Texas and becoming the Garza County attorney.
Mark Taylor, a director with Kane Russell Coleman Logan in Austin, has been selected to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy and Restructuring guide, which recognizes leading lawyers in several areas of financial restructuring. Taylor dedicates his practice to complex bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation and commercial litigation.
Brendan Henry has joined the Beckage Firm as senior counsel, focusing on cybersecurity, privacy, and incident response services. Henry has more than 17 years of federal national security service, including roles at the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Department of the Interior in Alaska.
David Kitner received the 2025 Luther “Luke” H. Soules III Award for Excellence in Litigation from the State Bar of Texas. Kitner is senior counsel at Clark Hill in Dallas, representing clients in civil litigation matters involving business and commercial disputes and professional liability.
Kassi Gonzalez has been named as a 2026 finalist in the legal category of the Austin Under 40 Awards. She currently works as a senior attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project.