Amber K. Dodds has been honored as a “40 Under 40” leader by the San Antonio Business Journal for 2022. This elite group represents rising business and community leaders succeeding in business and contributing to the San Antonio community. Dodds, a partner at Bracewell, specializes in all areas of employment law.
John Gilbert Niles passed away on March 9, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. After graduating from Stanford University and Texas Law, Niles served in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General Corps from 1968 to 1972. After completing his military duty, he moved to Los Angeles where he joined the law firm of O’Melveny and Myers, becoming a partner in 1978 and retiring in 2004.
Kerry Potter McCormick has joined Barnes & Thornburg as a partner in the firm’s Investment Funds and Asset Management practice in New York. McCormick’s practice focuses on representing fund sponsors and alternative asset managers in connection with the launch and ongoing operations of various investment products and structures, including private funds, managed accounts, funds-of-one and co-investment products.
Eric Opiela has been appointed to the Texas Funeral Service Commission by Governor Abbott. Opiela is an attorney for Eric Opiela PLLC, president of the South Texans’ Property Rights Association, and a life fellow for the Texas Bar Foundation.
Ryan J. Meyer has been recognized as a 2022 Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Meyer is a litigation partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, where he defends companies and executives in government investigations, civil enforcement actions and criminal proceedings typically involving allegations of securities fraud and health care fraud.
Leigh Sebastian has been promoted to the position of general counsel of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). She oversees the Legal Services department including legal support, LCRA’s ethics program, and regulatory and electric market compliance. Sebastian also has supported the development of the organization’s legal strategy related to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Sebastian currently serves on the Advisory Council of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law and Business.
Chris Stewart from the Dallas law firm Caldwell Cassady & Curry has been recognized as one of the state’s top young lawyers on the 2022 Texas Rising Stars list published by Thomson Reuters. Mr. Stewart has earned repeated selections to the exclusive annual listing based on his work in intellectual property litigation.
Alan Jack Garey passed away on March 18, 2022. Garey, who was a double Longhorn, having earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from UT. Garey was a successful trial lawyer who specialized in personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He wrote Handling Workman’s Compensation Case for the Plaintiff, which was published by the State Bar of Texas. He served on and chaired the Texas Worker’s Compensation Commission. In addition to his legal profession, Garey founded Garey Construction Company and served as president of the Associated General Contractors of Texas.
Winter Woldemariam has been recognized as one of five distinguished alumni of the Riverwood International Charter School in a recently launched program to honor successful graduates. Woldemariam currently serves as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the US Justice Department.
Mary Kate Raffetto has been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Raffetto is an associate in the Houston office of Beck Redden LLP and specializes in appellate law and commercial litigation.
Parth Gejji has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star in Super Lawyers. Gejji is an associate in the appellate section for Beck Redden LLP, focusing on civil appeals and complex civil litigation.
Jacqueline Furlow has been named a 2022 Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Furlow is a partner in the Houston office of Beck Redden LLP and specializes in business litigation.
Nicholas Bruno has been recognized as a 2022 Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Bruno is an associate at Beck Redden LLP, where he practices in all levels of the Texas appellate system.
Justin Constant has been named a 2022 Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Constant is a patent litigation counsel in the Houston office of Weil, Gotshal, and Manges, LLP.
Daniella Landers has joined the Houston office of Womble Bond Dickinson as an environmental, health and safety partner. Landers handles a broad range of environmental issues, from environmental closures to groundwater remediation. She also is a frequent speaker and writer on environmental, energy, and litigation issues.
Nishi Kothari has been added to the 2022 list of Texas Rising Stars, a listing by compiled by Super Lawyers, that recognizes the top 2.5% of young lawyers in Texas. Kothari is a partner at the Brasher Law Firm in Beaumont.
Mary Nichols, who has been the general counsel of Texas Mutual Insurance for 26 years, has announced her retirement. Throughout her career at Texas Mutual, Nichols vigorously defended the newly reformed workers’ compensation system.
Mike Golden has been named Director of Advocacy and Lecturer at Texas Law. Golden has been with Texas Law since 2004, teaching Trial Advocacy Survey, Advocacy Outside the Courtroom, ADR, and Negotiation.
Linda Addison has received the Shirley Bird Perry Longhorn Citizenship Award presented by the UT Moody College of Communications. This award recognizes UT alumni, students, and employees for individual or collective acts that bring honor to the University community and positively impact civic life. Addison is Founding President of the Center for Women in Law. She was a U.S. Managing Partner of Norton Rose Fulbright and currently serves on the boards of KPMG LLP and Globe Life Inc., as well as multiple non-profit boards.
Hong Shi has been promoted to counsel at Haynes and Boone, LLP. Shi is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group in the firm’s Austin office. In her role, she advises clients on patent office trials before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), negotiates patent licenses, and prepares patent applications.
Kelli Bills has been promoted to counsel at Haynes and Boone, LLP. Bills is a member of the Appellate Practice Group, based out of the firm’s Denver office. She assists clients at every stage of litigation, from pretrial dispositive motions to complex appeals, in a wide array of industries.
Lawrence Beck passed away March 14, 2022. Beck graduated from Texas Law in 1976, and began practicing at the firm Beck and Beck PC. He was board certified in business and consumer bankruptcy law and recognized for his pro bono work.
Jo Betsy Lewallen Szebehely died on March 16, 2022. Szebehely was a double longhorn and graduated from Texas Law in 1966. She served as a partner of Hearn, Knolle, Lewallen, Livingston, and Holcombe for nine years, before working in private practice. Szebehely offered numerous pro bono professional services and community volunteer services during her time as a lawyer.
John W. Cones has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. Cones practiced law in Los Angeles for 23 years, then in Houston. His investor offering work resulted in successfully funding 62 feature and documentary films. In addition to his legal work, Cones has authored 16 books about film finance and has been active on the lecture circuit.
Veteran Dallas corporate partner Don McDermett has moved his practice to Winston & Strawn, LLP. McDermett has more than 30 years of experience in corporate, securities, and transactional law.
Meto Miteff passed away on March 5, 2022. Miteff was a double Longhorn, having also graduated from UT with his bachelor’s degree . After graduation, Miteff served in the United States Army Reserves for six years. After working for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, Miteff established his own law firm, then later started a construction company.
Seth Isgur has joined the Houston office of McGinnis Lochridge as a partner. Previously, Isgur was a partner in the Energy Litigation Group at Norton Rose Fulbright. Prior to his legal career, Seth was a certified public accountant.
Kathryn Richardson, founder and principal of HR Legal Search, was presented a Pathfinders Award by the Travis County Women Lawyers Association. The award is presented to local women attorneys who are using their law degrees in a variety of ways to impact the community and the legal profession as role models and trail blazers. Richardson previously served six years as Assistant Dean for Career Services at Texas Law.
Yvonne Puig, Chief Integration Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, was presented a Pathfinders Award by the Travis County Women Lawyers Association. The award is presented to local women attorneys who are using their law degrees in a variety of ways to impact the community and the legal profession as role models and trail blazers. Puig’s practice involves commercial and healthcare litigation, antitrust, regulatory and compliance advice, crisis and risk management, administrative law, and products liability.
James Bass, Jr., passed away Feb. 19, 2022, at the age of 89. He not only graduated from Texas Law, but he earned his bachelor’s degree from UT Austin as well. Bass, an Army veteran, served as Assistant District Attorney in Lubbock before moving into corporate law at Diamond Shamrock, then Maxus Energy.
Diana Perez Gomez has been named one of “Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2020-21” by Houston Woman Magazine. Honorees were selected based on the reputation for their expertise in a particular field or arena and being influential in their local and professional communities.
Jeremy Fudge has been named a 2022 Outstanding Director by the Dallas Business Journal. Fudge is the managing partner of the firm Berry, Appleman, and Leiden LLP, and has helped oversee expansion of the firm nationally and in the Dallas area.
Alistair B. Dawson, a partner at Beck Redden LLP, was inducted as a fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers at its spring meeting. Dawson, who specializes in commercial litigation, was editor of the Texas Law Review and a member of the Chancellor’s Society while at Texas Law.
Ken Parker has rejoined Haynes and Boone, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group. His work spans across industries, including life sciences, software, electronics and semiconductors, and consumer products.
Keith Tucker passed away on Feb. 13, 2022, at the age of 77. Tucker was a “double Longhorn,” earning both his undergraduate degree from UT as well as his Juris Doctor. A specialist in tax law, during his career, he worked as a partner and national insurance director at KPMG, vice president of corporate finance at Stephens Inc., and CEO of Waddell & Reed Inc.
Marion “Sandy” Sanford passed away on Jan. 27, 2022. In addition to his law degree, Sanford also spent his undergraduate years on the Forty Acres and served as the student body president. In his career, he worked as both a lawyer and an influential lobbyist in the Texas government. Sanford’s work impacted many areas of business, government, and political activity.
David Calvillo has been promoted to equity shareholder in the Houston-based law firm of Chamberlain Hrdlicka. Calvillo practices in a wide variety of areas, including breach of contract, commercial liability, shareholder rights, professional malpractice, and intellectual property. He currently serves on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors.
Lydia Zakhari has been promoted to General Counsel at The Trust (powered by the NFLPA), which supports NFL players following their playing careers. As a member of its Senior Leadership Team, Lydia is involved in the administration and management of The Trust and leads the diversified legal needs of the organization. While at Texas Law, she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights.
Leticia D. McGowan has been named Richardson Independent School District’s new General Counsel. The cabinet position provides in-house legal services to the board of trustees, the superintendent, and the district. She joined the staff at RISD after more than 20 years as in-house counsel at Dallas ISD.
James Hearn has been nominated for the 2022 Edgar Award for Best Short Story by the Mystery Writers of America. Hearn, who has published multiple works, co-wrote Blindsided with Michael Bracken; the story appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.
Basil Umari has joined national law firm Dykema’s new Houston office as Senior Counsel. Basil has more than 20 years of experience representing debtors, liquidating trustees, official creditors’ committees, creditors, equity holders, officers and directors, patent holders, landlords, tenants, and asset purchasers in corporate bankruptcy matters. He also has extensive experience in bankruptcy litigation.
Justin Mapes has joined the Real Estate and Real Estate Finance practice group of Locke Lord’s Dallas office as a Partner. Mapes has extensive experience in real estate law and corporate finance.
Scott D. Page has joined Carlton Fields in Los Angeles as a member of the firm’s national Real Estate and Commercial Finance Practice. Page’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including development, purchase and sales, joint ventures, financing, leasing, and other matters involving office, hotel, retail, industrial, and multitenant residential projects.
Joe Tom Easley passed away on Feb. 13, 2022, in Miami. A legal lecturer and LGBT and human rights activist, Easley’s legal work spanned a wide variety of areas including civil rights, Pentagon policy, and drug company price fixing. He was the board co-chair of the national non-profit organization Lambda Legal Defense, and served in a leadership role with the Miami Design Preservation League.
Patrick Cunningham Oxford passed away on Feb. 13, 2022, at the age of 79. Wile at Texas Law, he served as the managing editor of the Texas Law Review and was a member of the Friar Society. After graduating, Oxford worked for Bracewell LLP and specialized in business transactional practice, becoming a managing partner and leading the opening of the firm’s New York City office. Oxford continued to serve the University of Texas, with positions on the Board of Regents and as Chairman of the Health Affairs Committee.
Adam Ambrogi has joined the national League of Women Voters as Senior Director for Voting and Elections. In that role, he is using his experience with strategy, vision, and relationships to help expand the organization’s impact on voting rights and election administration. While at Texas Law, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights.
Finity Jernigan has been elected to partner at Holland & Hart, based in the firm’s Boulder office. Jernigan specializes in venture capital and private equity funds in consumer products (including the food, beverage, skincare and cosmetics industries). She works closely with funds, brands and entrepreneurs at all stages of the corporate life cycle.
Joe Barnett Cannon passed away on Feb. 8, 2022. Cannon served in the state legislature as a representative for Limestone, Falls, and Freestone counties. Cannon also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the State Bar of Texas and was recognized as an Outstanding Fifty Year Lawyer by the State Bar of Texas in 2010. At Texas Law, he served as Mid-Law Class President, was a Texas Goodfellow, and was recognized by the Supreme Court of Texas as the Outstanding Advocate in the moot court finals.
Jeffrey Benz is serving as an ad hoc division arbitrator under the Court of Arbitration for Sport at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. As a member of this group, he participates in hearings and contributes to decisions on issues during the Olympic Games.
John Bakht has joined the corporate, M&A and securities team in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright as a partner. Bakht has 25 years of experience working in commercial, transactional, compliance, operational, and governmental matters.