Class Notes

William G. Hagans of Hagans Montgomery Hagans, has become board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of Personal Injury Trial Law.

Rudy Metayer was awarded the Outstanding Community Service Award at the 57th Annual Dewitty/Overton Freedom Fund Banquet by the Austin branch of the NAACP. Metayer is a City Council member of the City of Pflugerville, president of the Texas Black Caucus Foundation, and an attorney at Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody.

Rudy Metayer has been named as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters. Metayer currently serves as an attorney for Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody, and is also a council member for the City of Pflugerville.

Chante Brantley has been recognized as a “Superb Woman” by Texas Metro News. Brantley is currently a professor at SMU Dedman School of Law and previously was a managing attorney and mediator at Barnes Prox Law, PLLC.

Chante (Prox) Brantley has been promoted to Clinical Professor of Law at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.  Brantley also has received the Lois Bacon Special Services Award presented by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP), for exceptional leadership, mentoring student associates in the practice of law, the clinic’s pro bono work, and partnership with DVAP.

Iffy Ibekwe is the author of an article titled “First Impressions Matter” about the importance of client experiences at law firms. Ibekwe is the principal attorney and founder of Ibekwe Law, PLLC.

Audrey Momanaee has joined the Houston office of Balch and Bingham LLP to lead the Litigation Practice in Texas. Momanaee has more than 15 years of litigation experience.

Rudy Metayer has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 African American Lawyers Section (AALS) Trailblazer Award. In addition to his legal work at Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody, Metayer serves on the Pflugerville City Council. He is a three-time UT graduate, earning his undergraduate degree, law degree and a master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Sidra Zaheer has been promoted to senior counsel and chair of eDiscovery Practice at Klinedinst PC. Zaheer works with clients in all stages of litigation, and regularly advises in document intensive cases.

Danny McDonald has joined Endeavors, a service organization based in San Antonio, Texas, as the chief risk officer and general counsel. Before joining Endeavors, McDonald worked as an in house attorney, public accountant, and legal and business advisor.

Danny McDonald has assumed the new executive position of General Counsel/Chief Risk Officer for Endeavors. In the role, he will lead Endeavors’ legal services, counsel the company’s senior leadership, and implement a comprehensive risk management program. He is a double Longhorn with a Master’s in accounting.

Brian L. King has been elevated to a member of Cole Schotz P.C.  in the Intellectual Property Group, as well as the Litigation Department in the firm’s Texas office. King is a trial attorney who primarily focuses on commercial and intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and breach of contract matters.

Jenifer Smith has joined the new Austin office of Latham & Watkins LLP in the Emerging Companies Practice. She joins from DLA Piper and represents public and private companies across a broad range of corporate and strategic matters, including venture capital financings, M&A, and capital markets transactions.

William G. Hagans with Hagans Montgomery Hagans has been selected to serve as a 2021-2022 Texas Bar Foundation Nominating Chair for District 4. Nominating Chairs of the Foundation are selected for their outstanding professional achievements and their demonstrated commitment to the Texas Bar Foundation. Selection is a mark of distinction and recognition of Hagans’ contributions to the legal profession.

Julie Offerman was recently elevated to income shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka. Named among the Up-and-Coming 50: 2020 Texas Women Rising Stars, Offerman is an experienced litigation attorney in Chamberlain’s Houston Labor & Employment practice. She has been named to Texas Super Lawyers in 2020 after being named Texas Rising Star in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. She has also been named among Houstonia Magazine Top Lawyers in 2019 and 2020.

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. announced that 15 of its attorneys have been recognized on the 2020 Texas Super Lawyers® list, including Mason P. Hester, who is recognized for his expertise in construction litigation.

Mason P. Hester was recently named to the 27th edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Marcus G. Matthews made the “Best Lawyer” list of the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

After nearly 10 years in public service with both the SEC and the Department of Justice, Barry Kamar joined litigation funding advisory firm Westfleet Advisors.

Redgrave LLP, the premier law firm focusing exclusively on eDiscovery and information law, is proud to announce that partner Christine P. Payne ’06 was named to the 2019 “Women Worth Watching” list published by Profiles in Diversity Journal. Now in its 18th edition, “Women Worth Watching” recognizes women executives who are leading the way to excellence in the workplace, marketplace, and the world.

Betty Chen, an attorney at the law firm Fish & Richardson, has been named a recipient of the 2019 “Women Worth Watching” award by Profiles in Diversity Journal. Chen is based in Fish’s Silicon Valley office and serves as the firm’s Global Hiring Principal. She is exclusively dedicated to high-stakes advocacy as trial counsel in matters involving substantial financial or business exposure, significant policy issues, and cutting-edge legal questions.

Fish & Richardson principal Betty Chen, of the firm’s Silicon Valley office in Redwood City, has been named a recipient of the 2019 “Women Worth Watching” award by Profiles in Diversity Journal. She was singled out for “leading the way to excellence in the workplace, marketplace and the world” and for helping “develop the next generation of women leaders.”

Nick Ducoff ’06, CEO of Edmit, was invited to the White House Office of Innovation last week to discuss the challenges and opportunities to better serve the American worker and close the skills and jobs gap. Edmit was also the 2019 SXSW Edu launch competition winner and is partnering with the Dept. of Education, College Coach, and financial institutions nationwide to help more people get access to an affordable college education. He credits much of his success to the education he received at UT Law.

Latham & Watkins LLP is pleased to announce that Jonathan Castelan has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the Corporate Department and member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. Castelan represents private equity firms and energy companies in acquisitions, divestitures and strategic joint ventures involving midstream assets.

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that Ian S. Shelton has joined the Austin office as counsel in the Litigation Practice Group, bolstering the commercial disputes practice with a focus on intellectual property and technology, complex commercial litigation and appeals. Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland, Mr. Shelton was an attorney with Los Angeles-based Quinn Emanuel & Sullivan LLP.

Norton Rose Fulbright has promoted Jamila S. Mensah to partner. Mensah concentrates on all areas of employment law and has extensive experience in discrimination, retaliation and wage and hour issues. Based in the firm’s Houston office, Ms. Mensah represents clients in federal and state court and before administrative bodies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She counsels employers on hiring, termination, disability accommodation and drafting of personnel policies.

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) announces the hire of Mason Hester as Shareholder in the firm’s construction practice. The fourth largest city in the country, Houston continues seeing unprecedented growth, and Munsch Hardt has responded by more than doubling its construction practice in the Houston office in the last two years.

Jamila Mensah, a Sr. Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright in Houston, has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for her work in employment law. Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.

Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that partner Chalon Clark has been recognized as a recipient of the 2017 “40 Under Forty” Achievement Awards by The Network Journal (TNJ). Clark, a member of the firm’s Financial Services & Capital Markets group, serves on Husch Blackwell’s Diversity Council. She assists clients in disputes involving contracts, review of contracts and leases to identify potential litigation risks, employer/employee relations, collection-related matters, foreclosures, fraud, banking, partnership, real property, mortgage lending, construction and brokerage/securities issues. Clark is active in the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers and the Dallas Bar Association, and is a Mentor for the Dallas Women Lawyers Association.

On April 27, 2017, the Webb County Commissioners Court appointed Victor Villarreal Judge of Webb County Court at Law No. 2. The appointment is effective on April 14, 2017. Mr. Villarreal was the 2005-2006 C/HLSA President.

Amber Rogers has been promoted to Partner at Hunton & Williams LLP. Ms. Rogers focuses her practice on complex employment litigation, labor relations and related litigation.

Dilworth Paxson partner Lorena L. Trujillo was one of seven law professionals named as a “Champion of Justice” by Philadelphia-based news organization AL DÍA. She and her colleagues were recognized as the region’s top Latino Lawyers for their outstanding professional accomplishments that have contributed to diversity in Philadelphia. Lorena focuses her practice on real estate, securitization, and finance, representing servicers of commercial mortgage loans in structured-finance transactions. Lorena also provides pro bono services for the Supervision to Aid Reentry (STAR) Program, a federal reentry court initiative that assists ex-offenders with education, training, employment, and other needs.

Chalon Clark is one of nine Husch Blackwell attorneys promoted to partner effective Jan. 1, 2017. As a member of the firm’s Financial Services & Capital Markets team, she assists clients in disputes involving contracts, review of contracts and leases to identify potential litigation risks, employer/employee relations, collection-related matters, foreclosures, fraud, banking, partnership, real property, mortgage lending, construction and brokerage/securities issues. Clark is based in the firm’s Dallas office and serves on the firm’s Diversity Council.

The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the largest state grant funding source of civil legal aid in Texas, has announced that Carlos M. Zaffirini, Jr., of Austin has been appointed to serve on its board of directors. The Supreme Court of Texas appointed Zaffirini to a two-year term expiring in August 2018.

Fish & Richardson has announced that Betty Chen has been appointed Global Hiring Principal. Chen will be in charge of hiring legal talent for all 11 of Fish’s U.S. offices, as well as its office in Munich, Germany. She previously served as recruiting principal of the firm’s Silicon Valley office.

Jackson Walker congratulates Lauren Mutti for her selection to the “Texas Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list by Thomson Reuters. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to receive this honor. The annual selections are made using a multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The list will be published in the April 2016 issue of Texas Monthly.

Jackson Walker congratulates Mike Laussade for his selection to the “Texas Super Lawyers – Rising Stars” list by Thomson Reuters. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to receive this honor. The annual selections are made using a multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The list will be published in the April 2016 issue of Texas Monthly.

Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce the election of Jay Yates to the partnership. Yates is an intellectual property litigator with a focus on patent litigation. He represents clients in the energy, retail, e-commerce, banking, internet, and software industries. His trial experience includes heavy patent jurisdictions, as well as arbitration and mediation on behalf of clients in trade secret, patent and commercial disputes.

Julia Taylor, ’06, has rejoined Dentons, the global firm, as a partner in the Kansas City Real Estate practice. In her role, Taylor will advise clients on a broad range of real estate matters including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, multifamily, construction and financing of retail, office and industrial properties.

Vinson & Elkins has bolstered its highly regarded Finance Practice Group with the addition of partner Trevor Wommack, who focuses his practice on syndicated lending in the energy sector. Wommack, who joins the firm from Bracewell, will be based in V&E’s Houston office.