Class Notes

Henry Lee Caldwell passed away on April 18, 2024. Caldwell was an attorney, rancher and a founding director of Hospice of Abilene.

Parth Gejji has been elected as Fourth Year Representative to the Houston Bar Association (HBA) Appellate Practice Section. Gejji is an associate at Beck Redden LLP and focuses his practice on civil appeals and complex commercial litigation. He also was recognized as a 2024 Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers.

Nicholas Bruno was elected as Chair-Elect to the Houston Bar Association (HBA) Appellate Practice Section. Bruno is an associate at the Houston office of Beck Redden LLP and is board-certified in Civil Appellate Law. He also was recognized as a 2024 Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers.

Chris Hamilton has earned selection on the 2024 D Magazine “Best Lawyers in Dallas” list based on his work in high-stakes personal injury litigation and plaintiffs’ civil litigation. Hamilton is owner and partner at Hamilton Wingo, LLP.

Julia A. Simon has joined trial litigation firm Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann as partner. Previously, Simon served as the chief legal officer for Mary Kay Inc. for almost 25 years.

James R. Mundy has been hired at Curtis Thaxter, a Portland (Maine) law firm. Prior to joining the firm, Mundy had a practice in York County focused on real estate, probate and estate planning.

Jaime Vasquez has been named the managing shareholder of Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s San Antonio office. Vasquez, who is board certified in tax law, has counseled clients in tax litigation matters, handling cases before the United States Tax Court, United States District Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Jack Woodville London will speak on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Omaha and Utah beaches in Normandy, France. Jack will speak at the Brittany American Military Cemetery at Montjoie-Saint-Martin, France, on June 6, 2024, and at the Normandy American Military Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer the following day.

Lisa Blatt is the first woman to argue 50 cases at the U.S. Supreme Court, and she has a 41-5 win-loss record with four pending cases this term. Bloomberg Law points out her casual candor, direct argument style, and high energy as characteristics contributing to her success.

Harry Lee Hudspeth passed away April 7, 2024. After working for the U.S. Department of Justice under Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Hudspeth was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Jimmy Carter and served as a federal judge in Texas until 2016.

Anya Bidwell argued a case before the Supreme Court regarding retaliatory arrests, probable cause, and First Amendment rights. She also hosted the Short Circuit podcast with three other Supreme Court lawyers at the National Press Club in April. Bidwell is an attorney at the Institute for Justice and leads the firm’s Project on Immunity and Accountability.

Rep. Tommy Gregory, a lawyer and Air Force veteran who is chairperson of the state House Judiciary Committee, has been named as the next president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Gregory was first elected to the House in 2018, representing Manatee County’s District 72.

Kelly E. Wise has been promoted to shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Dallas, working as a member of the firm’s Litigation and Transportation practices. Wise, who was included in the 2024 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” directory, has background in a range of litigation matters, including construction liability and defects, premises liability and transportation and trucking liability.

Adrienne N. Wall has been named to the 2024 Texas Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” List for her excellence in banking law. As a shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Dallas, Wall focuses on commercial finance transactions secured by real estate, business assets or other personal property, notes receivable and other property or assets.

Andres Contreras, associate at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in Houston, has been named on the 2024 Texas Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” List for his excellence in complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts.

Meghan A. McCaffrey has a new position as co-managing partner at the Washington, D.C. office of Quinn Emanuel Trial Lawyers. McCaffrey is an accomplished trial lawyer, representing major U.S. and multinational corporations in complex business disputes and multi-billion dollar commercial litigation in federal and state courts.

William McClellan “Mac” Thornberry has been appointed to the board of directors of Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation. Thornberry represented the 13th district of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995-2021.

Barrett Robin has been selected to the 2024 Texas Rising Stars list of the state’s top young attorneys based on his work in personal injury lawsuits. Robin is an associate at the Dallas plaintiffs’ law firm Hamilton Wingo.

Peter Petkas has an essay featured in a new book of essays, “Choosing the Public Interest, Essays from the First Public Interest Research Group” (Watchdog Press, 2023). The book was edited and compiled by Texas Law fellow alumnus Sam Simon. Each essay is a personal story of finding Ralph Nader in 1970 and urges current students to choose public interest careers.

Sam Simon is the editor and compiler of a new book of essays, “Choosing the Public Interest, Essays from the First Public Interest Research Group” (Watchdog Press, 2023). Two other Texas Law alumni from 1970 also have essays featured in the book:  the late James Welch and Peter Petkas. Each essay is a personal story of finding Ralph Nader in 1970 and urges current students to choose public interest careers.

Jennifer Brown has been named chief legal officer and senior vice president of Mercy, where she will contribute to the company’s growth and collaboration efforts as one of the largest U.S. health systems. Brown has served in various roles including chief administrative officer, general counsel, and chief legal officer at several healthcare companies.

Carl Parker passed away on March 22, 2024. After serving as a Judge Advocate General in  in the U.S. Navy, Parker joined the law firm Long and Parker (now the Parker Law Firm) in Port Arthur. He went on to serve 34 years as a member of the Texas Legislature, starting in the House of Representatives in 1962 and later in the Texas Senate, where he served until 1995.

Irwin H. Steinhorn has joined the Oklahoma City office at the firm of Steptoe & Johnson as Of Counsel. Steinhorn’s background includes serving as vice president and general counsel for two New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) listed companies. He also served as an adjunct professor of law for 28 years at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Thomas John “T.J.” Collins passed away March 23, 2024. Collins, a transactional attorney who specialized in mergers & acquisitions, was an associate editor of the Texas Law Review while in law school. His legal career was based in Dallas, first at Kirkland & Ellis, then at Frederic Dorwart, Lawyers PLLC (FDLaw).

Judge Leon Schydlower has been sworn in as a federal district court judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Schydlower has been a magistrate judge in the district since 2015 and previously worked as special assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Hawaii following two years as a trial attorney on active duty for the U.S Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

James Kitces has been appointed managing partner of Robins Kaplan’s Boston office. He will be instrumental in driving the firm’s strategic goals, bringing proven leadership qualities, strong vision, and the respect of his colleagues to his new position.

The Hon. Brooke Lierman has been inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. Lierman is comptroller of the State of Maryland and is the first woman independently elected to any one of Maryland’s constitutional offices.

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.

Garrett Brawley has been recognized as a 2024 Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers. Brawley is an associate and trial lawyer at Beck Redden LLP, where he specializes in complex commercial litigation.

Mariah Berry has been named to the 2024 Texas Rising Stars List—recognizing the top 2.5 percent of young lawyers in Texas—for her work in labor and employment law. Berry, a senior associate at Muskat Devine who litigates all types of employment-related matters, is board-certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Colin Watterson has been named to Super Lawyers’ 2024 list of Texas Rising Stars, an honor that represents the 2.5 percent of top young lawyers in the state. Watterson, is partner at Hicks Thomas LLP, handling energy, real estate and technology cases. He was named a Rising Star for a second year for business litigation representing both plaintiffs and defendants.

Jennifer Johnson has joined Enstor Gas as general counsel. Johnson has more than a decade of energy-related legal experience and previously served as general counsel for Salt Creek Midstream.

William Neal Blanton III passed away on March 12, 2024. Following his graduation from Texas Law, Blanton went into private practice with Butler Binion and later worked at Exxon Mobil.

Dana Davis Paul has been selected for inclusion in the 2024 edition of the Best Lawyers in America directory for her work in real estate law. Paul is the owner of Paul Law Firm, PLLC in Northwest Arkansas  and has been practicing commercial real estate and finance law for more than two decades.

Jessica Bayne has joined the Estate Planning & Administration practice group at Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek as of counsel. An accomplished attorney, Ms. Bayne’s  estate planning and tax law practice focuses on assisting individuals and families in preparing for the future, offering expert counsel on estate planning, charitable giving and wealth preservation for future generations.

Paul Alexander passed away on March 11, 2024. Alexander was an accomplished lawyer, author, and paralytic polio survivor, gaining recognition for being the last living man in an iron lung.

Veteran trial lawyer Lisa E. Davis has joined Wittliff Cutter as senior counsel. Davis has more than 20 years of experience leading complex commercial litigation matters and intellectual property disputes, and years of senior in-house counsel perspective.

Carolyn Roch has joined Kean Miller’s Houston office as a partner, practicing with the labor and employment law, casualty litigation, and commercial litigation groups. She is a seasoned litigator who focuses on complex commercial litigation. Roch previously was a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Mark S. Partin passed away Feb. 26, 2024. Partin was a successful disability rights attorney licensed to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, several Circuit Courts, and the Federal Court, and spent his career representing and educating individuals with disabilities and their families.

Stephen Calhoun has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide as Texas:  San Antonio & Surrounds – Up and Coming lawyers. Calhoun is a partner at Jackson Walker and litigation attorney who represents companies from a variety of industries.

Leonard Dougal has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide for his environmental law practice. Dougal is a partner at Jackson Walker with particular experience handling Clean Water Act and other water-related issues for mining and energy industry clients.

Bill Dahlstrom has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide for his real estate practice. Dahlstrom is a partner at Jackson Walker,  handling the zoning aspects of hotel, mixed-use, and office projects for his developer clients.

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.

Alfie Meyerson has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide for his real estate practice. Meyerson is a partner at Jackson Walker, where his practice covers the acquisition, development, and financing of a range of commercial real estate transactions.

Taylor Halcomb has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide as an Up and Coming lawyer in environmental law. Halcomb is a partner at Jackson Walker where he regularly assists clients in compliance, development and permitting work relating to energy projects.

Virginia Alverson Mimmack has been ranked in the 2023 Chambers USA Guide for her healthcare practice. Mimmack is a partner at Jackson Walker, advising telemedicine providers, physicians, and hospitals on topics ranging from regulatory compliance to M&A and private offerings.

David Moran has been named in Lawdragon’s 2024 list of top 500 leading litigators in America. Moran, who was awarded for his antitrust practice, his focus during his career that has spanned more than 30 years.

Pete Olson has been named chairman of the Board of the Lone Star Flight Museum. A former U.S. Navy pilot, Olson served as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 22nd congressional district from 2009 to 2021.

Leisa Talbert Peschel has been named in Lawdragon’s 2024 list of top 500 leading litigators in America. Peschel was awarded for her IP litigation practice, where she leverages her scientific background to gain an understanding of a client’s technology to better position her client throughout a case.

Shannon Zmud Teicher has been named in Lawdragon’s 2024 list of top 500 leading litigators in America. Teicher was awarded for her IP litigation practice, as an advocate and counselor with deep experience in intellectual property, media and technology.