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.
Adrienne Nelson was recognized by the American Bar Association with its 2022 Spirit of Excellence Award for her commitment to racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. Nelson is Oregon’s first Black Supreme Court Justice, who was appointed in January of 2018. Currently, she is only one of eight Black women in the country who are sitting justices.
Robert “Bobby” Voigt has joined the Austin office of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley, and Norton, LLP as a patent and trademark partner. Voigt primarily focuses on acquisition, licensing, and transfer of intellectual property rights.
Carrin Patman has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Iceland. She is the chair of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas and previously practiced as a partner of Bracewell LLP.
Alejandra “Ale” Ávila has been selected to serve as a judicial law clerk to Justice Sonia Sotomayor on the U.S. Supreme Court beginning in summer 2022. Ávila is currently an associate at the law firm of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick PLLC in Washington, D.C., where she specializes in complex trial and appellate litigation.
Awais Sufi has been elected to the Board of Directors of Christel House International, a nonprofit working towards helping impoverished children. Sufi currently serves as the CEO of SchoolSmartKC.
Inga Cotton has been selected as a Foundation Fellow by the San Antonio Bar Foundation. Cotton is the founder and executive director of nonprofit San Antonio Charter Moms.
Andrew Baumgardner has been selected as a Foundation Fellow by the San Antonio Bar Foundation. Baumgardner practices real estate and commercial law as a partner at Jackson Walker.
Aimee Vidaurri has been selected as a Foundation Fellow for the San Antonio Bar Foundation. Vidaurri is a senior associate at the San Antonio office of Norton Rose Fulbright and a member of the dispute resolution and litigation group.
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.
Thomas Hanna passed away on Feb. 6, 2022. Hanna worked as Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney for Jefferson County. Hanna served as the Chairman for the Legislative Committee, the Executive Director of the State Bar of Texas in Austin, and on the Board of Texas Lawyers Insurance Exchange. He was recognized by the State Bar of Texas for Fifty Years of Outstanding Service in 2016, received the Blackstone Award, and was bestowed a lifetime achievement honor by the Jefferson County Bar Association.
Sylvia Borunda-Firth has been selected as the interim city attorney of Laredo, Texas. She is currently the president of the State Bar of Texas and a solo practitioner in El Paso. Prior to establishing her own firm, she was an associate with two El Paso firms, general counsel to American Garment Finishers, and served the city of El Paso for nearly 20 years.
Alexis Ander Kashar has been appointed to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Access Board by President Biden. Kashar is a civil rights attorney, business leader, technologist, and is the President of the Board for the New York School of the Deaf.
Brad Sklencar has been selected to be a Foundation Fellow by the San Antonio Bar Foundation. Sklencar is a partner at the San Antonio offices of insurance defense firm Resnick & Louis, P.C.
Amy Hereford now serves as LiftFund’s general counsel and director of government and community affairs.
Ellis J. Ortego passed away on Jan. 27, 2022 at the age of 79. Ortego practiced law for 52 years, specializing in municipal law, family law, probate law, real estate law, and and estate planning. He started his own law firm, which later became a family business once his wife and daughter joined. Ortega also served on the Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas.
Robert Gene “Rusty” Russell passed away on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. Russell graduated from law school in 1970, served in the Air Force, and had a long legal career, including serving as an administrative law judge for the State of Texas and teaching law at a local college.
Taylor Steele is heading the newly opened Dallas office of civil litigation firm Knox Ricksen LLP, a civil litigation firm. Steele has worked as a lateral partner for the firm since January 2021.
Jose Vela has been elected to the Austin City Council representing District 4, after running a campaign based on tackling housing affordability in Austin. Vela works as an immigration attorney for Walker Gates Vela, PLLC.
Whitney Beckworth has been elected as Partner at Kelly, Hart, and Hallman, LLP. Beckworth focuses on civil litigation and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for business litigation in 2022 and Best Lawyer/One to Watch in DFW for 2022 by US News & World Report for appellate practice.
Hannah Watkins has been elected as Partner at Kelly, Hart, and Hallman, LLP. Watkins specializes in real estate law and was named a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2022.
Reid Phillips was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” for Business Litigation in the 2022 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers, an annual list honoring the top lawyers in North Carolina. Phillips is a managing partner with Brooks Pierce.
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.