Mac Arnold passed away June 23, 2025. A former federal prosecutor, he later practiced construction law in Virginia. He also served on the Clifton Town Council and was active in community service, including leading fundraising efforts for Parkinson’s research.
Jack O’Neill been recognized in the newly released 2025 Chambers USA guide for his commercial litigation expertise in Houston in energy, contract and business matters. As lead trial counsel, the partner at Pierce & O’Neill has handled some of Texas’ most closely watched cases, including numerous multimillion- and billion-dollar energy and commercial disputes.
Jack O’Neill, co-founder of Pierce & O’Neill in Houston, has been named among the nation’s top energy and natural resources litigation attorneys in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Energy Lawyers listing.
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.
Stephen Dale “Steve” Carlton passed away December 29, 2024. Carlton established the Carlton Law Practice in Orange, Texas, where he served the community for 50 years.
John “Buck” Ritts passed away Nov. 23, 2024. Prior to spending 25 years as an assistant attorney general for the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Ritts was assistant county attorney for Travis County. He also worked with the Water Rights Commission, private law firms, and the Independent Cattlemen’s Association.
Patrick William Ferchill passed away Nov. 1, 2024. Ferchill had a distinguished judicial career in Tarrant County for more than 35 years, including many years as chief judge of the Probate Court of Law No. 2.
Michael Markley passed away on July 27, 2024. After graduating from Texas Law, he practiced entertainment law in Austin and Los Angeles for many years. Markley created an antique import business dedicated to Gothic Revival furniture and ceramics from France.
Travis Phillips passed away on July 21, 2024. Phillips worked in civil litigation and was involved in the Austin legal community for many years. He also served on both the Rollingwood Planning Commission and as mayor of Rollingwood.
James Joseph “Jim” McConn Jr. passed away on July 14, 2024. McConn founded the law firm of Hays, McConn, Rice, and Pickering in Houston, where he practiced for 33 years.
Judge Joe Leonard III passed away on June 12, 2024. Leonard served Hunt County first as the county attorney in 1983, followed by a 10-year stint as county court-at-law judge (1984-1994 and finally as the 196th district court judge (1995-2010).
Jack O’Neill, managing partner at Pierce & O’Neill, has been honored by Chambers USA or his commercial litigation expertise. With more than 50 years experience, O’Neill handles large-scale commercial litigation including disputes involving energy and trade secret issues, and has successfully tried numerous cases relating to virtually all aspects of the oil and gas business.
Jack Woodville London will speak on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy, France. Jack will speak at the Brittany American Military Cemetery at Montjoie-Saint-Martin, France, on June 6, 2024, and at the Normandy American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer the following day.
Jack O’Neill has been listed among the nation’s top attorneys by the 2024 edition of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America for commercial litigation excellence.
Philip Charles Vitek passed away on Nov. 3, 2023. An Army veteran, Vitek was a celebrated lawyer, entrepreneur, and restaurant owner in Austin.
John D. White has been awarded the 2023 Outstanding Alumni Award for the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. In addition to his numerous public service appointments, White served as a judge advocate general in the United States Air Force and practiced law for three decades.
Robert C. Trenchard Jr. has been named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in El Paso by Forbes Advisor. Trenchard is a founder of Trenchard & Hoskins LLP and has been honored as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in Texas by the National Trial Lawyers.
Jack O’Neill has been recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America for Oil and Gas and Commercial Litigation, and also received honors for his appellate practice. Co-founder of Pierce O’Neill, LLP, he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and International Association of Defense Counsel.
David Watson passed away July 9, 2023. A double Longhorn, Watson was employed by the Securities and Exchange Commission and by the Department of Justice throughout his career.
Hugh L. McCulley passed away June 10, 2023. McCulley, whose legal career spanned more than 50 years, was a partner at Crady Jewett McCulley & Houren L.LP. Throughout his career, he represented railroad companies in their business and regulatory activities.
David Powell has been recognized as a 50-Year Member of the Florida Bar. Powell is a professor emeritus at Florida State University and has taught multiple courses related to estate planning.
Michael Appleton has been recognized as a 50-Year Member of The Florida Bar. He founded Appleton Law Offices in Winter Park, Fla., and specializes in business law, commercial law, and real estate litigation cases.
Charles K. Bluntzer passed away on May 27, 2023. After receiving the Purple Heart for his service in the U.S. Army First Cavalry Division in Vietnam, Bluntzer began his career in municipal law in multiple Texas cities. In 1984, he entered private practice where he continued for more than three decades until retiring.
John Wooddell passed away on April 23, 2023. Wooddell, who served in the United States Army Special Forces as a Green Beret, enjoyed a successful law career as a trial attorney in Texas.
The Honorable Horace Ronald “Ron” Poole passed away on May 8, 2023. He was elected District Court Judge for Douglas County (ore.) and soon became a Douglas County Circuit Court Judge in 1984. Poole was one of the longest-serving circuit court judges in Oregon at the time of his retirement in 2013.
Fred Hagans has been selected as a recipient of the 2023 Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award. A double Longhorn, Hagans is the founder of Hagans Montgomery Hagans and is double board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law.
Glen Rosenbaum was honored with the 31st Annual Leon Jaworski Award, as presented by the Houston Bar Association, in recognition of qualities of civic-mindedness, professionalism, social and cultural concern, demonstrated over many years. Rosenberg is a senior partner at Vinson & Elkins.
Philip “Flip” Whitworth passed away on Nov. 10, 2022. Whitworth was a double Longhorn, having received both undergraduate and law degrees with honors from UT. Flip was a member of Scott, Douglas & McConnico for 25 years, and was awarded the prestigious Ernest E. Smith Lifetime Achievement Award by the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law for his service in oil and gas regulatory law.
Jack Steven Magids passed away on April 5, 2022, at the age of 74. In addition to graduating from the Texas Law School, he also attended UT as an undergraduate. Magids was recognized by his peers as one of Memphis’ top corporate lawyers, and honored several times as a Super Lawyer and by Best Lawyers in America.
John Blaine McAdams died on Dec. 25, 2021 at age 74. After graduation, McAdams became an associate with the Strasburger & Price law firm in Dallas. Later, he practiced law with the Vinson & Elkins and Kelly, Hart & Hallman law firms. His career passion became representing major league baseball teams.
John Harmon Bennett, Jr., 73, died peacefully on Dec. 27, 2020, after an 18-month battle with ALS. He earned his B.A. from The University of Texas in 1969, and in 1972, graduated top of his class from Texas Law where he served on Law Review. After law school, Harmon took up a job at Fulbright and Jaworski. He then helped found a law firm, and over time it evolved into other firms. He rounded his career out as a solo practitioner, concentrating on general civil litigation and international business transactions and, for 37 years, Harmon was an involved member of the International Lawyers Group (ILG) where he served as secretary and then president. He was widely known for being a creative attorney who was sought after as a mentor.
Romulo L. “Romy” Diaz, Jr. of Philadelphia has been elected a public-service independent director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. Diaz retired as General Counsel of PECO Energy Company of Philadelphia in 2020 and was recently honored with the Others Award by The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia.
William T. Allen, a renowned jurist, scholar and counselor, who helped establish the law governing the conduct of corporations through many landmark judicial decisions, has died at age 75. Appointed by Governor Mike Castle, Allen served as chancellor of the Delaware Court of Chancery from 1985 to 1997. Often under national scrutiny, Allen wrote hundreds of opinions related to corporate law. He is considered by peers as one of the most accomplished judges of his era.
Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Consumer Bankruptcy Law); named to the Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer” list for 12 years; Chairman of the State Bar’s Bankruptcy Section 2010-2011; inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy (15th Class); past Chairman of the West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association and the Lubbock County Bar Association; for years a member of the “Recent Developments” panel at The Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference and a member of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Ivan Wood, senior counsel in Baker Donelson’s Houston office, has been ranked in Band 3 in the area of health care in Texas in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA.
Gardere Partner Frances E. Phillips was recently featured in the National Law Journal’s inaugural list of “Energy & Environmental Trailblazers.” For this honor, the NLJ accepted nominations and compiled 50 profiles of energy and environmental attorneys across the country who have “moved the needle in the legal arena” and are “impacting the crucial intersection between energy production and the environment.”