Class Notes

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.

Herschel Clyde Winn died May 17, 2016 in Irving, Texas. Retired in November 1997 as senior vice president and secretary of Tandy Corporation after 29 years of service, Mr. Winn was honored in 2010 by the State Bar of Texas as a “50 Year Lawyer.”

Andrew Graham has joined global law firm Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP as Of Counsel in its Litigation Practice, based in Dallas. Andrew has extensive litigation experience in trial and appellate courts in a wide variety of matters, including fiduciary duties, contractual disputes, corporate governance, privacy issues, and indemnity claims. His practice covers a range of industries and sectors, including oil and gas, banking, private equity, media, and aviation.

Beck Redden Partner, Russell S. Post, was elected to be a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers (AAAL). Membership in AAAL is by invitation only and is reserved for experienced appellate advocates who have demonstrated the highest skill level and integrity – membership is limited to 500 members in the United States.

Kelly Frels’70, former President of the State Bar of Texas, has been awarded the 2016 Civic Leadership Award by the Center for Houston’s Future.

Ralph W. Dau, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge and former partner with the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers, has died. He was 78.

Duke Whitney Gatlin passed away June 1st, 2016 in Nashville, TN.

Hal Ray ’84, has been appointed United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Wichita Falls Division. Judge Ray previously was a partner in Pope, Hardwicke, Christie, Schell, Kelly & Ray, LLP, in Fort Worth.

Reid Wilson, chairman of Wilson Cribbs + Goren, PC, received the Best Speaker Award for the 2015 Advanced Real Estate Law Course presented by the Texas Bar CLE. Reid was recognized for his presentation on “Terminating Condominium Projects.” The award was presented at a luncheon during the State Bar’s 2016 Advanced Real Estate Law Course.

Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant to the 9th state District Court, his office announced Oct. 17. Grant is the first assistant district attorney for the District Attorney’s Office and is the supervisor for the public integrity unit and major crimes and police integrity response teams.

The 2016 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognized 18 Brooks Pierce attorneys, including a University of Texas School of Law alumnus, as leaders in their respective practice areas.

Brooks Pierce partner Reid Phillips, who earned his juris doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1977, was recognized for Litigation: General Commercial. Phillips as previously nominated by his peers for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers in America” in Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, and Intellectual Property Litigation, and was named “Lawyer of the Year” in 2015 for Banking and Finance Litigation.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to congratulate John H. Martin, who was named to the 2016 Who’s Who Legal 100. Wright was recognized for his work in transport law.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to congratulate Arthur Wright, who was named to the 2016 Who’s Who Legal 100. Wright was recognized for his work in energy law.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to congratulate Jennifer P. Henry, who was named to the 2016 Who’s Who Legal 100. Henry was recognized for her work in transport law.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to congratulate Timothy R. Brown, who was named to the 2016 Who’s Who Legal 100. Brown was recognized for his work in energy law.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to congratulate Jim Morriss, who was named to the 2016 Who’s Who Legal 100. Morriss was recognized for his work in environmental law.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to congratulate Larry Hicks, who was named to the 2016 Who’s Who Legal 100. Hick was recognized for his work in real estate law.

Joe W. Redden was recognized in the annual Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2016 directory. Redden was specifically recognized for his work in General Commercial litigation.

Alistair B. Dawson was recognized in the annual Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2016 directory. Dawson was specifically recognized for his work in General Commercial litigation.

David J. Beck was recognized in the annual Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2016 directory. In addition to being recognized at the state-level for Litigation: Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation: General Commercial, Beck was recognized at the national level for Litigation: Trial Lawyers.

Chambers USA is carefully researched and widely considered to be the most reputable law firm directory in the world.

Ivan Wood, senior counsel in Baker Donelson’s Houston office, has been ranked in Band 3 in the area of health care in Texas in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA.

Beck Redden Partner, Connie Pfeiffer, led the charge to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision affecting millions of Texas homeowners in May. The Fifth Circuit had decided that homeowners with constitutionally defective liens on their homestead must file suits to set the lien aside within four years of originating a home equity loan. This meant that lenders could foreclose on a home when they had not complied with all of the Constitution’s consumer protection requirements to make a valid lien. Pfeiffer co-authored the briefs and presented the oral arguments in front of the Texas Supreme Court and the Fifth Circuit’s decision was overturned.

James W. Smith, Jr. (Jim) passed away on April 26, 2016. Jim earned a B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin in 1965 and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1967. Jim started his law career in 1968 at Childs, Fortenbach, Beck, and Guyton, where he became a partner of the firm. He continued his law practice at Butler and Binion when the two firms merged in 1987. In 1993 he formed his own law firm, Snell and Smith, until the firm merged with Thompson and Knight in 2000. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan, and his daughters, Robin Clark and Lisa Smith (’03).

Ardon Berkeley (RB) Judd, Jr. died April 25, 2016 in Houston, Texas. He was born in Houston on October 7, 1936 and married Nancy Ruina (Rue) Wallace on June 5, 1965. They raised their two daughters, Nancy Alston Judd and Sallie Matthews Judd, in Arlington, Virginia. He was a natural joiner, and in equal measures took joy from and gave joy to all around him. Ardon is survived by a large and loving family.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has named Vinson & Elkins partner Harry Reasoner as the recipient of the 2016 Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award. The award is given annually to an outstanding member of the legal community who exhibits an exceptional commitment to equality, justice, fairness and community service.

Arthur T. Catterall of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division’s Appellate Section has received the Arthur S. Flemming Award for 2015. For over 67 years, the Flemming award has been conferred annually on a dozen Federal employees for outstanding and meritorious work for the government. Mr. Catterall is being recognized for outstanding Legal Achievement. The award will be conferred at a ceremony at George Washington University on June 6, 2016.

Irwin Steinhorn is included on the Best Lawyers in America recognition list.

Robert Curry has been listed as a Band 1 attorney by Chambers USA and is also included on the recognition lists published by Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt) is proud to announce the promotion of Aryn Self to shareholder, effective May 1. Self works in the Dallas office and is an active members of the Real Estate practice group.

Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based and other molecular diagnostics, announces the appointment of Ana C. Ward, Esq. as Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Development.

Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals presented the new Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court with its Charter at the Federal Courthouse in Austin on April 14. Accepting the Charter from Chief Judge Stewart were Frank A. King (BA ’78, JD ’95), Assistant Attorney General, co-founder and President of the Barbara Jordan Inn of Court; Presiding Judge of the Austin Municipal Court Sherry Statman, President-elect of the Jordan Inn of Court; Treasurer and co-founder, JoAnn Dalrymple (BA ’91, JD ’94)(in absentia); Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd, Counselor of Jordan Inn of Court; and Administrator, Allison Cunningham (BA ‘11, JD ‘15).

Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals presented the new Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court with its Charter at the Federal Courthouse in Austin on April 14. Accepting the Charter from Chief Judge Stewart were Frank A. King (BA ’78, JD ’95), Assistant Attorney General, co-founder and President of the Barbara Jordan Inn of Court; Presiding Judge of the Austin Municipal Court Sherry Statman, President-elect of the Jordan Inn of Court; Treasurer and co-founder, JoAnn Dalrymple (BA ’91, JD ’94)(in absentia); Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd, Counselor of Jordan Inn of Court; and Administrator, Allison Cunningham (BA ‘11, JD ‘15).

Chief Judge Carl E. Stewart of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals presented the new Barbara Jordan American Inn of Court with its Charter at the Federal Courthouse in Austin on April 14. Accepting the Charter from Chief Judge Stewart were Frank A. King (BA ’78, JD ’95), Assistant Attorney General, co-founder and President of the Barbara Jordan Inn of Court; Presiding Judge of the Austin Municipal Court Sherry Statman, President-elect of the Jordan Inn of Court; Treasurer and co-founder, JoAnn Dalrymple (BA ’91, JD ’94)(in absentia); Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd, Counselor of Jordan Inn of Court; and Administrator, Allison Cunningham (BA ‘11, JD ‘15).

Hermes Law, a diverse team of legal professionals providing clients with expertise in the leading areas of practice impacting the insurance and risk industry, recently announced Gino J. Rossini as a partner at the Dallas, TX-based firm. Rossini has been a senior attorney at the firm since its inception in 2015.