Class Notes

The Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson was chosen Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas during the 113th annual Diocesan Council on Saturday, February 25, 2017, held at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is the first woman to be elected bishop in the Diocese of West Texas. Brooke-Davidson, age 56, is currently the Vicar of Saint Elizabeth Episcopal Church in Buda, Texas. Now as the sixth Bishop Suffragan of the diocese, she will serve alongside the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. David M. Reed.

Spencer Fane is pleased to announce the addition of Associate Jordan Jackson to its Oklahoma City office. He will join the firm’s litigation team, contributing a broad depth of experience in a range of practice areas, from real estate and acquisitions to oil and gas law. Jordan joins the firm from Freeman Mills PC of Tyler, Texas. “We are happy to welcome the experience and abilities that Jordan brings to our firm,” said Shannon Davies, Managing Partner of the Spencer Fane Oklahoma City office. “His emphasis on energy and land disputes will be an excellent addition to our litigation and energy practice.”

Venable LLP recently announced that Evan Pritchard has joined the firm’s Real Estate practice as counsel in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Mr. Pritchard’s practice focuses on securing zoning and land use approvals for developers and landowners in jurisdictions throughout Northern Virginia, particularly in Arlington, Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church, among others. He advises clients on state and federal legislation and regulations affecting real estate development and important changes to local jurisdictions’ comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances. His clients include mixed-use project developers, large corporate clients and some work for nonprofits and churches.

The UK Export Finance Board has announced that, as of January 1, 2017, Noel Harwerth succeeded Guy Beringer as Chair. As part of her role as UKEF Board Chair, she will also be a Non-Executive member of the Department for International Trade Board. Ms. Harwerth comes from a long career in the finance and mining sectors with significant experience in emerging markets. She is the outgoing Chairman of GE Capital Bank Europe, a role she has held since 2011, and a non-executive director at Standard Life plc, the London Metal Exchange, CHAPS Co and Sirius Minerals. Her executive career has included roles with Citigroup International as its Chief Operating Officer, Citicorp, and Dun & Bradstreet.

Chalon Clark is one of nine Husch Blackwell attorneys promoted to partner effective Jan. 1, 2017. As a member of the firm’s Financial Services & Capital Markets team, she assists clients in disputes involving contracts, review of contracts and leases to identify potential litigation risks, employer/employee relations, collection-related matters, foreclosures, fraud, banking, partnership, real property, mortgage lending, construction and brokerage/securities issues. Clark is based in the firm’s Dallas office and serves on the firm’s Diversity Council.

Katie English has earned her Board Certification in Oil, Gas & Mineral Law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Katie is an associate in Gray Reed & McGraw’s energy section in Houston and her practice focuses on oil and gas title and transactional matters in Texas, North Dakota and Montana.

Daniel Moffett has been made a Partner of Akin Gump in San Antonio. Mr. Moffett, a member of the firm’s intellectual property practice, works on all aspects of intellectual property procurement and protection, with a focus on complex patent, trade secret and trademark litigation. He has served as lead technical counsel in cases involving claims of patent infringement, antitrust violations and theft of trade secrets, and he has first chair experience representing clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings.

Vianei Lopez Braun has joined Decker Jones, P.C. in Fort Worth. She will continue representing employers in labor & employment law matters.

Caldwell Cassady & Curry is pleased to announce the addition of Alexis Mosser as a litigation associate in the firm’s Dallas office. She represents clients in a variety of federal cases involving complex business disputes and patent litigation, including handling inter partes review proceedings and other matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Ms. Mosser joins Caldwell Cassady & Curry with an extensive track record in state and federal courts, including cases heard by the Texas Supreme Court and the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. A USPTO-registered patent attorney, Ms. Mosser also provides years of experience in patent prosecution cases.

Jackson Lewis P.C. is pleased to announce James Ward has joined our Kansas City Region office. Mr. Ward’s practice focuses on trial and appellate work on behalf of private and government employers. Mr. Ward has briefed and argued a number of appeals in employment matters in both federal and state court, including before the Missouri Supreme Court. Several of these appeals have involved first-impression issues, including claims for same-sex and “gender stereotype” discrimination, as well as an appeal before the Missouri Supreme Court that triggered a revised MHRA general verdict director and a brand new MHRA verdict director dedicated to disability discrimination claims.

Dentons, the global law firm, has named Cynthia L. Jackson as partner. Resident in the Firm’s Silicon Valley office, Jackson has over three decades of experience in California and US domestic, as well as international employment counseling and litigation. In addition to handling the global coordination of human resources and personnel-related agreements, policies and initiatives, she defends companies and C-suite individuals in high-profile class actions and other high-stakes employment litigation. “Cynthia’s extensive global compliance practice will enhance our ability to provide competitive US and cross-border workplace counseling, investigatory and litigation depth,” said Dentons US Managing Partner Mike McNamara.

Julia Simon has been named Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Mary Kay, Inc. As a member of the company’s executive committee, she will manage all aspects of the company’s Legal, Risk Management, Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility functions.

Diane Brayton has been appointed general counsel of The New York Times Company, effective January 1, 2017. Ms. Brayton joined the Times Company in 2004 and most recently served as deputy general counsel since May 2016 and corporate secretary since 2011. “Diane’s keen understanding of the legal environment in which The New York Times operates and her broad range of legal and corporate governance expertise make her ideally suited to lead our legal department. She is known across the company not just for her reasoned approach to addressing legal matters but also for her passion for our business and her deeply collaborative spirit. I’m looking forward to continuing what is an already strong partnership,” said President and CEO Mark Thompson.

Corinne Sullins has joined BoyarMiller, a Houston business and litigation law firm, as associate. She represents domestic and foreign entities, as well as individuals, in a broad range of corporate matters. While a law student, she represented children involved in cases of abuse or neglect as an Attorney Ad Litem through the Children’s Rights Clinic. She also clerked for the Texas House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee.

Litigator Craig Lauchner has joined BoyarMiller, a Houston business and litigation law firm, as associate. Lauchner clerked for the Federal Immigration Court in Houston and, while at law school, served as managing editor of business for the Texas International Law Journal.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, has further expanded its Dallas office with securities and commercial litigation partner Bryce Benson in the Litigation Practice Group. He joins Akerman’s national bench of trial lawyers and enhances the firm’s core strengths in the financial services sector.

Porter Hedges announced today that James T. Thompson has joined the firm as a partner in the energy section in Houston. Mr. Thompson represents a wide spectrum of energy companies, including majors, independents, oilfield service providers and royalty owners in the purchase and sale of energy assets and in connection with their exploration and development activities. His practice also includes the negotiation, preparation and implementation of all types of oil and gas-related agreements, along with litigation support on disputes involving upstream and midstream energy issues.

Jonathan Pelayo was elected to the partnership of Locke Lord in Houston, Texas, in January 2016. Jonathan serves in the commercial disputes practice group with a focus on construction and oil & gas litigation.

Fish & Richardson has announced that Betty Chen has been appointed Global Hiring Principal. Chen will be in charge of hiring legal talent for all 11 of Fish’s U.S. offices, as well as its office in Munich, Germany. She previously served as recruiting principal of the firm’s Silicon Valley office.

Benjamin DeMarsh has joined Berlin Patten Ebling PLLC, the ninth attorney in the firm’s expanding practice with offices in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and Venice. He will join the firm’s litigation department and primarily practice in the areas of residential and commercial real property related litigation.

Phelps Dunbar LLP is pleased to announce that Marcus R. Tucker has joined its Houston, Texas office as a partner practicing in the areas of admiralty, litigation and insurance. Tucker’s practice includes the defense and investigation of claims resulting from oilfield and maritime casualties, construction defects, personal injury and transportation related accidents. His practice also involves the litigation of commercial disputes through trial and arbitration. Mr. Tucker litigates and provides advice on contractual indemnity and insurance coverage issues on behalf of both corporate clients and insurance companies. He joins the firm from Royston Rayzor where he was partner.

Center for Women in Law founder Carrin Patman was recently appointed Chair of the Houston Metro Board.

Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce the election of Jay Yates to the partnership. Yates is an intellectual property litigator with a focus on patent litigation. He represents clients in the energy, retail, e-commerce, banking, internet, and software industries. His trial experience includes heavy patent jurisdictions, as well as arbitration and mediation on behalf of clients in trade secret, patent and commercial disputes.

Bracewell LLP is pleased to announce the election of Jason G. Cohen to the partnership. Cohen represents corporate debtors, as well as junior and senior creditors in corporate debt restructurings. His experience includes negotiating out-of-court workouts and litigating in-court Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases with assets ranging from $20 million to more than $1 billion. Cohen has often advised parties on debt and equity financing, as well as asset sales.

Jaime Vasquez was recently promoted to income shareholder by the national law firm, Chamberlain Hrdlicka. Vasquez is a successful tax and tax controversy attorney representing clients in federal, state and international transactional and tax controversy matters. He is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, holds a CPA license and previously worked with a “Big Four” accounting firm, and either holds or previously held positions of leadership in several organizations, including the Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas, the US Tax Court Pro Bono Program, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) Legal Education Fund, and the Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio. He was named one of the 2015 40 und

Jackson Walker LLP announces the election of Matthew Swantner to the firm’s partnership. Matthew J. Swantner focuses his practice on commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business torts, oil and gas matters, creditor’s rights, mineral and construction liens, and bankruptcy matters throughout Texas and New Mexico.

Jackson Walker LLP announces the election of Cale McDowell to the firm’s partnership. Cale McDowell represents public and private companies, executives, investors, and investment fund sponsors in a broad array of engagements, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, the structuring and formation of private equity funds and other entities, offerings of debt and equity securities, and general corporate governance, securities and transactional matters.

Julia Taylor, ’06, has rejoined Dentons, the global firm, as a partner in the Kansas City Real Estate practice. In her role, Taylor will advise clients on a broad range of real estate matters including acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, development, multifamily, construction and financing of retail, office and industrial properties.

Casey Kaplan, ’07, joined Nike, Inc., in Beaverton, Oregon, as Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Internal Investigations in the summer of 2015.

Vinson & Elkins has bolstered its highly regarded Finance Practice Group with the addition of partner Trevor Wommack, who focuses his practice on syndicated lending in the energy sector. Wommack, who joins the firm from Bracewell, will be based in V&E’s Houston office.

Gary E. Zausmer joins ENOCH KEVER PLLC, bringing strong commercial litigation expertise. Gary has been a prominent litigator in Texas for decades since serving as United States District Judge James R. Nowlin’s initial briefing attorney.

Noel Harwerth has joined the board of Sirius Minerals Plc. as a non-executive director.

Giordani, Swanger, Ripp & Phillips recently named Steven D. Baker as its newest partner. With a background in accounting, Mr. Baker counsels individuals and fiduciaries in a wide variety of estate and business succession, charitable giving, and estate and trust administration matters. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and in Estate and Trust Law by the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. He’s been with GSRP for two years.

Sarah Scott was just hired by Coats Rose, P.C. as an Associate in the Affordable Housing practice group in the Austin office.

Kourtney Mueller Merrill, who received a J.D. with honors, Order of the Coif from The University of Texas School of Law in 2005, has been promoted to partner at law firm Perkins Coie. Kourtney is a member of Perkins’s Coie’s is a member of the firm’s Patent Litigation practice in the Denver office. Her work focuses on patent infringement litigation, inter partes review (IPR), and related intellectual property claims.

Brooks Pierce has named Reid Phillips as the firm’s managing partner, effective January 1. He follows Ed Winslow, who had led the firm since 2000.

Phillips, one of North Carolina’s top litigators, has served on the firm’s management committee since 2003 and as the firm’s general counsel since 2000. He will continue to actively practice law while providing strategic leadership and guidance to Brooks Pierce, which has more than 90 attorneys in Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington.

Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to announce Melissa M. Davis has joined the Firm’s Austin office as Counsel in the Trial Practice Group.

Ewell, Brown & Blanke LLP is pleased to announce that Joseph R. Knight has joined the firm as a partner and the firm has changed its name to Ewell, Brown, Blanke & Knight LLP.

FordHarrison LLP on Monday said that the former managing partner of its Dallas office, who left last year for Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart PC, has come full circle, making her way back to the management-side labor and employment firm. Buena Vista Lyons, who moved to Ogletree last September, rejoined the firm’s Dallas office as a partner on Monday.

Vianei Lopez Braun joined Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP as a Partner in Labor & Employment Law, and she will be dividing her time between the Fort Worth and Houston offices.

Andrews Kurth recently announced the election of Cindy Y. Lin to the partnership. She will assume her new position on January 1, 2016.