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Honors and Awards

Aleza Remis Headshot

Aleza Remis

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Aleza Remis has joined Hicks Thomas’ Houston office as senior counsel. She previously was the assistant deputy chief of the Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Unit.

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Andrew Kerr Headshot

Andrew L. Kerr

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Andrew L. Kerr has been selected to receive the 2025 Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award. Kerr began his legal career as an Air Force JAG officer before continuing his litigation practice in San Antonio, including his current position at Clark Hill.

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Luke Soules Headshot

Luke Soules

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Luther H. “Luke” Soules III has been selected as to receive the 2025 Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award. Soules worked as a business and commercial trial and appellate courtroom lawyer in San Antonio for 57 years, 30 years of which he served on the Supreme Court of Texas Rules Advisory Committee.

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Debra Lehrmann Headshot

Debra Lehrmann

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Justice Debra Lehrmann has been selected as the 2025 Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. She is the senior justice on the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court’s longest-serving woman justice in Texas history.

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Allison Standish Miller

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Allison Standish Miller has moved her practice to Steptoe in Houston, where she is a partner in the Professional Liability and Commercial Litigation groups. A double Longhorn, Standish Miller has been recognized on the Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers lists multiple times.

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Chris Thiele headshot

Chris Thiele

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Chris Thiele has joined Baker Botts as a partner in the Litigation practice within its Environmental, Safety, and Incident Response section. Thiele, who has more than 25 years of environmental law experience, previously the senior vice resident and legal counsel for an independent midstream energy infrastructure development company.

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Robert Braubach

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Robert P. Braubach was appointed by the Czech Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs as honorary consul for San Antonio and South Texas to represent the Czech Republic and promote trade, investment, tourism and education in South Texas. Braubach’s San Antonio-based law firm specializes in international business law, international real estate law, and entity formation.

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Ken Goetzke Jr. Headshot

Ken Goetzke Jr.

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Kenneth H. “Ken” Goetzke Jr. has a new position as deputy general counsel at the Office of Chief Counsel for NASA Langley Research Center. He was previously the associate chief counsel.

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John Donaleski

John Donaleski

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John Donaleski has rejoined White & Case in New York as part of its global project development and finance practice, after working at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe as a partner in energy and infrastructure finance. He advises financial institutions on complex energy and infrastructure projects, with a focus on renewables, conventional power, and digital infrastructure.

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Jason Ryan Headshot

Jason Ryan

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Jason Ryan has been reappointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Diabetes Council where he will work to address issues regarding quality of education services and treatment for people with diabetes in Texas. He also serves as the executive vice president for CenterPoint Energy.

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Thomas Kelton

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Thomas Kelton is currently serving as 2024-2025 chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Kelton is senior counsel at Fogarty IP, advising executives and management in businesses, including Fortune 500s and startups, on IP strategy.

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Jason Boatright headshot

Jason Boatright

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Jason Boatright has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Risk Management Board, where he will administer insurance services obtained by state agencies. He was previously a justice on the Fifth Court of Appeals and serves as special counsel for Duane Morris.

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Andrew “Andy” Kerr

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Andrew L. Kerr, a member at Clark Hill in San Antonio, has been selected as one of five recipients of the 2025 Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award. The Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award is given to attorneys whose practice has spanned five decades or more, recognizing their dedication to justice and adherence to the principles and traditions of the legal profession.

Headshot of Steven Stodghill

Steven Stodghill

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Steven Stodghill was confirmed as a member of the Public Safety Commission by the Texas Senate. Stodghill, a partner at Winston & Strawn, has served on the PSC since his initial appointment in 2019.

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Headshot of Andrew Coleman

Andrew Coleman

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Andrew Coleman has joined BraunHagey & Borden as a litigation attorney in the firm’s New York office. Coleman, whose practice will cover complex commercial disputes, recently clerked for the Honorable Brian A. Jackson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.

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Angela Neville

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Following a long career in business journalism that included positions as editor-in-chief of Environmental Protection magazine, energy reporter for Texas Lawyer newspaper, and senior editor at POWER magazine (McGraw Hill), Angela Neville now owns Neville Wildlife Enterprises and handles hunting and grazing leases for property in Clay County, Texas.  She also was an instructor at Texas A&M University’s Division of Environmental & Occupational Safety and taught continuing education classes to environmental professionals.

Diana Pérez Gomez

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Diana Pérez Gomez has joined Jackson Walker as a partner in the Labor & Employment practice group for the firm’s Houston office. Gomez, who previously was a trial shareholder for Chamberlain Hrdlicka, serves on the board of directors for the State Bar of Texas and on the Texas Access to Justice Commission.

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Leslie Tan Headshot

Leslie Tan

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Leslie Tan has joined Jackson Walker as senior counsel in the Labor & Employment practice group for the firm’s Houston office. She is a seasoned senior counsel with expertise in labor and employment matters and complex civil litigation and a strong background in insurance defense.

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Lina Ortega Headshot

Lina Ortega

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Lina Ortega is a new board member for the El Paso Community Foundation. Ortega, recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer, previously served four consecutive terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

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Bruce McCandless III Headshot

Bruce McCandless III

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Bruce McCandless III, son of astronaut Bruce McCandless II—who flew missions in the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs—released his latest book, “Star Bound,” on Jan. 1, 2025. The book centers on the history of human spaceflight and the American space program and is the latest of McCandless’s novels and nonfiction work.

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Aaron Reitz Headshot

Aaron Reitz

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Aaron Reitz has been confirmed as the new Assistant U.S. Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy. In this role, he will oversee the administration’s selection of federal judges and help coordinate legal strategies on cultural issues. Reitz previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and held a position in the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

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Daniel J. Pope Headshot

Daniel J. Pope

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Daniel J. Pope has been named counsel for Bracewell where he will advise and defend energy, infrastructure, and industrial clients on environmental permits, transactions, and litigation. Pope previously was a judicial assistant for the Hon. Fred Biery of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.

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Lisa Lewis Headshot

Lisa Lewis

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The Hon. Lisa Lewis has ascended to the bench as a justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Previously a judge for Kings County Civil Court and an attorney for District Council 37, Lewis has more than 25 years of experience in civil, criminal, and family law.

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Peregrinus

Billy Joe McLain

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Billy Joe McLain has been appointed associate United States attorney, where he will oversee capital cases and help implement Department of Justice priorities. He brings nine years of experience as an assistant U.S. attorney in California, where he successfully prosecuted federal murder cases, fraud, public corruption, and organized crime. McLain previously practiced at Hueston Hennigan and Irell & Manella, and has clerked for judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

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Abby Rogers Headshot

Abby Rogers

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Abby Rogers has joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan as an associate in the firm’s new Austin office. She is part of a team that focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, and litigation. Rogers previously worked at Ross, Smith & Binford.

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Mark Taylor

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Mark Taylor has joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan as co-director, helping launch the firm’s new Austin office. This move expands the firm’s reach into Central Texas, with an initial focus on bankruptcy, restructuring, and litigation.

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Mary E Wilson

Mary Elizabeth Wilson

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Mary Elizabeth Wilson has been appointed as the chief of staff and general counsel at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. In this role, Wilson will provide legal support across corporate matters, personnel, contracts, and economic development incentives.

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Michael Riordan

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Michael Riordan has been named a senior attorney at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings in Houston. A member of Bradley’s Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, he focuses his practice on the restructuring of companies in and out of bankruptcy, debtors’ and creditors’ rights, debtor-in-possession financers, and the acquisition and sale of distressed assets.

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Joe Profaizer

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Joe Profaizer has joined Linklaters in Washington, D.C., as a partner and global co-head of Linklaters’ International Arbitration Practice. He continues to serve as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

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Joe Lawlor

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Joe Lawlor has been promoted to partner at Orrick in Houston, where he advises clients with mergers and acquisitions, joint venture formations, and project development transactions across the full energy spectrum.

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Arthur Nathan Headshot

Arthur Nathan

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Arthur Nathan has joined Dykema’s Houston office, bringing his expertise in corporate and partnership transactions. Recognized by Chambers USA for his work in Corporate/M&A, Nathan was previously a partner at Jones Day and Haynes & Boone.

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James Gosdin Headshot

James Gosdin

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James Gosdin has been appointed head of direct underwriting at AmTrust Title Insurance Company in Houston. Previously, he served as senior vice president and chief underwriting counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty Company and has underwritten title insurance transactions nationwide.

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Philip Wright headshot

Philip Wright

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Philip Wright co-founded the Houston-based private equity firm Allied Industrial Partners, a lower-middle market private equity firm that applies an operationally focused, thematic approach to invest in high-growth industrial companies. Allied uses its strong operating heritage and extensive M&A capabilities to benefit its partners.

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Headshot of Patricia Rigney

Patricia Rigney

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Patricia Rigney, city attorney for the City of Mission and owner of the Rigney Law Firm, has been reappointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to the Business Advisory Council within the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Rigney will provide advice and expertise on actions state and local governments can take to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster.

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Michael Reeder Headshot

Michael Reeder

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Michael Reeder, a seasoned trial attorney and patent litigator, has joined Blank Rome’s Houston office as a partner in the Intellectual Property Litigation group and member of the Technology industry team. Previously, Reeder was a partner and founding member at Cadwell Clonts Reeder & Thomas.

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Jonathan Harmon Headshot

Jonathan Harmon

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Jonathan Harmon has been named one of Virginia’s 50 Most Powerful Leaders in 2025 by the publication Virginia Business.  Harmon was elected to be the first Black chairman of the state’s largest law firm McGuireWoods in 2017 as a nationally recognized trial lawyer representing Fortune 500 companies.

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Scott Cole Headshot

Scott Cole

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Scott Cole, a veteran trial lawyer and patent litigator, has joined Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg as managing partner of its Austin office. Cole has three decades of experience in commercial and intellectual property disputes with past leadership roles at top firms including Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and McKool Smith.

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Harris Wells

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Harris Well has been elected to partner at Reynolds Frizzell in Houston. A trial attorney with the firm since 2017, Harris is a master of deep and diligent research who finds unique ways to resolve legal issues for his business litigation clients in the energy, real estate, and financial industries.

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Jesse Zambrano headshot

Jesse Zambrano

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Jesse Zambrano has created a Legal Eagles pipeline program through the Zambrano Law Firm. The program provides an immersive learning experience to high school and college students aspiring to make their mark in the legal domain, including a mentorship platform, educational resources, networking opportunities, and hands-on legal case experience.

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Brighten Kaufman Headshot

Brighten S. Kaufman

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Brighten S. Kaufman has been promoted to an associate for Akin where she will advise private fund managers and represent institutional and private investors across various jurisdictions. She was previously an Akin summer associate and a Strauss Diversity & Inclusion Scholar.

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Kyle Fox Headshot

Kyle Fox

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Kyle Fox has joined Perkins Coie’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practices as a partner working in the firm’s Austin office. Fox is part of a three-partner group that made the move to Perkins Coie from Greenberg Traurig.

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James Lloyd Headshot

James Lloyd

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James Lloyd has been appointed deputy policy director to Vice President JD Vance. Before being called to serve in the Trump administration, Lloyd was deputy attorney general for civil  litigation.

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Debra Lehrmann Headshot

Senior Justice Debra H. Lehrmann

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Senior Justice Debra H. Lehrmann, Texas Supreme Court’s longest-serving woman justice, has been named the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award by the Texas Bar Foundation.

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Mickey Klein Headshot

Mickey Klein

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Mickey Klein, a longtime supporter and contributor to various programs and colleges at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the Shirley Bird Perry Longhorn Citizenship Award with his wife Jeanne.

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Kate Goodrich Headshot

Kate Goodrich

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Kate Goodrich has been promoted to a senior policy advisor and member of Holland & Knight’s Government Advocacy Team. Goodrich previously was deputy general counsel and policy advisor for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and a governmental affairs consultant with Jackson Walker.

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Stephen Yeh

Stephen Yeh

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Stephen Yeh has been promoted to partner at Latham & Watkins in Los Angeles, effective March 1, 2025. Yeh is a member of the firm’s Project Development & Finance Practice and Finance Department, where he represents financial institutions, corporate investors, sponsors, and developers.

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Robert Brown

Robert Brown

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Robert Brown has been promoted to partner at Latham & Watkins, effective March 1, 2025. Brown is a member of the firm’s Privacy & Cyber Practice and Corporate Department, where he advises clients on compliance with data privacy and security laws.

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Jesse Pierce

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Jesse Pierce, co-founder of Pierce & O’Neill in Houston, has been named among the nation’s top energy and natural resources litigation attorneys in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Energy Lawyers listing.

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Jack O’Neill

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Jack O’Neill, co-founder of Pierce & O’Neill in Houston, has been named among the nation’s top energy and natural resources litigation attorneys in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Energy Lawyers listing.

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Headshot of Sam Lindsay

Judge Sam Lindsay

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Judge Sam Lindsay, the first African American U.S. district judge for the Northern District of Texas and the first African American city attorney for the City of Dallas, received Texas Law’s 2025 Virgil C. Lott Medal at a ceremony on Feb. 19, 2025.

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