Daniella Landers took office as the 2025-26 president of the Houston Bar Association at the HBA’s annual dinner on May 15. Landers previously served on the HBA board of directors as first vice president, secretary, and for two terms as director.
William Peterson has been named the 10th solicitor general of Texas as part of the Office of the Attorney General. He was previously a partner in the Houston office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where he co-chaired the firm’s appellate practice.
Thomas Verity has joined Norton Rose Fulbright as a corporate, M&A, and securities partner in Houston. Verity will support the firm’s energy practice by advising on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions, and general corporate and securities matters for clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Erleigh Wiley has been reappointed by Governor Abbott to the Crime Victims’ Institute Advisory Council. She serves as the criminal district attorney of Kaufman County, an executive board member of the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, and a member of the Kaufman County Juvenile Board.
Carlos J. Contreras III has been named chair of the Community Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors. He currently serves as the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio.
Matthew Richardson has joined the Los Angeles office of Ogletree Deakins as an associate. Richardson, who specializes in employment law and is known for his dedication and zealous advocacy on behalf of employers, has expertise in wage and hour disputes, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and workplace harassment.
Siddartha Rao has joined New York litigation boutique Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney in New York City as a partner. Rao brings to HNRK nearly two decades of experience in securities, intellectual property, and other disputes in federal, state, and appellate courts as well as arbitration forums.
Kourtney Mueller Merrill has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton as a partner in Washington, D.C. Merrill, who has extensive experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and broader technology sectors, will work with the firm’s intellectual property practice group and life sciences industry team. She was previously a partner at Perkins Coie.
Bailey Watkins has joined Yetter Coleman in Houston as a senior counsel in the Intellectual Property litigation group. She was previously in-house counsel with Dell Technologies. Bailey’s practice includes representing clients in patent, trade secret, and technology-related disputes in federal courts, the International Trade Commission, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Paul Dean is the new vice president of NTI’s (Nuclear Threat Initiative) global nuclear policy program. In this role, he leads the organization’s efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, reduce the risk of nuclear use, and ultimately end the existential threat of nuclear war.
Richard Williams has been appointed by U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison as chief of the criminal division in the Las Cruces Branch Office for the District of New Mexico. He previously served in supervising roles such as deputy branch chief and section supervisor after joining the office in 2001.
Charles Lee has been appointed senior advisor in the Office of Chair Paul Atkins for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He previously served in the same role under Acting Chair Mark T. Uyeda.
Francisco Solis has been named president of San Antonio College. He has more than 25 years of service to San Antonio College throughout his career including being the college’s interim president since March 2024.
Katherine Reilly has been appointed acting inspector general of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She has served in the SEC’s Office of Inspector General since 2020.
Mark Nawfal has joined GableGotwals’ Houston office as of counsel, where his practice will focus on mergers and acquisitions, taxation, and energy law. Nawfal has more than 15 years of international legal experience advising multinational companies, private equity funds, and partnerships on a wide range of corporate and transactional matters.
George Lee has joined Ferguson Braswell Fraser Kubasta’s Plano, Texas, office. He previously worked for Carrington Coleman Sloman & Blumenthal as a securities and capital markets lawyer.
Frankie Shulkin was promoted to partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Dallas, starting Jan. 1, 2025. Shulkin represents private equity and debt funds, as well as private and public companies, in a wide range of transactional special situations.
Daniel E. Mangis has been promoted to chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus. He was previously the chargé d’affaires ad interim during the temporary absence of Ambassador Julie S. Davis.
Leyna Williams is the newest Texas underwriting counsel at First National Title Insurance Company, based in Plano, Texas. She previously worked as an escrow officer, CE instructor, and in-house counsel for a title agency in Houston.
Leslie Hagin has founded Lawyers Assisting Lawyers, a 501c3 public charity to educate, destigmatize and provide free, confidential and independent peer support counseling to lawyers, law students, and judges facing substance use and other mental health challenges. Previously she was a federal law clerk, partner in private practice, and served as a counsel to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. Hagin also is a Washington state certified peer counselor.
Patrick Flueckiger has joined Decker Jones in Fort Worth as of counsel, focusing on oil and gas law. He previously ran his own private oil and gas law practice.
Josh Pollick has been appointed co-lead of the Orrick’s Tech & Innovation sector after serving in that role for the company’s Technology Companies Group. A founding member and former leader of the firm’s Santa Monica office, he represents high-growth tech companies, VC firms and strategic investors and has been widely recognized as one of the leading VC and emerging companies lawyers in the United States.
Doyle Simons has been promoted to non-executive chairman of the board of directors at Fiserv. He was previously the lead independent director.
Aleza Remis has joined Hicks Thomas’ Houston office as senior counsel. She previously was the assistant deputy chief of the U.S. Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Unit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.