Justice Steve Smith is preparing to retire from the 10th Court of Appeals and will receive two lifetime achievement awards, from the judicial section of the State Bar of Texas and the “Chair’s Award” from the Texas Center for the Judiciary. After 22 years at the 361st District Court, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Smith to the 10th Court of Appeals where he will wraps up his judicial career.
Ronald B. King was selected to receive the 2026 American Inns of Court Bankruptcy Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his career, professionalism, mentoring, and service. King has been a U.S. bankruptcy judge for the Western District of Texas since 1988 and served as chief U.S. bankruptcy judge from 2006 to 2021. Although he officially retired in 2021, he still helps his Western District colleagues with their caseloads by serving as a recall judge.
Frederick W. “Rick” Addison, III, a shareholder with Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Dallas, has been named to D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in Dallas 2026” list for environmental law.
Jane Beard was selected to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the winter commencement ceremony at Hardin-Simmons University in recognition of her humanitarian and philanthropic contributions. Beard has served as grants administrator for the Dian Graves Owen Foundation for more than 20 years and previously was a shareholder at McMahon, Smart, Surovik, Suttle, Buhrmann & Cobb in Abilene, where she focused on corporate, nonprofit, and health law.
Judge Hilda Tagle Knebel, the first Hispanic woman in Texas to become a federal judge, will be honored at Texas Woman’s University with the official opening of the Judge Hilda Tagle Collection on Oct. 1, 2025. This archive will include a comprehensive collection of documents and other materials that chronicle her historic judicial career, community engagement, and civic leadership.
Frederick W. “Rick” Addison, a shareholder with Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Dallas, was featured in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® directory. He was honored for his legal excellence in the Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental categories.
Jon Bible passed away on July 12, 2025. Bible, a triple Longhorn, was a Collegiate Baseball Hall of Fame umpire, a veteran football official, and taught business law at Texas State University for more than 30 years.
Larry Campagna has been named one of the top tax fraud and tax controversy attorneys in Texas by Chambers & Partners, the leading independent professional legal research company. He has been included in this ranking for 18 consecutive years. Campagna is managing shareholder of Chamberlain Hrdlicka in Houston.
Larry Campagna was named to the inaugural Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Tax Lawyers guide, recognizing accomplished advisors in tax law. Campagna is managing shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka, where he focuses on matters of business litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and particularly in federal, state and local tax controversies.
Robert P. Braubach was appointed by the Czech Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs as honorary consul for San Antonio and South Texas to represent the Czech Republic and promote trade, investment, tourism and education in South Texas. Braubach’s San Antonio-based law firm specializes in international business law, international real estate law, and entity formation.
Judge Sam Lindsay, the first African American U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Texas and the first African American city attorney for the City of Dallas, received Texas Law’s 2025 Virgil C. Lott Medal at a ceremony on Feb. 19, 2025.
Thomas Robert Felger passed away on Dec. 24, 2024. Felger pursued a legal career after completing 27 years of active duty and reserve service in the U.S. Navy, retiring as captain. From 1992 to 2009, Felger was a partner attorney with Baker Botts, where he worked with oil and gas companies along with technology and device companies.
Jeri Stone passed away Nov. 26, 2024. Stone worked as a writer, attorney, and lobbyist with the Texas Classroom Teachers Association for over four decades and served as executive director from 1985 – 2022.
Jon Allen Green passed away August 12, 2024. In addition to his law career, Green volunteered for the Volunteer Lawyers Program and was a talented thespian, emcee, and auctioneer.
Pamela E. George was named by South Texas College of Law Houston as the Stanley J. Krist Distinguished Professor of Texas Law. This title is awarded to an outstanding professor whose research and teaching helps develop Texas law and future Texas lawyers. George, the first tenure-track female professor at South Texas Law, has a distinguished 43-year academic career and has represented numerous clients as a board-certified specialist in family law and civil appellate law.
Caroline Brown Benediktson passed away on July 20, 2024. After graduating from Texas Law, she practiced law in Los Angeles and Houston before settling in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over her career, she was a partner at a law firm, led the legal teams at private and public corporations, and worked for the City Attorney’s Office in Tulsa.
Jerel Johnston Hill passed away on June 8, 2024. Hill opened his independent real estate law practice in 1992 and worked there with his son until his passing.
Jim Smith is visiting professor of law for spring semester 2024 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. He is professor emeritus at the University of Georgia School of Law.
Roger W. Hughes has been appointed to serve as a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee for the Supreme Court of Texas. Hughes is a partner at Adams & Graham, LLP.
E. G. Morris has been named one of the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin by Forbes Advisor. Morris has been a criminal defense attorney since 1977 and is board certified as a criminal specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Joseph A. Turner has been named one of the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Austin by Forbes Advisor. Turner specializes in federal criminal defense cases and has tried more than 100 jury trials in his 30-plus-year legal career.
Rick Addison has been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America for his work in environmental law. Addison is a shareholder at Munsch Hardt, where he focuses his practice on litigation and counseling with a strong emphasis on civil and criminal governmental and environmental litigation and regulation.
Hollis Gail Turnham passed away August 5, 2023. Turnham was engaged in advocacy work for the rights of elders and direct care workers, serving as the Michigan State Long-Term Care Ombudsman for 16 years.
Reid Phillips was recognized with North Carolina’s highest honor, induction into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, presented by Governor Roy Cooper. Phillips, one of the state’s top litigators, has served as Managing Partner at Brooks Pierce since 2015, and has been with the firm for 45 years.
Robert Holland has been elected as a new member of the DBM Global Inc. Board of Directors. Holland previously served on other private and public company boards, including representing the United States on World Bank Executive Board of Directors.
David L. Mossman will lead Crowe & Dunlevy’s new Houston office, with two colleagues. The new office, where Mossman is a director, specializes in a variety of intellectual property issues. Previously he was a shareholder at Mossman Kumar & Tyler, P.C.
Reid Phillips was included in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, as one of North Carolina’s top attorneys in the category Litigation: General Commercial. He is a managing partner at Reid Phillips.
Carlos Javier “Jav” Salazar passed away on June 16, 2022. After graduating from Texas Law, Salazar served in the oil and gas industry for Anadarko Petroleum Corp until he retired in 2007.
Reid Phillips was presented with the John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award, North Carolina State Bar’s highest honor, at a meeting of the State Bar Council. The award honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession. Reid Phillips is currently the managing partner of Brooks Pierce LLP.
Reid Phillips was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” for Business Litigation in the 2022 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers, an annual list honoring the top lawyers in North Carolina. Phillips is a managing partner with Brooks Pierce.
J. Walker Holland passed away on Nov. 19 2021. After graduating law school Holland was hired by the law firm of Wynn, Brown, Mack, Renfro and Thompson. After making partner there, Holland joined Boswell & Tracey, the firm that later became Holland, Johns & Penny. His wife Margaret later merged her law firm, Albert & Holland, with Walker’s firm. Walker practiced corporate, real estate and transactional law.
Judge Steve Smith was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the 10th Court of Appeals in Waco to fill the unexpired term of Justice John Neill, who retired in May. Smith, current judge of the 361st State District Court in Bryan, will start his new job Sept. 1. He will join Chief Justice Tom Gray and Justice Matt Johnson on the three-member panel. Smith has served as judge of 361st State District Court since 1999.
Reid Phillips, managing partner at Brooks Pierce in North Carolina, was recognized for Litigation: General Commercial in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The listing of the leading lawyers and law firms in the country is published annually by Chambers and Partners.
Daniel “Dan” Charles Miller passed away in Dripping Springs on May 18, 2021. He is a double Longhorn, Early on, Miller worked at at the Texas General Land Office, first managing the Oil & Gas Section of the Legal Division and later as the Deputy Land Commissioner. In 1989, he entered private practice with the law firm McElroy & Sullivan, and he worked as a partner with the firm for over 30 years.
Reid Phillips, managing partner with Brooks Pierce, has been named to Business North Carolina’s inaugural “Power List” of the most influential business leaders in the state. He was included in a section specifically focused on leaders in the legal profession, with 43 attorneys selected out of the more than 28,000 licensed lawyers in North Carolina.
Robert P. Braubach, San Antonio International Real Estate Attorney, has been honored by the Government of Belgium by being appointed an “Officer in the Order of Leopold II,” bestowed by King Phillipe of Belgium, for over twenty-five years of service representing Belgium in San Antonio as an Honorary Consul and foreign trade representative.
Timothy William Johnson, age 67, passed away on Sept. 9, 2020, at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, after a long illness. After graduating, Johnson joined the Atlanta law firm of Smith, Currie & Hancock, where he became a partner. He opened his own specialized labor and employment law firms: Crenshaw & Johnson and Johnson, Matte & Hobgood. Later, Johnson joined Coca-Cola Enterprises as Vice President of Labor Relations until his retirement in 2007. He returned to Smith Currie in an “of counsel” role until his illness forced him to fully retire in 2015. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, or the Farber Fund at University of South Dakota.
Larry Campagna, the managing shareholder for national law firm, Chamberlain Hrdlicka, has been recognized today among the recipients of Texas Lawyer’s 2020 Professional Excellence Awards in the Lifetime Achievement category.
Frederick W. Addison lll was recently named to the 27th edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
University of Texas School of Law alumnus Reid L. Phillips was among 34 Brooks Pierce attorneys recognized as industry leaders in the 2020 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers. This annual list honors the top lawyers in North Carolina.
Brooks Pierce managing partner Reid Phillips, who received his juris doctorate from the University of Texas, was recognized in the 2020 edition of Benchmark Litigation as a “Local Litigation Star” for Antitrust, General Commercial, Intellectual Property, Product Liability and Securities. Benchmark Litigation serves as the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys. Rankings are based on a six-month period where Benchmark researchers conduct extensive interviews.
Larry Campagna, shareholder in the Houston office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka, was recently named a “Texas Tax Legend” by the State Bar of Texas at its annual meeting in Austin. Texas Tax Legends is one of the highest honors for the Tax Law Section. Campagna was the only tax attorney chosen this year.
Brooks Pierce managing partner Reid Phillips was honored by the North Carolina Bar Association with its 2019 Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake Jr. Public Service Award (Lake Service Award). The Lake Service Award recognizes an outstanding lawyer who has performed exemplary public service and who has made significant contributions to the legal profession. Phillips was nominated by the Past Presidents’ Council and unanimously selected by the NCBA Board of Governors.
Larry A. Campagna, a shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Houston office, was listed in the 2019 Chambers USA Guide as a top-tier attorney in Tax Fraud (Band 1) nationwide, and Tax Litigation (Band 1) in Texas.
University of Texas School of Law alumnus Reid Phillips was among 39 Brooks Pierce attorneys recognized as industry leaders in the 2018 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers. This prestigious list is announced annually to honor top lawyers in North Carolina. Phillips, who received his law degree in 1977, was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” for Business Litigation. He was also ranked amongst the Top 100 attorneys in North Carolina.
GableGotwals is pleased to announce John H. Rule (1977) was selected as a 2017 Oklahoma Super Lawyer in the practice area of General Litigation. John has been elected to Super Lawyers since 2015.
Brooks Pierce managing partner Reid Phillips has been recognized by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly as one of its 2017 North Carolina Leaders in the Law.
Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education Honors Don Bivens with the Walter E. Craig Distinguished Service Award
The 2017 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognized Brooks Pierce partner Reid Phillips for Litigation: General Commercial. Phillips was previously nominated by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” in Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, and Intellectual Property Litigation, and was named “Lawyer of the Year” in 2015 for Banking and Finance Litigation.
Jean Noonan, a partner in Hudson Cook’s Washington, D.C., office and a founding member of the American College of Consumer Financial Services Lawyers (ACCFSL), has been elected an officer on the ACCFSL’s Board of Regents. Her position is secretary.