Class Notes

Leslie Tan recently joined the Houston office of national law firm, Chamberlain Hrdlicka, as Senior Counsel in the Labor & Employment Group. Tan brings 16 years of experience in complex civil litigation to the firm. Her current practice focuses on guiding employers through challenges, from counseling on daily operations to navigating litigation, and all stages in between. She has been named to the Texas Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers® consecutively from 2012 to 2019.

Austin-based immigration law firm Lincoln-Goldfinch Law has named Cori Hash as partner. Hash was inspired to become a lawyer after serving in the U.S. Peace Corps in Zimbabwe and observing the injustices and political unrest there. Before joining Lincoln-Goldfinch Law in 2018, she was the Managing Attorney of the Washington, D.C. office of Human Rights First.

Penny Reid – General Counsel and Partner in Sidley Austin’s Dallas office – has been selected as the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers’ (DAYL) 2019-2020 Outstanding Mentor Award Recipient.

Jacqueline Furlow is one of the six Beck Redden attorneys who have been recognized as 2020 Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers.

Beck Redden LLP is pleased to announce that Partner Fields Alexander has been inducted as a Fellow into The American College of Trial Lawyers at its Spring Meeting held last week in Tucson, Arizona.

Submitted by brother, Carlton Carl: Colin Joseph (CJ) Carl, 76, died on March 22, 2020. He graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude (BA) and The University of Texas Law School (entered in class of 1968, but graduated later), after which he clerked for Federal District Judge William Wayne Justice. He served on the Opinions Committee in the Texas Attorney General’s Office and worked for other state agencies before retiring from the State a number of years ago.

James Holmes has published Superseding Money Judgments in Texas: Four Proposed Reforms to Help the Business Litigant and to Further Improve the Texas Civil Justice System, 51 St. Mary’s L.J. 69 (2020).

Gene Nichol has recently joined the Board of Trustees of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), a national antipoverty organization based in Washington, D.C.

Accomplished attorney and University of Texas School of Law graduate John Summers (UT Law, ’11) of the Dallas business litigation and intellectual property law firm Caldwell Cassady & Curry has been named to the 2020 Texas Rising Stars list of the top young lawyers in the state. A principal of the firm, Mr. Summers also claimed repeat Texas Rising Stars honors based on their work for clients in intellectual property litigation and business.

Accomplished attorney and University of Texas School of Law graduates Chris Stewart (UT Law, ’11) of the Dallas business litigation and intellectual property law firm Caldwell Cassady & Curry has been named to the 2020 Texas Rising Stars list of the top young lawyers in the state. A principal of the firm, Mr. Stewart also claimed repeat Texas Rising Stars honors based on his work for clients in intellectual property litigation and business litigation.

Shareholder Chris Hawkins has been selected to the Super Lawyers list in the area of Bankruptcy. He is the former managing partner and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He practices in the Insolvency and Commercial Bankruptcy, Business Transactions, and Commercial and Business Litigation practice groups. Hawkins represents a variety of corporate debtors, bankruptcy trustees, receivers, banks, commercial landlords, trade creditors, asset purchasers, etc.

Shareholder James “Jim” Hill has been selected to the Super Lawyers list for the last 14 years in the areas of Bankruptcy, Business Litigation, and Creditor Debtor Rights. A founding member of the firm, a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Insolvency and Commercial Bankruptcy practice group, Hill practices primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, insolvency and commercial law. His bankruptcy and receivership practice includes representation of creditors, bankruptcy trustees.

Dallas-based business law firm Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal has named trial lawyer Monica W. Latin as Managing Partner, effective May 1. She was named Managing Partner-elect in May 2019, is a member of the firm’s executive committee, and has served for many years as chair of the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group. As the first woman in Carrington Coleman’s top leadership role, she credits the firm’s namesake, founding partner Jim Coleman, for the opportunity.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Anna Lee Alford has joined the firm’s Dallas office as an associate, expanding the firm’s real estate, banking, and financial services practices. Ms. Alford focuses her practice on real estate finance, financial services and business and corporate transactions. Ms. Alford received her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 2014.

Chamberlain Hrdlicka recently elevated Justice David M. Medina to equity shareholder during the firm’s annual meeting on February 8. Justice Medina holds a LL.M. in Global Energy, International Arbitration, and Environmental Law from The University of Texas School of Law’s LL.M. Program – one of the top LL.M. programs for energy law in the world

During the 2020 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon, Austin Black Lawyers Association (ABLA) honored Professor Tracy W. McCormack for her service to ABLA and the legal community.

During the 2020 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon, Austin Black Lawyers Association (ABLA) honored Former Police Monitor Ashton Cumberbatch for his service to ABLA and the legal community.

Baker Botts Energy Litigation Partner, Bill Kroger has been awarded the Anti-Defamation League’s 2020 Karen Susman Jurisprudence Award for his exceptional work serving the communities of Houston, Texas.

Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Matthew Dunlap has joined the firm’s London office as a partner in its Finance practice. Mr. Dunlap brings to the firm extensive experience in cross-border corporate and private equity finance transactions, with a particular emphasis on high yield debt offerings.

Ed Pfiester wrote and directed Blanche, a feel good movie about old friends and second chances. Blanche also stars The University of Texas School of Law alumnus Clifford Hardwick ’73, as one of its main cast members. It is now available on Amazon Prime, iTunes and Vimeo Video.

The national law firm Thompson Coburn is proud to announce the firm’s new office in Dallas, it’s sixth nationwide. Elizabeth Myers is one of four litigators to join the Firm’s new office. Elizabeth Myers represents clients in the health care and oil and gas industries in high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts around the country, including commercial disputes and product defects, consumer fraud and securities class actions.

Charles C. Foster has been elected Vice Dean of the Houston Consular Corps, the third largest consular corps in the U.S., as the Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Thailand. He has been elected Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston and elected Vice Chairman of the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations.

Bracewell LLP Partner Jonathan K. Frels, UT Law Class of 2001, was recently appointed chair of the CHRISTUS Foundation for HealthCare Board of Directors. This vital 501(c)3 non-profit has been providing healthcare and social services to underserved communities of all faiths, ages and cultures in the Greater Houston/Galveston areas since 1966. It also serves as a safety net to the underinsured and uninsured through community clinics, school-based clinics, mobile clinics and homeless outreach.

Coats Rose, P.C., a transactional and litigation law firm focused on development, is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Melanie Cogburn, along with four other attorneys in its Houston, Austin, Dallas and New Orleans offices. Melanie joins the Austin office as an of counsel in the real estate practice.

Chamberlain Hrdlicka recently elected Julie G. Edelman as an income shareholder during the firm’s annual meeting on February 8.

James A. Martinez rejoined the El Paso law firm Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, P.C., as a shareholder.

Daily Journal, a law publication in California, has named Simon Greenstone Panatier’s $40 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson among the 2019 Top Verdicts in California. In September 2019, a California jury found that asbestos-tainted talc in Johnson’s Baby Powder caused 71-year-old Nancy Cabibi’s mesothelioma, an incurable form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. David Greenstone, a name partner of Simon Greenstone Panatier, was the lead trial attorney in the Cabibi case.

David N. Calvillo, board certified civil trial lawyer, certified public accountant, and certified valuation analyst with national law firm Chamberlain Hrdlicka, has recently earned an Executive L.L.M. (Master of Laws) in Tax Law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Calvillo has also been elected to be an income shareholder in recognition of his contributions to the firm during its annual meeting on February 8 in Houston, TX.

The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honored to give the 2019 Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award for Lifetime Achievement to John Christopher Luna.

Caplin & Drysdale is pleased to announce that Katy Cox has joined the firm as an Associate in the Complex Litigation and Bankruptcy practice groups. Ms. Cox represents both individual and corporate clients in state and federal matters across the country. Her practice centers around complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on bankruptcy litigation. In particular, she works to protect the rights and interests of creditors, tort claimants, and official creditors’ committees in mass tort b

The University of Texas School of Law alumnus September Rea joined Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli as Principal in the Los Angeles office. September joined Polsinelli’s Labor and Employment practice, which will focus on advising California and national employers within multiple industries on all aspects of employment.

University of Texas School of Law alumnus Daniel Lynch has been promoted to partner at Akin Gump.

The San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Davis to the SABF Fellows Program newly-elected 2020 class.

The San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Grant T. McFarland to the SABF Fellows Program newly-elected 2020 class.

The San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) is pleased to announce the appointment of the Honorable Judge Michael Mery to the SABF Fellows Program newly-elected 2020 class.

The San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel “Neel” M. Lane, Jr. to the SABF Fellows Program newly-elected 2020 class.

The San Antonio Bar Foundation (SABF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Dewald to the SABF Fellows Program newly-elected 2020 class.

University of Texas School of Law alumnus Reid L. Phillips was among 34 Brooks Pierce attorneys recognized as industry leaders in the 2020 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers. This annual list honors the top lawyers in North Carolina.

University of Texas School of Law alumnus Ross Angus Williams has been named to Dallas Business Journal’s “40 under 40” list.

Wright Close & Barger welcomes the University of Texas School of Law alumnus Michael Hurta, who will bolster the firm’s trial and appellate practice.

Elected Vice Dean of the Houston Consular Corps, the 3rd largest in the U.S. and elected Vice Chairman the George H.W. Bush Foundation for U.S.-China Relations and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston

Lindsey Raspino has been promoted to partner at Houston litigation firm Reynolds Frizzell LLP. Lindsey possesses a strong ability to translate complex matters into simplified concepts—a quality that has consistently contributed to favorable outcomes for her clients. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from The University of Texas, where she earned her law degree with Honors. She clerked for the Honorable Jane Bland of Texas’s First District Court of Appeals.

On January 1, 2020, Tom Selby was elected as one of the six members of Williams & Connolly’s Executive Committee.

After nearly 10 years in public service with both the SEC and the Department of Justice, Barry Kamar joined litigation funding advisory firm Westfleet Advisors.

Prof. Dr. John Henry Dingfelder Stone was awarded tenure as a Professor of Law (Public and International) at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve, Germany.

Longtime Baker Botts Attorney Bill Kroger will receive the Anti-Defamation League’s Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award February 19, 2020, at the Hilton Americas Houston. The award is presented every year to an outstanding member of the legal community who exhibits an exceptional commitment to equality, justice, fairness and community services. It is named for the late ADL Board Chair Karen H. Susman, in memory of her deep commitment to fighting hatred and doing good work.

Josh Ling recently joined the Houston office of Chamberlain Hrdlicka as an associate in the tax practice. He is an associate in the Tax Planning & Business Transactions group. Prior to joining Chamberlain Hrdlicka, Josh worked in Grant Thornton’s M&A Tax practice, where he focused on tax planning for businesses throughout various stages of the transaction life cycle.

The Dallas Bar Association recently elected its incoming Board. Robert Tobey, of Johnston Tobey Baruch, P.C., will lead the association in 2020. He was sworn in as the 111th President of the DBA January 11, 2020. Mr. Tobey began his service on the DBA Board of Directors in 2012. He was later elected Chair of the Board in 2016.

I recently left the partnership at Morris, Manning & Martin LLP to start my own law practice, The Lockett Law Firm, a boutique firm based in Atlanta, Georgia specializing in business litigation.

Dustin O’Quinn has been honored as an Outstanding Voice of Pride by the Puget Sound Business Journal for his committment to LGBT issues in the business community and pro bono work.