Class Notes

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.