Jim Ormiston has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work in Commercial Litigation. He is a partner and Chair of the Litigation Department at Gray Reed & McGraw LLP. The majority of his practice involves handling energy litigation and complex commercial disputes.
Emily Chou has joined Forshey Prostok LLP, a Fort Worth bankruptcy boutique, as a partner in the firm’s Fort Worth office. Chou brings over 20 years of experience in business reorganization, creditors’ rights, and commercial litigation. Her work has included representing official creditors’ committees and post-confirmation liquidation/litigation trustees in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases all over the United States.
Brian Newby, Managing Partner of Cantey Hanger LLP, has been selected to receive the 2021 Law “Good Scout” Award from The Longhorn Council, Boy Scouts of America. Newby served a 31-year military career that included assisting both the Director for Operational Law and the Deputy Judge Advocate General, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. He was also appointed by former Gov. George W. Bush to the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents and served as vice chair. Former Gov. Rick Perry appointed Newby as his General Counsel and as his Chief of Staff, and asked him to head the state’s recovery effort after Hurricane Ike.
Kirby Cronin has joined the Dallas-based FBFK law firm as a shareholder and will lead market efforts at its new Austin office. Cronin is an Intellectual Property (IP) attorney formerly of Cronin PLLC. He is a 25-year attorney with expertise in intellectual property transactions, litigation, and counseling as well as extensive experience representing financial institutions’ technology-related matters.
Jamie E. France has rejoined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as an Of Counsel in its Washington, D.C. office. She will serve as a member of the Litigation and Antitrust and Competition Practice Groups. Before rejoining Gibson Dunn, France served as an attorney in the Mergers IV Division of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition from 2015 to 2021. Previously, she was an associate attorney at Gibson Dunn from 2012 to 2015.
Rocio Guadalupe Mendoza has joined Paul Hastings LLP’s Houston office as partner. Mendoza comes to the firm from Baker & McKenzie. She advises on a diverse range of domestic and international energy-related transactions and projects, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and project development.
Lisa S. Tsai, a founding partner of Reid Collins & Tsai LLP, has become Managing Partner and joined the Executive Committee of the national trial boutique. Tsai is recognized for her leadership and contributions to the elevation of women and Asian-Pacific American (APA) attorneys regionally and nationally. She is past chair of the State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section.
Joe W. Redden, Jr. has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work with Civil Litigation, Defense. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Redden is of counsel with Beck Redden LLP.
Allison S. Miller has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for her work with Professional Liability, Defense. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Miller is of counsel with Beck Redden LLP.
Geoff Gannaway has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work with Business Litigation. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Gannaway is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
Fields Alexander has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers for his work with General Litigation. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Alexander is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
Alistair Dawson has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers among the Top 100 Houston ranking . This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Of those nominated, only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion. Dawson is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
David Beck has been recognized in 2021 Texas Super Lawyers among the Top 100 Texas and Top 100 Houston rankings. This annual award listing is based on peer recognition and professional achievements and published by Thomson Reuters. Of those nominated, only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion. Beck is a partner with Beck Redden LLP.
Allison Skees has recently joined Bourland, Wall & Wenzel in Fortworth, Texas as an associate attorney. Skees has experience in general civil litigation and her practice focuses primarily on fiduciary litigation and guardianships.
The Honorable Peter Kelly was elected to The American Law Institute in June of 2021. He has served the Texas First Court of Appeals since 2018.
S. Anthony Safi has been recognized with the Kelly Frels Lifetime Achievement Award from the School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Safi is the only El Pasoan ever to have received this recognition. He is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the El Paso Bar Foundation.
Michael M. Parker has been selected by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to be the next bankruptcy judge in the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. Parker is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and has been with the firm since the end of his two-year bankruptcy clerkship in the Western District of Texas with Hon. Ronald B. King in 1995. He is scheduled to take the bench on Nov. 2, 2021.
Erica Grigg has been named as the Director of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP). TLAP provides confidential help, referrals, and peer assistance programs to lawyers, judges, and law students experiencing mental health or substance use disorders. She is a member of the American Counselors Association, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and the Capitol Area Trial Lawyers Association.
Judge Rhonda Wills is the star of a new court reality show, “Relative Justice with Judge Rhonda Wills.” Wills currently practices law in Los Angeles and is also licensed to practice in Texas and New York. She previously appeared on WeTV’s “Sisters in Law” and also has appeared as a legal contributor for such outlets as CNN. The show will focus on conflicts between family members.
Daniel Collins is now an assistant county attorney assigned to the El Paso County hospital district unit, which represents University Medical Center of El Paso. Collins previously served in various legislative roles, most recently as El Paso County’s government affairs manager, and previously as a legislative counsel in the Texas Senate, New York Senate, and at the New York City Council.
Conde Cox has been recognized in the 2022 Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Debtor-Creditor Rights and Insolvency/Reorganization.
Scott Craig has joined the new Austin office of Latham & Watkins LLP in the Emerging Companies Practice. He joins from Wilson Sonsini and represents emerging growth and late stage venture capital backed companies in technology, life sciences, and other high-growth industries, as well as the private equity and venture capital funds that invest in those companies,
Ed Cotham has recently published two history books. Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration (State House Press, 2021), and A Busy Week in Texas: U. S. Grant’s 1880 Visit to the Lone Star State (Texas State Historical Association Press, 2021).
Jenifer Smith has joined the new Austin office of Latham & Watkins LLP in the Emerging Companies Practice. She joins from DLA Piper and represents public and private companies across a broad range of corporate and strategic matters, including venture capital financings, M&A, and capital markets transactions.
Samer Zabaneh has joined the new Austin office of Latham & Watkins LLP in the Emerging Companies Practice and will serve as the Office Managing Partner. He joins from DLA Piper and advises public and emerging private companies and their venture capital and private equity investors through their life cycles, from formation to liquidity.
Michael J. Ritter has joined the San Antonio office of Schmoyer Reinhard LLP as senior counsel. Ritter focuses his practice on state and federal appeals, mandamus proceedings, litigation support, and labor and employment law.
Jackie Furlow has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. She is an attorney with Beck Redden who specializes in in Commercial Litigation.
Joe W. Redden, Jr. has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is Of Counsel with Beck Redden who specializes in Personal Injury Litigation.
Geoff Gannaway has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation.
Mary Kate Raffetto has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. She is an associate with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation.
Alistair Dawson has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation and Antitrust Litigation.
David J. Beck has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law, Antitrust Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, and Natural Resources Law.
Fields Alexander has been recognized in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America ranking of the nation’s top legal talent. He is a partner with Beck Redden who specializes in Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, and Product Liability Litigation.
Jackie Johnson has joined Constangy, Brooks, Smith and Prophete, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office, and will serve as co-chair of the Trade Secrets & Unfair Competition Practice Group. An exceptional litigator, Johnson is nationally recognized for her experience in issues including restrictive covenant agreements, trade secret theft, breach of contract, duty of loyalty, and tortious interference with contract disputes.
Brad Caldwell from Dallas’ Caldwell Cassady & Curry once again has been named among The Best Lawyers in America based on his work in intellectual property trials and patent lawsuits.
Christopher Hawkins has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 28th Edition of Best Lawyers in America®in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He is a shareholder at Sullivan Hill Rez & Engel.
James “Jim” Hill has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the 28th Edition of Best Lawyers in America.® He is a shareholder at Sullivan Hill Rez & Engel.
Partner Katie Maechler has been appointed to serve as co-chair of the Litigation Practice Group at the Minneapolis law firm of Maslon LLP. Maechler specializes in product liability litigation and has successfully represented device manufacturers in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Judge Steve Smith was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the 10th Court of Appeals in Waco to fill the unexpired term of Justice John Neill, who retired in May. Smith, current judge of the 361st State District Court in Bryan, will start his new job Sept. 1. He will join Chief Justice Tom Gray and Justice Matt Johnson on the three-member panel. Smith has served as judge of 361st State District Court since 1999.
Kristine Huskey was honored with Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society’s Top Civilian Award. Huskey was awarded the 2020 Copper Sword Award, presented to individuals who did not serve in the military but who have distinguished themselves by their dedication, humanitarianism and support of veteran initiatives. She is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic at the University of Arizona College of Law. (2020 Award was awarded in 2021 due to pandemic.)
Robert Tobey was elected to the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and was also elected to the Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents.
William G. Hagans with Hagans Montgomery Hagans has been selected to serve as a 2021-2022 Texas Bar Foundation Nominating Chair for District 4. Nominating Chairs of the Foundation are selected for their outstanding professional achievements and their demonstrated commitment to the Texas Bar Foundation. Selection is a mark of distinction and recognition of Hagans’ contributions to the legal profession.
Ken Garcia, executive fellow of Q2 Software, Inc., was elected to serve as an independent director on the board of directors of TimkenSteel Corporation. In his current role, he assists Q2 Software’s board of directors and executive leadership team with long-term planning related to M&A, talent and its product roadmap. Previously, Garcia co-founded and served as president of PrecisionLender, and co-founded and served as CEO of Halo Technologies, Inc.
Neal Manne received American Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Publico Award – the highest public service recognition by the country’s largest legal organization. Earlier this year, Manne received the John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award, which the ABA’s Litigation Section gives each year to one lawyer who has made outstanding contributions to help the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. He is the only person ever to receive both awards in the same year.
Patrick Bredehoft is joining Bracewell LLP as a partner. Bredehoft is ranked as a leading lawyer in Texas Healthcare in Chambers USA (2021) and brings significant experience to Bracewell.
Wilson Jones has joined Bracewell LLP as a Partner. Jones, who chaired Thompson & Knight’s healthcare practice group, will also chair the healthcare regulatory and litigation practice at Bracewell.
Jeff Nalley, will be a co-president of the NFL representation division at ICM Partners. The move comes after ICM Partners acquired Select Sports Group, an indie agency that represents NFL coaches, players and executives, which was co-owned by Nalley.
The Honorable Dimple Malhotra was elected to the Travis County Judiciary as the first and only judge of Asian-Indian descent as well as first elected Asian-American woman in the history of the county. Malhotra presides over County Court 4, which specializes in domestic violence cases.
Danielle Fink Kruger is the Jewish Herald-Voice’s new food writer. Kruger is a native Houstonian whose birth, Jewish day school years, Bat Mitzvah and wedding all have been documented in the JHV. Kruger previously practiced law and worked in other roles in the legal industry for 13 years until she decided to leave the industry in January 2020.
Jonathan B. Bush has been promoted to Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at ModivCare. Bush has over two decades of in-house and law firm experience. Previously, he was Vice President, Corporate Development and Deputy General Counsel at BioScrip, Inc.