Class Notes

Steven Stodghill was confirmed as a member of the Public Safety Commission by the Texas Senate. Stodghill, a partner at Winston & Strawn, has served on the PSC since his initial appointment in 2019.

Mark Taylor has joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan as co-director, helping launch the firm’s new Austin office. This move expands the firm’s reach into Central Texas, with an initial focus on bankruptcy, restructuring, and litigation.

Cheryl Rosenberg has joined Frost Brown Todd, following 14 years with Haynes and Boone. Rosenberg, who’s been practicing law for over 35 years, has experience in the issuance of governmental tax-exempt debt in Texas, serving as underwriter’s counsel for investment banking firms and advising clients on general public law matters.

Scott Schools has been appointed chief compliance officer for OpenAI. In addition to his previous role as Uber Technologies’ chief ethics and compliance officer, Schools has served as associate deputy attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice.

Richard Joseph has been named interim dean of the Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego. Joseph is the former provost and chief academic officer at Bryant University who previously served for over a decade at UT’s McCombs School of Business.

Karen Hansen has joined the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) executive management team as vice president of environmental law and regulatory compliance. Hansen, who’s had a working relationship with SAWS since 2007, will assist the utility in navigating state and national environmental issues.

Robert Sherman passed away on Sept. 15, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer. Sherman was a partner at Morris & Campbell in Houston before moving to Carthage, Texas, where he founded a law practice, a title company, and an energy company.

Marc Taubenfeld has joined Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. as a shareholder in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring + Insolvency section in Dallas. Taubenfeld has extensive experience representing both debtors and creditors in business bankruptcy matters as well as creditors and creditor groups in consumer cases.

The Hon. Xavier Rodriguez, former Texas Supreme Court justice and now United States district judge for the Western District of Texas, will be honored by the San Antonio ISD Foundation at the 13th Annual Inspire Awards in October 2024.

Steve Stodghill has been reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Public Safety Commission—which oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety—for a term set to expire on Jan. 1, 2030. Stodghill is a partner at Winston & Strawn, LLP in Dallas.

Jeff Drummond has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide for his healthcare law practice. Drummond is a partner at Jackson Walker where his areas of focus include representing hospitals, physicians, laboratories, surgery centers, and other healthcare providers in transactional and regulatory matters.

Robert Alden has been named a Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Austin by Forbes Advisor. A double Longhorn, Alden focuses his practice at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP on motor vehicle, premise liability and medical malpractice.

Jim Ormiston has been named chair of the Controversies Department at Gray Reed & McGraw LLP. Ormiston has been with Gray Reed for 35 years and has been included in the “Best Lawyers in America” publication since 2013.

Robert Alden has been named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor. A double Longhorn, Alden focuses his practice at Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson, LLP on motor vehicle, premise liability and medical malpractice.

Oliver Luck has been named executive director of the ASUN-WAC Football Conference, a new NCAA Division I conference starting play in 2023. Luck’s career has included many leadership roles in professional and intercollegiate athletics, including serving as the athletic director at West Virginia University and CEO/commissioner of the former XFL. Luck, who was a successful collegiate quarterback at WVU, went on to play for the Houston Oilers.

Michael Byrd has joined Porter Hedges LLP’s Houston office as a partner in energy transactions. Byrd formerly practiced at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP before briefly running a solo practice.

Jonathan Graham is the recipient of the 2022 Corporate Leadership Award presented by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution. Graham currently serves as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary at Amgen, where he is an advisor on strategic business, legal, governance and related matters.

Cindy Hill has been named general counsel for Round Rock ISD. Hill’s experience in legal firms has covered areas such as employment litigation, employee relations, education law and government contracting. She has served as outside general counsel for school district administrations and Boards of Trustees.

David Pritchett has been made a shareholder of Duluth-based law firm Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Frederick, P.A. He joined the firm in 2020, bringing his experience in real estate law, corporate law, business succession planning, and municipal law to the firm. He has served as Minnesota counsel for PotlatchDeltic Corporation and as Town Attorney for Thomson Township since 1991, among many other clients.

Merritt Clements is now the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood South Texas.

Jim Ormiston has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work in Commercial Litigation. He is a partner and Chair of the Litigation Department at Gray Reed & McGraw LLP. The majority of his practice involves handling energy litigation and complex commercial disputes.

Susan Jo (Norris) Haney died on Aug. 12, 2021. Susan opened her own law firm in 2001, where she was first joined by her oldest daughter, Amber, as a paralegal, and later joined by her younger daughter, Caitlin, as an attorney. Susan loved to refer to the trio as the Haney Legal Dream Team. Susan gave her time to numerous Austin organizations and was known for her laugh, passion, and willingness to help others.

Theodora Lee, a Shareholder at Littler’s San Francisco office, has been named to the National Black Lawyers (NBL) top list. Lee is a skilled litigator with extensive courtroom experience in all state and federal courts in California and employment-related regulatory agencies. As a recognized subject matter authority, Lee has been published in numerous publications and is a sought-after speaker presenting on a wide variety of employment topics.

George Lee has been named one of the 2020 Best Lawyers in America in the Corporate Law category. This distinction is based entirely on a peer-review survey in which attorneys cast votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Justice Patricia O’Connell Alvarez was recently re-elected to the Fourth Court of Appeals. She is grateful to her friends and family for their support.

Steve Stodghill, Class of 1987, is being honored with two prestigious awards, the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2018 Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award and, with his wife Anne, the Business Council for the Arts 2018 Obelisk Juror’s Award. The Schoenbrun Award is presented in recognition of outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions to the community, and a commitment to the ideals of the ADL. The Obelisk Awards recognize contributions and achievements in the arts.

In honor of his contributions to the legal profession and the local community, San Antonio Business Journal has named Jackson Walker partner Peter R. Broderick one of 12 honorees for the 2018 Outstanding Lawyers Awards. The ceremony takes place on the evening of October 10, 2018.

Karra Porter has received the Utah State Bar Lawyer of the Year Award. The award is presented to a Utah State Bar member who, over a long and distinguished legal career, has by their ethical and personal conduct, commitment and activities, exemplified for their fellow attorneys the epitome of professionalism; who has also rendered extraordinary contributions to the programs and activities of the Utah State Bar in the prior year. Karra Porter has been President or Managing Director of Christensen & Jensen for 19 years. She is co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Crisis Management practice groups, and is one of the most experienced and successful commercial and appellate lawyers in Utah.

Scott McDonald was cited as a noted practitioner in the prestigious Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business publication.

Pirkey Barber PLLC Founding Member Bill Barber was recently named one of the top trademark attorneys in the nation in the 2017 edition of World Trademark Review’s WTR 1000. He was awarded Gold status nationally in “Enforcement and Litigation,” as well as Silver status in the national “Prosecution and Strategy” category.

William Barber was recently named one of the nation’s tops trademark attorneys in the 2016 edition of World Trademark Review 1000. Barber was awarded Gold status nationally for Enforcement and Litigation as well as Silver status nationally in the category of Prosecution and Strategy. He was also awarded Gold status for the state of Texas.