Billy Flynn “Bill” McGraw passed away on Sept. 20, 2021. McGraw spent two years in the U.A. Navy, stationed at Great Lakes, Illinois. His law degree launched his legal and business career, first as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Joe Fisher in the United States District Court in Beaumont, and then eventually moving into private practice in Jasper.
Joe W. Redden, Jr. has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work with Civil Litigation, Defense. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Redden is of counsel with Beck Redden LLP.
Allison S. Miller has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for her work with Professional Liability, Defense. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Miller is of counsel with Beck Redden LLP.
Geoff Gannaway has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work with Business Litigation. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Gannaway is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
Fields Alexander has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work with General Litigation. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Alexander is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
Alistair Dawson has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers among the Top 100 Houston ranking . This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Of those nominated, only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion. Dawson is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
David Beck has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers among the Top 100 Texas and Top 100 Houston rankings. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Of those nominated, only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion. Beck is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
Allison Skees has recently joined Bourland, Wall & Wenzel in Fortworth, Texas as an associate attorney. Skees has experience in general civil litigation and her practice focuses primarily on fiduciary litigation and guardianships.
The Honorable Peter Kelly was elected to The American Law Institute in June of 2021. He has served the Texas First Court of Appeals since 2018.
S. Anthony Safi has been recognized with the Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award from the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Safi is the only El Pasoan ever to have received this recognition. He is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the El Paso Bar Foundation.
Michael M. Parker has been selected by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to be the next bankruptcy judge in the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. Parker is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and has been with the firm since the end of his two-year bankruptcy clerkship in the Western District of Texas with Hon. Ronald B. King in 1995. He is scheduled to take the bench on Nov. 2, 2021.
Erica Grigg has been named as the Director of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP). TLAP provides confidential help, referrals, and peer assistance programs to lawyers, judges, and law students experiencing mental health or substance use disorders. She is a member of the American Counselors Association, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Capitol Area Trial Lawyers Association.
Michael Charles O’Connor passed away on Sept. 13, 2021 in Houston. O’Connor graduated first in his class from The University of Texas School of Law, with the distinction of Chancellor and Order of the Coif. He began his legal career at Vinson and Elkins before starting his own law firm in Houston, where he continued to practice law for over 35 years.
Judge Rhonda Wills is the star of a new court reality show, “Relative Justice with Judge Rhonda Wills.” Wills currently practices law in Los Angeles and is also licensed to practice in Texas and New York. She previously appeared on WeTV’s “Sisters in Law” and also has appeared as a legal contributor for such outlets as CNN. The show will focus on conflicts between family members.
Chris Montez of Plano, Texas passed away on August 30, 2021 at the age of 46. After law school, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. Bill Vance of the 10th District Court of Appeals in Waco, Texas. Montez then worked at the Law Firm of Darrell Keith, PC and later became a partner at the Dallas firm of Thomas, Feldman & Wilshusen, LLP (TFW). After 14 years at TFW, he started his own practice, The Law Firm of Christopher D. Montez, PLLC. Montez was a member of the ABA Forum on Construction Law and served as General Counsel to the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA).
Robert “Bob” H. Stanley was known for creatively using film to give the historical context of law to enrich students’ perspective of current legal decisions. From 1982–87, he served in several positions at Brown University. He served as visiting assistant professor of history at the University of New Hampshire from 1987–88, and then spent a year teaching at the University of Texas at Arlington. In 1989, Stanley began his career at Chico State and became an important asset to the legal studies program. He remained a member of the Texas State Bar all his life.
Daniel Collins is now an assistant county attorney assigned to the El Paso County hospital district unit, which represents University Medical Center of El Paso. Collins previously served in various legislative roles, most recently as El Paso County’s government affairs manager, and previously as a legislative counsel in the Texas Senate, New York Senate, and at the New York City Council.
Conde Cox has been recognized in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Debtor-Creditor Rights and Insolvency/Reorganization.
Scott Craig has joined the new Austin office of Latham & Watkins LLP in the Emerging Companies Practice. He joins from Wilson Sonsini and represents emerging growth and late stage venture capital backed companies in technology, life sciences, and other high-growth industries, as well as the private equity and venture capital funds that invest in those companies,
Ed Cotham has recently published two history books. Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration (State House Press, 2021), and A Busy Week in Texas: U. S. Grant’s 1880 Visit to the Lone Star State (Texas State Historical Association Press, 2021).
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.
Samer Zabaneh has joined the new Austin office of Latham & Watkins LLP in the Emerging Companies Practice and will serve as the Office Managing Partner. He joins from DLA Piper and advises public and emerging private companies and their venture capital and private equity investors through their life cycles, from formation to liquidity.
Bobby Joe Waggoner passed away at the age of 75. He practiced law in San Antonio with The McCamish Law Firm, and finished a long career with The San Antonio Housing Authority in 2016. Waggoner was a member of The San Antonio Bar Association.
Michael J. Ritter has joined the San Antonio office of Schmoyer Reinhard LLP as senior counsel. Ritter focuses his practice on state and federal appeals, mandamus proceedings, litigation support, and labor and employment law.
James F. Gilbert, passed away on Aug. 27, 2021 at age 89. He has resided in Dallas for 60 years. For most of his career, Gilbert practiced with the law firm of Kilgore & Kilgore, where he specialized in corporate and securities law. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant where he was stationed in Germany.
Jackie Furlow has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. She is an attorney with Beck Redden who specializes in in Commercial Litigation.
Joe W. Redden, Jr. has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is Of Counsel with Beck Redden who specializes in Personal Injury Litigation.
Geoff Gannaway has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation.
Mary Kate Raffetto has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. She is an associate with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation.
Alistair Dawson has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation and Antitrust Litigation.
David J. Beck has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law, Antitrust Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, and Natural Resources Law.
Fields Alexander has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation.
Jackie Johnson has joined Constangy, Brooks, Smith and Prophete, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office, and will serve as co-chair of the Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Practice Group. An exceptional litigator, Johnson is nationally recognized for her experience in issues including restrictive covenant agreements, trade secret theft, breach of contract, duty of loyalty, and tortious interference with contract disputes.
Douglas Neill Carnes passed away on August 12, 2021. Carnes practiced law in Austin for 30 years, his latest position being staff attorney for the Travis County Juvenile Probation Department. He loved traveling, studying history, and painting.
James “Jim” Larkin passed away on August 25, 2021. He served in the US Army 1957 – 1960, primarily stationed in Berlin. Larkin served as Harris County DA for 28 years until his retirement in 1993. During his career, he performed Administrative duties and served as Chairman of the Hiring Committee for 19 years where he watched hundreds of young lawyers advance through the DA’s office. After retiring as DA, Larkin became a visiting judge for the Harris County for 17 years.
Brad Caldwell from Dallas’ Caldwell Cassady & Curry once again has been named among The Best Lawyers in America based on his work in intellectual property trials and patent lawsuits.
Joe Beck Hairston passed away August 30, 2020 in Austin, at age of 82. Joe served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy from 1961 to 1964. Joe practiced school law over five decades, most notably with the firm he co-founded in Austin, now known as Walsh Gallegos. While working as a staff attorney at the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Joe was a principal author of the TASB Policy Reference Manual, a legally based management manual for Texas public school districts. He was also an avid traveler, having visited more than 100 countries on 6 continents.
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.
Christopher Hawkins has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 28th Edition of Best Lawyers in America®in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He is a shareholder at Sullivan Hill Rez & Engel.
James “Jim” Hill has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 28th Edition of Best Lawyers in America.® He is a shareholder at Sullivan Hill Rez & Engel.
Partner Katie Maechler has been appointed to serve as co-chair of the Litigation Practice Group at the Minneapolis law firm of Maslon LLP. Maechler specializes in product liability litigation and has successfully represented device manufacturers in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Judge Steve Smith was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the 10th Court of Appeals in Waco to fill the unexpired term of Justice John Neill, who retired in May. Smith, current judge of the 361st State District Court in Bryan, will start his new job Sept. 1. He will join Chief Justice Tom Gray and Justice Matt Johnson on the three-member panel. Smith has served as judge of 361st State District Court since 1999.
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.)
Robert Tobey was elected to the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and was also elected to the Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents.
Arthur “Art” L. Goolsbee passed away July 19, 2021 in Abilene. He joined the Marines and served four years as an air traffic controller before going to Baylor University and then Texas Law. He served as Director of Finance and internal legal counsel at Utility Trailer Manufacturing until his retirement in 2004. In 2008 the Reverend Arthur Goolsbee was ordained an Episcopal Deacon. He served his community as an Executive Board Member of United Way of Abilene, an Associate Municipal Court Judge, a Teen Court Judge and a volunteer at the State Supported Living Center.
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.
Ken Garcia, executive fellow of Q2 Software, Inc., was elected to serve as an independent director on the board of directors of TimkenSteel Corporation. In his current role, he assists Q2 Software’s board of directors and executive leadership team with long-term planning related to M&A, talent and its product roadmap. Previously, Garcia co-founded and served as president of PrecisionLender, and co-founded and served as CEO of Halo Technologies, Inc.
Neal Manne received American Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Publico Award – the highest public service recognition by the country’s largest legal organization. Earlier this year, Manne received the John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award, which the ABA’s Litigation Section gives each year to one lawyer who has made outstanding contributions to help the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. He is the only person ever to receive both awards in the same year.
Rodney Jack Sheppard, 83, died peacefully at home surrounded by family, August 1, 2021, in Austin. A graduate of Texas Law, he served in the Army JAG Corps before entering private practice. He briefly served as general counsel to Armadillo World Headquarters.
Robert Sellers Weatherall passed away in Houston on July 30, 2021. During the Korean War, he studied Russian at the Army Language School in Monterey, CA. Upon graduation, he served as a Russian language intercept operator in various remote locations around the globe. After law school, he joined Andrews Kurth Law Firm in 1957, where he was a partner for over 30 years.