Class Notes

Phillip Mann died suddenly at home on June 3, 2016. Former colleagues at his firm Miller & Chevalier described Mr. Mann as “an outstanding tax lawyer and even better person. One of the kindest and most generous people I know.: “His touchstone in life was friendship. Clients became friends with Phil.” In the words of Anthony Shelley, Chair of Miller & Chevalier’s Executive Committee, “Phil was a preeminent lawyer, a strong leader both inside and outside the firm, a loyal colleague and a cherished friend to his clients and peers. He will be greatly missed by so many.”

Daniel Sternthal, a shareholder in Baker Donelson’s Houston office, will be ranked in the 2017 edition of Chambers USA, a highly regarded directory of America’s leading lawyers for business, as a leading practitioner in the area of healthcare.

John Ballard Bennett, died January 24, 2017 in Kerrville, Texas. He was born April 1, 1929 in Edinburg, Texas and was the son of Irene and John Bennett. At the University of Texas, where he was an editor of The Texas Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif, he met the love of his life and wife of 61 years, Mary Frances Chupick. After law school, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as a Captain in the Judge Advocate’s General Corp. Later, he co-founded Balcones Minerals Corporation in Flatonia, Texas with his father-in-law, John Chupick. He returned to the Rio Grande Valley where he practiced law for many years. The family invites you to send condolences at www.grimesfuneralchapels.com.

Jim Branton was honored in January by the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas with the Luther (Luke) Soules III Award for Outstanding Service to the Practice of Law at the Litigation Section Institute in San Antonio.

Scott W. Dibbs, Shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson, was recently named Best Attorney by NAIOP Tampa Bay Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Mr. Dibbs leads Hill Ward Henderson’s Commercial Leasing Group and is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group and Corporate and Tax Group. Mr. Dibbs currently serves as Chair of the Leasing Group of the ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, and he previously served as Chair of the Office Leasing Committee within the Leasing Group.

Hilda Galvan has been named the Chair of the Board of the Dallas Regional Chamber for 2017. As part of the Chamber, Hilda will help lead the Dallas area to become the most economically prosperous region—and the most desirable place to live and work—in the United States.

Trevor Anthony Taylor died on January 23, 2017. He was 47. Trevor loved the law. A trial lawyer with his own practice, he was a tireless advocate and a true believer in the civil justice system. Trevor’s heroes were lawyers, beginning with his father, Bill. Trevor relished an argument and fought passionately for the rights of those who couldn’t fight for themselves. He was greatly respected by his colleagues, a past president of the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association, a board member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Lloyd Lochridge Inns of Court. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to a charity of your choice or The Southern Poverty Law Center.

Reid Phillips was among 39 Brooks Pierce attorneys recognized as industry leaders in the 2017 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers. He was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” for Business Litigation.

Spencer Fane is pleased to announce the addition of Associate Jordan Jackson to its Oklahoma City office. He will join the firm’s litigation team, contributing a broad depth of experience in a range of practice areas, from real estate and acquisitions to oil and gas law. Jordan joins the firm from Freeman Mills PC of Tyler, Texas. “We are happy to welcome the experience and abilities that Jordan brings to our firm,” said Shannon Davies, Managing Partner of the Spencer Fane Oklahoma City office. “His emphasis on energy and land disputes will be an excellent addition to our litigation and energy practice.”

Austin Carlson, an associate at Gray Reed & McGraw in Houston, graduated from the 2016-2017 State Bar of Texas Tax Section Leadership Academy. As a licensed attorney and a Certified Public Accountant, Carlson’s practice focuses on corporate transactions, tax planning and controversy, and trust and estate planning.

Rob Crain, a partner at Crain Lewis Brogdon LLP, was recently inaugurated as the 108th President of the Dallas Bar Association. Mr. Crain was elected Chair of the Board of Directors in 2013. He has served as Chair of numerous DBA Committees including the Public Forum Committee and Bench Bar Conference Committee. In addition, he was Co-Chair of the 2011-2012 Campaign for Equal Access to Justice, which funds the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program to provide free legal assistance to over 4,000 low-income families with civil legal needs each year.

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.

Venable LLP recently announced that Evan Pritchard has joined the firm’s Real Estate practice as counsel in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Mr. Pritchard’s practice focuses on securing zoning and land use approvals for developers and landowners in jurisdictions throughout Northern Virginia, particularly in Arlington, Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church, among others. He advises clients on state and federal legislation and regulations affecting real estate development and important changes to local jurisdictions’ comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. His clients include mixed-use project developers, large corporate clients and some work for nonprofits and churches.

The UK Export Finance Board has announced that, as of January 1, 2017, Noel Harwerth succeeded Guy Beringer as Chair. As part of her role as UKEF Board Chair, she will also be a Non-Executive member of the Department for International Trade Board. Ms. Harwerth comes from a long career in the finance and mining sectors with significant experience in emerging markets. She is the outgoing Chairman of GE Capital Bank Europe, a role she has held since 2011, and a non-executive director at Standard Life plc, the London Metal Exchange, CHAPS Co and Sirius Minerals. Her executive career has included roles with Citigroup International as its Chief Operating Officer, Citicorp, and Dun & Bradstreet.

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.

Katie English has earned her Board Certification in Oil, Gas & Mineral Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Katie is an associate in Gray Reed & McGraw’s energy section in Houston and her practice focuses on oil and gas title and transactional matters in Texas, North Dakota and Montana.

Daniel Moffett has been made a Partner of Akin Gump in San Antonio. Mr. Moffett, a member of the firm’s intellectual property practice, works on all aspects of intellectual property procurement and protection, with a focus on complex patent, trade secret and trademark litigation. He has served as lead technical counsel in cases involving claims of patent infringement, antitrust violations and theft of trade secrets, and he has first chair experience representing clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings.

In 2016, Judge Peter Sakai, presiding judge of the 225th District Court, Bexar County, Texas was honored by the Center for Health Care Services Foundation, as the fifty most influential leaders in mental health care in Bexar County. The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word recognized his contributions to the San Antonio community by naming him for the Sister Walter Maher Humanitarian of the Year Award. The Supreme Court of Texas has reappointed Judge Sakai for a second term to the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families.

Vianei Lopez Braun has joined Decker Jones, P.C. in Fort Worth. She will continue representing employers in labor & employment law matters.

Caldwell Cassady & Curry is pleased to announce the addition of Alexis Mosser as a litigation associate in the firm’s Dallas office. She represents clients in a variety of federal cases involving complex business disputes and patent litigation, including handling inter partes review proceedings and other matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Ms. Mosser joins Caldwell Cassady & Curry with an extensive track record in state and federal courts, including cases heard by the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. A USPTO-registered patent attorney, Ms. Mosser also provides years of experience in patent prosecution cases.

The National Trial Lawyers has listed Demetrio Duarte, Jr., as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers for his work in criminal law.

Houstonia Magazine and H-Texas Magazine each named Daniel Knight to their “Top Lawyers” in Houston List for 2016. Mr. Knight practices in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, as well as general civil litigation and appellate issues, and was elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation in 2016.

Jackson Lewis P.C. is pleased to announce James Ward has joined our Kansas City Region office. Mr. Ward’s practice focuses on trial and appellate work on behalf of private and government employers. Mr. Ward has briefed and argued a number of appeals in employment matters in both federal and state court, including before the Missouri Supreme Court. Several of these appeals have involved first-impression issues, including claims for same-sex and “gender stereotype” discrimination, as well as an appeal before the Missouri Supreme Court that triggered a revised MHRA general verdict director and a brand new MHRA verdict director dedicated to disability discrimination claims.

Dentons, the global law firm, has named Cynthia L. Jackson as partner. Resident in the Firm’s Silicon Valley office, Jackson has over three decades of experience in California and US domestic, as well as international employment counseling and litigation. In addition to handling the global coordination of human resources and personnel-related agreements, policies and initiatives, she defends companies and C-suite individuals in high-profile class actions and other high-stakes employment litigation. “Cynthia’s extensive global compliance practice will enhance our ability to provide competitive US and cross-border workplace counseling, investigatory and litigation depth,” said Dentons US Managing Partner Mike McNamara.

Julia Simon has been named Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Mary Kay, Inc. As a member of the company’s executive committee, she will manage all aspects of the company’s Legal, Risk Management, Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility functions.

Andrew Baumgardner has been selected to join Leadership San Antonio, a program jointly sponsored by the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Baumgardner is a partner in the Real Estate and Family Office practices at Jackson Walker LLP.

Jack Emmott is about to publish his second book, “Bending Angels,” which tells his own story of his journey from a child stricken with polio to an over-achieving adult, and the “bending angels” in his life who guided and inspired him. Learn more about the book at the official “Bending Angels” website.

Diane Brayton has been appointed general counsel of The New York Times Company, effective January 1, 2017. Ms. Brayton joined the Times Company in 2004 and most recently served as deputy general counsel since May 2016 and corporate secretary since 2011. “Diane’s keen understanding of the legal environment in which The New York Times operates and her broad range of legal and corporate governance expertise make her ideally suited to lead our legal department. She is known across the company not just for her reasoned approach to addressing legal matters but also for her passion for our business and her deeply collaborative spirit. I’m looking forward to continuing what is an already strong partnership,” said President and CEO Mark Thompson.

Laura Mayer Robertson is the Deputy General Counsel for Litigation and Arbitration at ConocoPhillips, where she oversees litigation for the company on a world-wide basis. This fall, she has been honored in several ways: named a Woman on the Move by the Texas Executive Women (link below); selected by the Houston Business Journal as one of its “Women to Watch” in its annual Women in Energy Leadership awards; and, selected by Texas Lawyer as an honoree for its 2016 Women in Energy awards.

Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (Consumer Bankruptcy Law); named to the Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer” list for 12 years; Chairman of the State Bar’s Bankruptcy Section 2010-2011; inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Bankruptcy (15th Class); past Chairman of the West Texas Bankruptcy Bar Association and the Lubbock County Bar Association; for years a member of the “Recent Developments” panel at The Annual Jay L. Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference and a member of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Corinne Sullins has joined BoyarMiller, a Houston business and litigation law firm, as associate. She represents domestic and foreign entities, as well as individuals, in a broad range of corporate matters. While a law student, she represented children involved in cases of abuse or neglect as an Attorney Ad Litem through the Children’s Rights Clinic. She also clerked for the Texas House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee.

Litigator Craig Lauchner has joined BoyarMiller, a Houston business and litigation law firm, as associate. Lauchner clerked for the Federal Immigration Court in Houston and, while at law school, served as managing editor of business for the Texas International Law Journal.

Shane Read has published his fourth litigation textbook, “Turning Points at Trial: Great Lawyers Share Secrets, Strategies and Skills,” in which thirteen of the country’s greatest lawyers share powerful insights from their most interesting cases, from depositions to trials to appeals. Read profiles such famous lawyers as Robert S. Bennett, Bryan Stevenson, Alan Dershowitz, Mark Lanier, and U.T. School of Law alumni Lisa Blatt who has the record for a woman with the most oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court.

John C. Heintz, based in the Latham & Watkins LLP Los Angeles office, was promoted to partner, effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Heintz is a member of the firm’s Environment, Land & Resources Department. His practice focuses on infrastructure and project siting, environmental regulatory compliance and environmental litigation for energy, manufacturing and developer clients. He has particular experience in the areas of contaminated properties, air and water quality.

Jay Jackson, an Associate at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, has been selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list for 2016, which marks his fifth consecutive year to be recognized on the list.

John Flynn has been selected to Best Lawyers in America for Litigation-Construction and Construction Law.

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP is pleased to announce that Benchmark Litigation 2017 has recognized Virginia Hamilton Snell, Partner in the Firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Service Team, as a “litigation star” for the publication’s 10th Anniversary Edition. The publication’s “litigation stars” reflect lawyers who are recommended by peers and clients as having established consistent reputations as trial attorneys. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

Hannah Alexander is a 2016 Equal Justice Works Fellow, working with the Equal Justice Center in Dallas, providing representation to = low-wage, immigrant janitorial workers in theft-of-wages cases, employer fraud schemes, and similar severe employment abuses.

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP is proud to announce that Edward R. Lawson, Jr., has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017 in 56 different areas of legal practice nationwide. Mr. Lawson is an intellectual property and patent lawyer in the firm’s Milwaukee, WI, office.

Catherine Musemeche, a law school alumna and a pediatric surgeon in Austin, has published here second book, “Hurt.” From Dr. Musemeche’s official website: ” ‘Hurt’: the inspiring, untold story of trauma explores the topic of injury from the viewpoint of doctors, rescuers, patients and their families. HURT walks us through the development of today’s advanced trauma centers and demonstrates in graphic detail why they are essential in surviving complex injuries.” Her first book was “SMALL: Life and Death on the Front Lines of Pediatric Surgery,” and she is a guest contributor to the New York Times Motherlode column.

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.

Walt Herring, a partner in Munck Wilson Mandala’s Commercial Litigation practice group, has been recognized in Best Lawyers for his work in complex commercial litigation. For more than 30 years, he has concentrated his practice on complex commercial litigation matters for a wide variety of clients in both state and federal courts throughout the nation. Mr. Herring regularly serves as first-chair counsel in trials and arbitrations, and has considerable experience with other dispute resolution techniques. In 2016, Mr. Herring favorably resolved a significant class action and a securities fraud matter for one of the firm’s clients.

Stuart F. Miller, a shareholder in Baker Donelson’s Houston office, has been named to the 2017 edition of Best Lawyers in America for Health Care Law.

James P. Hill, a shareholder of the San Diego, CA, law firm Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel, was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in the 23rd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Additionally, Hill was also recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2017 Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law “Lawyer of the Year” in San Diego.

As part of Global Inclusion Week 2016, Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council announced five recipients of the Global Inclusion Awards from the US for their commitment to diversity, including Call of ’11 alumnus Stephen Myers. Mr. Myers is the vice chair of the Pride Network for Norton Rose Fulbright US and also serves on the Dallas Lambda Legal leadership team and the Turtle Creek Chorale’s board of directors.

William H. Caudill, a partner in the Houston office of Norton Rose Fulbright, has been selected to the chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation, the nation’s largest organization of tax lawyers.. Mr. Caudill, who previously served as the ABA’s Section of Taxation’s chair-elect, has a general tax practice, with a focus on partnerships, oil and gas, real estate, and tax-exempt organizations. He also assists clients in the tax aspects of bankruptcy and financially troubled commercial transactions.

Connor Best has joined Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr in Austin under the litigation practice group. Prior to joining Munsch Hardt, Connor served as a clerk under Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd of the Supreme Court of Texas. During his clerkship, Connor researched and drafted study memos on issues briefed for the court, drafted orders, and contributed to opinions published by the Court. In addition, Connor interned for Justice Eva Guzman of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Honorable Lee Yeakel of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the Office of the Solicitor General of Texas where he researched and drafted memoranda on tax law, federal habeas corpus law, arbitration and insurance law.

Donna Gooden Payne, East Carolina University counsel and vice chancellor for legal affairs, was elected in June to a three-year term as a member-at-large on the Board of Directors of the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) during its annual conference in San Francisco. Payne, a member of NACUA since 2002, has served for eight years on NACUA’s Editorial Board for The Journal of College and University Law. In addition, she has also served on the NACUNOTES Editorial Board, the Committee on Legal Education and the Committee on Program for the Annual Conference.

Michael F. King, from the Raleigh and Research Triangle Park offices of global law firm K&L Gates LLP, has been named a 2017 Best Lawyer in America by the publication Best Lawyers.

Corporate attorney Paul Tobias, widely regarded for his work with technology and growth companies, has joined Vinson & Elkins LLP as a partner in the firm’s Austin office. Tobias represents technology companies in all phases of their growth, from startup and venture financing, to acquisitions and public offerings and public company governance. He previously practiced at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he was the founding partner of the firm’s Austin office.