Class Notes

Arthur M. Nathan, a director in the Houston office of Kane Russell Coleman Logan, has been named a 2024 Texas Super Lawyer in mergers and acquisitions.

D. Mitchell McFarland, a shareholder with Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr in Houston, has been named a 2024 Texas Super Lawyer in business litigation.

Mason P. Hester, a shareholder with Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr in Houston, has been named a Texas Super Lawyer in construction litigation.

John Adcock, of counsel at Beck Redden in Houston, was named a 2024 Texas Super Lawyer in appellate law.

Kimberly Pack Wilson has been elected to the State Bar of Texas Family Law Section Council. A partner at Fraser, Wilson & Bryan, P.C. in Stephenville, Texas, Wilson previously served as state bar director for District 14 from 2020-2023.

Taylor LeMay was elected as an ICC Young Arbitration and ADR Forum Representative for North America for the 2024-2026 mandate. LeMay is a senior associate in the International Arbitration group at Norton Rose Fulbright’s Houston office.

Jackie M. Furlow, partner at Beck Redden LLP, has been named a 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigator in America in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. She previously was honored in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation and Energy Law and was recognized as a 2024 Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers. Furlow also has was recognized by Lawdragon in 2024.

Husch Blackwell Partner Michael Raupp is a finalist for the Young Lawyer of the Year—Litigation award, which will be presented Nov. 13 at The American Lawyer’s Industry Awards in New York City.

Wallace B. Jefferson, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, is being honored for his legacy as the state’s first African American justice and chief justice.  An official portrait of Jefferson will be unveiled in the Supreme Court courtroom, celebrating his achievements and commitment to the principles of fairness and equality.

Andrea Fair has been selected as a finalist by the Texas Legal Awards for Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year. Fair is a partner at Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC and has earned multiple recognitions from The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch and Texas Super Lawyers.

Mary Kate Raffetto, a partner at Beck Redden LLP, has been recognized by Law.com and Texas Lawyer as an On the Rise winner in the 2024 Texas Legal Awards. Raffetto also was honored in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. She has been recognized on Lawdragon’s 500 X–The Next Generation for Appellate and Commercial Litigation and 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer lists and as a 2024 Texas Rising Star by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers.

The Hon. Xavier Rodriguez, former Texas Supreme Court justice and now United States district judge for the Western District of Texas, will be honored by the San Antonio ISD Foundation at the 13th Annual Inspire Awards in October 2024.

Nicholas Bruno, an associate at Beck Redden in Houston, was honored in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Bruno previously was recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 X–The Next Generation for Appellate.

Parth S. Gejji was honored in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Appellate Practice. Gejji, an associate at Beck Redden in Houston, also was recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 X–The Next Generation in Appellate.

Garrett Brawley was honored in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation, Litigation–Antitrust, and Litigation–Trusts and Estates. He also was recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 X–The Next Generation for Commercial Litigation. Brawley is an associate at Beck Redden in Houston.

Joe W. Redden, Jr. was named a 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in the specialty area of Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants by The Best Lawyers in America. Redden, founding partner emeritus of Beck Redden LLP, enjoyed a 48-year career as a trial lawyer before retiring in January 2024.

Nour Haikal, an associate at Bracewell, was featured in the August 13 “Volunteer Spotlight” by the Houston Volunteer Lawyers, the pro bono legal aid arm of the Houston Bar Association. Haikal was recognized for her role in a pro bono tax case involving a young immigrant mother. Haikal’s background includes serving as an ESL tutor to the adult refugee community in Houston and as an HVL law clerk.

Scott White, a senior vice president in the Global Commercial Bank at Bank of America in Los Angeles, was selected to join the board of trustees at Pasadena Ronald McDonald House. He also represents B of A’s Pacific Southwest Region on the Sustainability Council within the Global Commercial Bank.

Nicole S. LeFave has been selected to to lead Littler’s SOAR Program. The program supports newly hired associates who have joined established affinity groups to find their footing and excel professionally. LeFave is a liaison for the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, an active member of Littler’s Ohana affinity group, a founding member of the League of Lady Lawyers, and a pro bono liaison.

Jennifer Parker Ainsworth has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. A shareholder in the Tyler, Texas firm of Wilson, Robertson & VanDeventer, Ainsworth represents clients in commercial and intellectual property litigation.

Nick Pesina was honored as a 2024 Outstanding Texas Ex by the Texas Exes Tyler-Smith County Chapter. Pesina’s firm specializes in personal injury law, family law, and business law, serving clients throughout the East Texas area.

Madison Young Moore, an associate at Beck Redden LLP in Houston, has been named to the Institute for Energy Law’s 7th Leadership Class. The program is primarily for energy professionals who have been practicing in the energy field between three and 12 years.

Jim Weiss has been named co-managing partner of Reynolds Frizzell, a boutique trial law firm in Houston. A third-generation Texas lawyer, Weiss represents individual and corporate clients at the trial and appellate levels in disputes across various subject matters, including oil and gas, partnership, real estate, and intellectual property.

Josh R. Lounsbury, a shareholder with Coolidge Wall, was inducted into the Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellows Program, recognizing his commitment to professionalism and serving the community. Lounsbury has more than 15 years of experience representing businesses, public entities, and individuals in his practice areas of municipal law, civil litigation, and workers’ compensation defense.

Linda Broock’s new film “Unleashed” will be shown at the Waco Independent Film Festival. The film, which investigates the harsh world of sex trafficking, has been nominated for the Best Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature awards.

Carlos Eduardo Cárdenas of the Law Office of Carlos Eduardo Cardenas, P.C., has been elected 2024-2025 chair of the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees. Cárdenas also received the Reynaldo G. Garza Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hispanic Issues Section of the State Bar of Texas in recognition of his “long commitment and made great achievements in addressing concerns and issues affecting the Hispanic community.” In addition, Cárdenas has been elected 2024-2025 chair of the Texas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.

Lena Silva was recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 X–The Next Generation for Commercial Litigation. She also recently received the 2023-2024 Outstanding Director Award from the Houston Young Lawyers Association. 

Madison Moore, an associate at Beck Redden in Houston, was recognized in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation for Commercial Litigation.

William G. Hagans of the Hagans law firm in Houston has been named chair of the State Bar of Texas Professionalism & Civility Committee for the 2024-2025 bar year.

Garrett S. Brawley has been appointed as co-chair of the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s National Trial Competition Committee and vice-chair of the Texas Young Lawyers Association’s State Moot Court Competition Committee for the 2024-2025 bar year. Brawley is an associate  at the Houston office of Beck Redden LLP, working on high-stakes commercial cases from across the country.

Jacqueline Watson was elected second vice president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association for the 2024-25 term.  As a former AILA Texas chapter chair and elected director of the AILA National Board of Directors, Watson specializes in citizenship and naturalization, family-based immigration, defense from removal, asylum, federal court litigation, and other complex immigration matters.

Brad Caldwell has earned selection in the 2024 Chambers USA guide. Caldwell, who is an attorney of the Dallas law firm Caldwell Cassady & Curry, is being recognized as one of the top intellectual property attorneys in the U.S.

Scott Clark has earned selection in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 guide. Clark, who is an attorney for the Houston trial law firm Alavi Anaipakos, is being recognized for his work in high-stakes intellectual property lawsuits.

Drew L. Kershen has been awarded the United States Department of the Interior’s Citizen’s Award for Exceptional Service. Kershen, who is the Earl Sneed Centennial Professor of Law Emeritus in the OU College of Law, received this award for his notable contributions to public service.

David J. Beck was honored in the Chambers USA 2024 Guide in the practice areas of Litigation: Trial Lawyers and Litigation: General Commercial and named a 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer. Beck is a trial lawyer and founding partner at Beck Redden LLP. Beck is a trial lawyer and founding partner at Beck Redden LLP and is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Alistair Dawson has been honored in the Chambers USA 2024 Guide in the practice area of Litigation: General Commercial and named a 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer. He also was appointed to Texas’ Supreme Court Advisory Committee.  A partner at Beck Redden, Dawson serves on the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates, and is a commissioner on the Texas Equal Access to Justice Commission.

Fields Alexander was honored in the Chambers USA 2024 Guide in the practice area of Litigation: General Commercial and was named a 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyer. Alexander is a partner at Beck Redden LLP, where he specializes in trial law involving commercial transactions, business torts, professional malpractice, and energy litigation.

Kate Goodrich was ranked by Chambers as a “Nationwide Associate to Watch” in the Government Relations: State & Local category. She has been a government affairs consultant with Jackson Walker for four years after working in the Texas Senate.

Jesse Pierce, partner at Pierce & O’Neill, has been recognized by Chambers USA for the 16th year for his commercial litigation practice in Houston. He also received national Band 1 rankings—the highest honor—for excellence in oil and gas matters. Pierce has tried cases in state and federal courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants across all areas of complex litigation, including oil and gas matters, environmental issues, product liability, securities and corporate matters, and others.

Jack O’Neill, managing partner at Pierce & O’Neill, has been honored by Chambers USA or his commercial litigation expertise. With more than 50 years experience, O’Neill handles large-scale commercial litigation including disputes involving energy and trade secret issues, and has successfully tried numerous cases relating to virtually all aspects of the oil and gas business.

Scott Clark of the Houston trial law firm Alavi Anaipakos has earned selection in the 2024 Chambers USA guide based on his work in high-stakes intellectual property lawsuits.

Brad Caldwell of the Dallas law firm Caldwell Cassady & Curry has earned selection in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000 based on his work in high-stakes intellectual property trials.

Robert L. Tobey has been appointed to the Board of Legal Aid of Northwest Texas and elected to the Texas Bar College Board of Directors. Tobey is a shareholder at Johnston Tobey Baruch.

Judge Jan Soifer recently was honored with the Austin Bar Association’s Larry F. York Mentoring Award. Judge Soifer is the judge of the 345th District Court in Travis County, a civil and family trial court. This award is given to a local lawyer or judge who has demonstrated exceptional skill and generosity in mentoring younger members of the bar.

Elizabeth Brandon, a partner at Reed Smith, LLP,  has earned a place on the 2024 INvolve Empower Executive Role Model List for her advocacy work in diversifying the legal and business communities.

Manuel Escobar has been recognized as the 2024 recipient of the Joseph C. Parker Jr. Diversity Award from the Austin Bar Association. Escobar is a partner at McGinnis Lochridge.

Paula Desel was selected to a three-year term on the Rice University Alumni Association’s board of directors. Prior to her retirement, Desel practiced law at Baker Botts in Houston and Arnold & Porter in New York, and was an in-house attorney at Altria.

Rudy Metayer had been named a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. The honorees will be celebrated on June 22, 2024 at the Community Impact Center in Austin, Texas.

Samuel G. Encarnacion, first assistant public defender in the Lancaster County Public Defender’s Office, received the annual Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Civil and Equal Rights Champion Award during the PBA annual meeting. The award honors an individual who champions for civil rights for all Pennsylvanians.

Diana Saldana was recognized as a United ISD (Laredo) Community Hero for launching the Kazen Fellowship Program, which aims to offer paid summer internships for eligible high school students at the federal and state courthouses.