Class Notes

Submit Class Note

Class of 1997

Paul Trahan headshot

Paul Trahan

Class of

Paul Trahan has been appointed as the partner-in-charge at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright’s Austin office. Trahan has been with the firm since 1996.

Read More (External link)

DianaSaldanaHeadshot

Diana Saldana

Class of

Diana Saldana was recognized as a United ISD (Laredo) Community Hero for launching the Kazen Fellowship Program, which aims to offer paid summer internships for eligible high school students at the federal and state courthouses.

Read More (External link)

Marty Meekins headshot

Marty Meekins

Class of

Marty Meekins co-founded the recently launched Emory Oak Partners, a firm specializing in real estate and service industry business equity and enhanced credit strategies. Meekins, who will serve as the company’s co-chief executive officer and general counsel, has more than 25 years of financial strategy, business management, technology, and legal affairs experience.

Read More (External link)

Karen Robinson headshot

Karen Robinson

Class of

Karen Robinson has been named to the board of directors of ChIPs Network Inc., a global membership community focused on advancing women and promoting diversity in IP and tech law and policy. Robinson is vice president and associate general counsel at Adobe.

Read More (External link)

Irina B. Plumlee

Class of

Irina B. Plumlee has been included in the 2023 edition of the Chambers USA directory for her work in immigration law. Plumlee is a shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. and focuses her immigration practice on business and family immigration.

Read More (External link)

A photograph of Edmond Moreland.

Edmond Moreland Jr.

Class of

Edmond Moreland Jr. passed away on April 4, 2023. Moreland began his own law practice in 2000 and founded the Moreland Verrett, P.C. law firm in 2013. He specialized in labor and employment law and was recognized many times on The Best Lawyers in America list for his work.

Read More (External link)

Anjana Patel

Anjana Patel

Class of

Anjana Patel has been appointed to the Board of Trustees for Springpoint senior living communities. Patel is an attorney at Epstein Becker Green with two decades of experience advising individuals and businesses on healthcare transactions and health regulatory compliance issues.

Read More (External link)

LaTisha Tarrant

LaTisha Tarrant

Class of

LaTisha Tarrant has been promoted to chief human resources officer at PRA Group. Tarrant previously served as senior vice president, deputy general counsel and corporate secretary for the global financial services company.

Read More (External link)

Irina Plumlee

Irina B. Plumlee

Class of

Irina B. Plumlee has been recognized as a top immigration attorney by Chambers USA, an independent research company delivering rankings and insight into the world’s leading lawyers. Plumlee is a shareholder for Musch Hardt PC,  where her practice focuses on business and family immigration.

Read More (External link)

Jennifer Espronceda

Jennifer Lee Espronceda

Class of

Jennifer Espronceda has been selected as a Foundation Fellow by the San Antonio Bar Foundation. Espronceda is the founder of family law firm Espronceda Law, PPLC and has won a number of awards in San Antonio, including 2021 Best San Antonio female lawyer and 2021 Top Family Lawyer.

Read More (External link)

Marlene Williams

Marlene Williams

Class of

Marlene Williams was appointed to a shareholder position at the Houston office of Ogeltree Deakins, a labor and employment law firm. Williams previously worked as a Partner in Charge for Eversheds Sutherland and has been recognized as Houston Top Lawyer in the Labor and Employment area in the Houston Business Journal.

Read More (External link)

Kristine Huskey

Class of
Clinical Professor of Law and Director

Kristine Huskey was honored with Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society’s Top Civilian Award. Huskey was awarded the 2020 Copper Sword Award, presented to individuals who did not serve in the military but who have distinguished themselves by their dedication, humanitarianism and support of veteran initiatives. She is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic at the University of Arizona College of Law. (2020 Award was awarded in 2021 due to pandemic.)

Read More (External link)

Portrait of Michael Holmes in a blue striped suit with a light blue tie.

Michael Holmes

Class of

Michael Holmes has been elected as Vice Chair at Vinson & Elkins LLP. He will work alongside three partners, which will constitute a new Executive Committee of the firm. Holmes is currently co-head of the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice. His practice focuses on trial and litigation, and he has particular expertise in matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities, alternative entities, joint ventures and director and officer liability.

Read More (External link)

Headshot of Jay Dewald, waring a red tie.

Jay Dewald

Class of
Partner

Jay Dewald, a Texas-based litigator and former federal prosecutor, has joined the global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner in the Regulations, Investigations, Securities and Compliance practice. Dewald joins the firm’s Dallas and San Antonio offices from Jackson Walker, where he led its Investigations and White Collar Defense practice. Dewald is a former Assistant US Attorney, serving in this role in the Northern District of Texas from 2007–2015.

Read More (External link)

Lyda Ness Garcia

Class of
Judge

Lyda Ness Garcia has been elected the next Family Law Judge for the 383rd Judicial District Court. As the only Child Welfare Law Specialist serving on the bench in El Paso, she is hoping to bring innovative changes in meeting the needs of the litigants of her Court. She is humbled and excited to begin serving the children and families of El Paso, Texas on January 1st, 2021.

Jay Dewald

Class of

The San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Dewald to the SABF Fellows Program newly-elected 2020 class.

Read More (External link)

Jared L. Levinthal

Class of

Jared Levinthal has joined Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC as a partner in the firm’s Houston office. Jared represents plaintiffs and defendants in all types of litigation. He handles disputes involving commercial and business issues, product liability, professional malpractice, intellectual property, insurance coverage and bad faith, serious personal injury and wrongful death.

Read More (External link)

Alexander Berger

Class of
General Counsel

Alex Berger is now General Counsel for the Motorcycle Industry Council, the national trade association for the motorcycle industry, the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (trade association for all-terrain vehicles), the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (trade association for ROVs), and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.

Clinton “Tres” Dye, III

Class of
Partner

Taylor English Duma LLP is pleased to announce the expansion of its Atlanta office with the addition of partner Clinton “Tres” Dye. Dye will be a member of the firm’s real estate practice group.

Dye has more than 19 years of experience in transactional law. His practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, and he has extensive experience representing owners and developers in the acquisition and development of multi-family, office, retail, hospitality, and mixed-use developments.

Alexander Berger

Class of
Associate General Counsel

Alex Berger has joined the Motorcycle Industry Council as Associate General Counsel, serving the national trade association for the motorcycle industry, as well as affiliated powersport associations — the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (all-terrain vehicles), the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROVs), and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Alex is in the associations’ government relations office in Arlington, Virginia.

Jenny Carroll

Class of
Wiggins, Childs, Quinn and Pantazis Prof. of Law

Jenny Carroll was appointed the Chair of the Alabama State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Jenny is the Wiggins, Childs, Quinn and Pantazis Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law where she teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, juvenile justice and counter terrorism courses.

David A. Breston

Class of
David A. Breston

David A. Breston is a criminal defense attorney who works in Houston. He is a proud graduate from the 1997 class and has built a name in the community of Houston for being a top-rated criminal defense attorney and Immigration lawyer at The Law Offices of David A. Breston. Additionally, David has taught seminars at Princeton and is a proud member of several associations in Texas such as the American immigration lawyers association and the Texas criminal defense lawyers association.

Read More (External link)

Michelle Michaelsen Alden

Class of

Last year, Ms. Alden was named the Director of the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program and received the Pro Bono Coordinator Award from the State Bar of Texas.

Read More (External link)

Steven D. Baker

Class of

Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Phillips recently named Steven D. Baker as its newest partner. With a background in accounting, Mr. Baker counsels individuals and fiduciaries in a wide variety of estate and business succession, charitable giving, and estate and trust administration matters. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and in Estate and Trust Law by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. He’s been with GSRP for two years.

Pagination