Kathryn (Katy) C. Cole of Farrell Fritz has been named a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation.

Cole, a resident of Garden City, New York, is a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation practice group. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law and her B.A. from Colgate University. She is the founder of, and sole contributor to Farrell Fritz’s All About eDiscovery blog.

Fellows are nominated by peers and recognized for distinguished achievement, dedication to the legal profession, and commitment to the organized bar and service to the public. “Being a Fellow of The New York Bar Foundation is an honor,” states chair of the Fellows Emily F. Franchina. “Fellows represent one percent of the New York State Bar Association membership. Being nominated and elected is a notable achievement.”

Dallas attorney Talmage Boston has received the 2019 Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. The Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award was endowed through the Texas Bar Foundation in 2014 in honor and memory of Terry Lee Grantham by his family and friends.

The award is made annually to an outstanding Texas lawyer. The recipient of this award exemplifies the qualities of an accomplished, talented and dedicated practitioner, a servant of the profession and an advocate for those we serve, demonstrating dedication and service with the same passion that defined Grantham’s life and work.

Talmage Boston is a partner with Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP in Dallas. He’s board certified in Civil Trial Law (since 1988) and Civil Appellate Law (since 1990) by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has 27 published opinions. He’s been selected to the Texas Super Lawyers listing since 2003, and the Best Lawyers in America list since 2013.

For the State Bar, he’s past Chair of the Litigation Section, Council of Chairs, and Annual Meeting Committee; served on the Board of Directors and Texas Bar Journal’s Board of Editors; and received eight Presidential Citations for outstanding service.

For the Dallas Bar, he’s past Chair of the Business Litigation Section. He now serves as a Dallas Bar Foundation officer, for which he’s orchestrated the “Evening With …” dinners since 2011, generating $533,000 for Sarah T. Hughes Scholarships benefitting minority law students.

His books: 1939: Baseball’s Tipping Point (2004, foreword by John Grisham); Baseball and the Baby Boomer (2009, foreword by Frank Deford); Raising the Bar (2012, foreword by former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh); and Cross-Examining History (2016, foreword by Ken Burns).

He’s a graduate of the University of Texas (B.A. 1975, Phi Beta Kappa) and the University of Texas School of Law (J.D. 1978).

Boston will be publicly recognized and be presented the Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award at the Texas Bar Foundation Annual Dinner held on June 14, 2019, at the JW Marriott in Austin. Texas Tech University School of Law will receive $5,000 in honor of Boston’s receipt of the Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award.

Founded in 1965 by attorneys determined to assist the public and improve the profession, the Texas Bar Foundation has become the largest charitably-funded bar foundation in the country. The Texas Bar Foundation relies on the contributions of its Fellows to improve the lives of Texans. To date, through the generosity of the Fellows, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $19 million in grants to numerous organizations across the state.

Election to the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of the State Bar of Texas, representing the top one-third of one percent of Texas attorneys. Selection is based on an outstanding record in the legal profession as well as proven commitment to support the community at large.

Peter C. Lando of Lando & Anastasi, LLP has been named co-chair of the Boston Chapter of the Licensing Executives Society (LES).

The Boston Chapter’s first event for 2019 will be a program on Licensing Technology from Universities and Non-Profits, to be held on March 13, 2019 in Cambridge, MA.

LES is a professional organization providing a forum for education and idea exchange on topics relevant to technology transfer and licensing. The Boston Chapter is one of more than 35 LES Chapters located in the USA & Canada.

Shareholder Natalie Friend Wilson, a board certified business bankruptcy attorney in Langley & Banack, Inc., has earned the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). The credential is the global standard in privacy and data protection and is accredited by American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Developed and launched by the IAPP with leading subject matter experts, the CIPP is the world’s first broad-based global privacy and data protection credentialing program.

As head of the firm’s Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy practice group, Wilson counsels clients on enhanced compliance of privacy and data protection, governance policies and protocols, and general cyber-contracting matters, helping companies assess and manage the risk of a data breach and respond appropriately if protected information is compromised, the firm said in a release. She and practice group members assist organizations to manage rapidly evolving privacy threats and mitigate the potential loss and misuse of information assets.

“Privacy and data protection laws on the federal and state level work on a sectoral basis,” Wilson said. “Financial, healthcare, employer, consumer, and other sectors are governed by a complex web of privacy and data protection laws that are continuously evolving as online technology changes,” continued Wilson.

A breach can involve the unauthorized access of personal information or otherwise confidential data, such as trade secrets, confidential business processes, corporate structures and more.

Wilson holds a B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, summa cum laude, and a J.D. from the University of Hawai’i, William S. Richardson School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. She is a board certified in Business Bankruptcy by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Wilson practices in both Bankruptcy and Workouts, as well as Cybersecurity, Data Protection and Privacy for the firm.

Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery announced that eight of its attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers for 2019 in the area of family law.

Founding shareholders Robert D. Boyd, John L. Collar Jr., Richard M. Nolen and Jonathan J. Tuggle, shareholder Tina Shadix Roddenbery, partners Katie Kiihnl Leonard and Kimberli C. Withrow, and associate Caitlyn M. Lindsey-Hood are named among Georgia Super Lawyers.

Additionally, Boyd and Tuggle were recognized among the Top 100 List of all Georgia Super Lawyers, and Roddenbery was among the Top 50 Females..

Attorneys Boyd, Collar and Nolen have been ranked by Georgia Super Lawyers for 16 consecutive years; Roddenbery has been named a Super Lawyer for 14 consecutive years; Tuggle has been recognized eight times by the publication; Leonard has been named a Rising Star for six consecutive years; and Withrow has been recognized for three consecutive years.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of lawyers in Georgia are selected as Super Lawyers.

Selections for Super Lawyers are made through a rigorous process entailing independent attorney-led research, evaluations and peer evaluations. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, including verdicts/settlements, transactions, special licenses and pro bono service.

Brian A. Colao, Director of Dykema’s Dental Service Organizations Industry Group, was selected for inclusion in Group Dentistry Now’s “2019 DSO Influencer’s List.” Colao is just one of seven individuals chosen for the publication’s inaugural list and is the only attorney to receive this recognition.

Here’s a portion of what Group Dentistry Now had to say about Colao and Dykema’s Dental Service Organizations Industry Group:

“As a leader within Dykema, Brian has helped transform the firm’s DSO group into a renowned leader in the middle market for DSO buy-side and sell-side transactions, and is considered one of the foremost authorities in North America on the DSO space. He and the DSO group provide valued counsel in developing innovative regulatory compliant DSO models and numerous alternative DSO structures, DSO business agreements, DSO M&A transactions, and DSO compliance.

“Brian also spearheaded the creation of Dykema’s renowned Definitive Conference for Dental Service Organizations. In 2014, Brian led his team to form this industry-leading DSO conference. Approaching its sixth year in 2019, it now draws more than 600 attendees and represents a “who’s who” of all segments of the DSO industry.”

In addition to his work in the dental industry, Colao has a nationwide practice that focuses on all facets of complex commercial litigation, including contractual disputes, franchise disputes, issues of corporate governance, breach of fiduciary duty, theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, covenants not to compete, patent, trademark and copyright infringement, fraud and deceptive trade practices, disparagement, lender liability and other business claims, the firm said in a release.

He earned a J.D. from Vanderbilt University and a B.A., with outstanding academic achievement, from Binghamton University State University of New York.

Frederic L. Smith Jr., a partner in Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Birmingham office, has been named by Who’s Who Legal as among the world’s leading M&A and governance lawyers. He is listed in the 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance.

“We congratulate Frederic on his inclusion in the latest Who’s Who Legal guide, honoring the top attorneys who practice in areas of M&A and governance,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff. “Frederic has demonstrated outstanding legal skills and leadership that continue to earn him praise from his clients and peers.”

A member of Bradley’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group, Smith has more than 20 years of experience advising businesses on M&A transactions, contract negotiations, business succession issues, and joint venture and financing transactions. He also serves as outside general counsel to several privately held and family-owned businesses. Smith has experience in diverse industries and a particular focus representing companies in the construction, manufacturing, construction aggregates, oil and gas services, and real estate industries. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s M&A Committee, for which he chairs a working group that tracks judicial developments in M&A transactions.

The 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance is scheduled to be published in April by London-based Law Business Research Limited. Only lawyers who receive the highest number of recommendations from peers and clients as determined through independent research are listed in the publication. The Who’s Who Legal directories lists more than 24,000 private practice lawyers from more than 150 national jurisdictions, covering diverse areas of corporate and commercial law. The guides are intended to serve as reference sources for companies seeking to corroborate the reputations of lawyers recommended by another party.

Deans & Lyons partner Chris Simmons has earned selection to D Magazine’s 2019 list of Best Lawyers Under 40, an honor based on peer review by other Dallas-area attorneys.

One of just 75 lawyers recognized this year, Simmons is making the list for the second time.

“Chris is an exceptional attorney who excels in the courtroom,” said Deans & Lyons co-founder Michael Lyons. “This is a firm built on results, and clients know that they can depend on Chris for the best possible outcome.”

In a release, the firm said Simmons handles complex catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving products liability, premises liability, professional negligence, industrial and workplace accidents and motor vehicles before judges, juries, and arbitrators in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and throughout the country. He also devotes a significant part of his practice to handling business disputes and commercial litigation in a variety of complex civil litigation matters involving breach of contract, business torts, and other business-related controversies.

“Serving as a counselor to my clients is a responsibility I take very seriously,” says Mr. Simmons. “My primary commitment is to help them navigate their way through what is often their most trying time.”

D Magazine’s 2019 listing of the Best Lawyers Under 40 was determined through a peer‐review voting process, with ballots submitted by thousands of area lawyers. An independent panel of attorneys assisted the magazine’s editors in selecting the final list. The complete list is featured in the January edition of D Magazine and is available online at www.dmagazine.com.

In addition to the D Magazine honors, Simmons was recognized on Texas Lawyer’s “On the Rise” list of young lawyers, one of the publication’s 2018 Professional Excellence Awards. He also has been chosen multiple times for Super Lawyers magazine’s Rising Stars’ listing of the top young plaintiff litigators in Texas, as well as being named among the top 100 Up-and-Coming lawyers in the state regardless of practice focus.

Trial attorney Majed Nachawati, co-founding partner of Fears Nachawati Law Firm, has been appointed to the Legal Ethics Committee of the Dallas Bar Association for 2019.

The Legal Ethics Committee is responsible for establishing and presenting the slate of ethics-related continuing legal education programs, including the DBA’s annual legal ethics seminar.

“Ethics is the foundation of the legal profession,” said Nachawati. “You must have the trust of your peers, clients and the community to be effective. Cutting corners or acting in a self-serving manner undermines our judicial system. I look forward to working with this group on this very important mission.”

In a release, the firm said Nachawati has trial experience representing individuals, businesses and public entities in high-stakes litigation, including clients in mass tort lawsuits against unscrupulous opioid manufacturers and distributors. His practice also includes representation of public entities in environmental and water contamination matters throughout the nation.

Nachawati serves as District Chairman for the State Bar of Texas District 6 Grievance Committee and as a member of the DBA’s Lawyer Referral Service Committee. In addition, he serves on the Public Justice Board of Directors and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association Board of Directors. He is a member of the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice’s Leaders Forum.

Fears Nachawati Law Firm co-founder Majed Nachawati has been appointed to the Dallas Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service Committee.

For more than three decades, the DBA’s Lawyer Referral Service has served as an important resource for Dallas County residents who need legal advice and representation. This year, approximately 16,000 residents are expected to be referred to attorneys through the LRS panel.

“Our American civil justice system provides critical tools for individuals and the guardians of our environment and water to have a jury of their peers do what is right against some of the most powerful business interests the world has ever seen,” said Nachawati. “I look forward to helping the committee bring legal access to more Dallas County residents.”

In a release, the firm said Nachawati is involved in the regional and statewide legal community. In addition to his work with the Lawyer Referral Service, he is a member of the DBA’s Legal Ethics Committee and serves as District Chairman for District 6 of the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee.

Freeborn & Peters LLP announced that the firm is listed in Vault’s 2019 Top 150 Under 150, which includes the leading midsize law firms “known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.”

“It is an honor for Freeborn to be recognized as one of the nation’s top midsize law firms based on our outstanding reputation for delivering successes for our clients as well as our quality of life and career opportunities for our lawyers,” said Freeborn Co-Managing Partner William E. Russell.

Created in 2015, Vault’s Top 150 Under 150 recognizes “the best-known and most sought-after U.S. firms with fewer than 150 attorneys … but no less expertise” than the large, global law firms that are included in the Vault’s annual Top 100 ranking of the nation’s largest law firms. The Top 150 Under 150 list can be viewed here.

The Vault’s editorial and research teams created the Top 150 Under 150 list through analysis of survey data, news stories, trade journals and other legal publications, and published law firm rankings. Vault editors also assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life and professional growth opportunities.

The Vault’s rankings, ratings, lists and reviews of top companies in the legal and other professional services industries are targeted to students and laterals to help them in their career development. The Vault’s rankings and ratings are regularly featured and cited by news outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Forbes, Fortune, and Money.

The Alabama Bar Association has approved the Privacy Law Specialty authorized by the American Bar Association (ABA) and certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). This is the ninth specialty designation in the state, the IAPP said in a release.

The Privacy Law Specialist (PLS) certification is administered by the IAPP and accredited by the ABA, marking the fifteenth legal specialty accredited by the ABA. The credential is available to attorneys admitted to a U.S. state bar who pass the CIPP/US exam, as well as either the CIPM or the CIPT programs. Qualifying attorneys must also pass the PLS ethics exam administered by the IAPP or submit a recent MPRE score of 80+, provide proof of “ongoing and substantial” involvement practicing privacy law, supply evidence of at least 36 hours of continuing education in privacy law for the preceding three years, and provide at least five peer references from attorneys, clients or judges attesting to the attorney’s privacy law qualifications.

“There is an increasing importance for legal teams to be well-versed on the rapidly evolving area of privacy law,” said J. Trevor Hughes, IAPP president and CEO. “With this designation, each lawyer demonstrates his or her qualifications to remain at the forefront of this legal field and join other leaders in a key intersection of policy, law and technology.”

To date, only 40 attorneys have achieved the PLS nationwide including three practicing in Birmingham:

Paige Boshell
Managing Member, Privacy Counsel LLC
privacycounselllc.com
Boshell has also been designated a Fellow of Information Privacy and is certified CIPP/US (United States law), CIPP/E (EU law), and CIPM (privacy management).

Elena Lovoy
Of Counsel, McGlinchey Stafford
www.mcglinchey.com
Lovoy has also been certified CIPP/US (United States law), CIPP/E (EU law), CIPP/C (Canadian law), CIPM (privacy management), and CCEP (compliance and ethics professional).

Josh Torres
Corporate Regulatory and Privacy Counsel, iCIMS, Inc.
www.icims.com
Torres has also been designated a Fellow of Information Privacy and is certified CIPP/US (United States law), CIPM (privacy management), and CIPT (privacy technologist).

Interested attorneys may find more information on applying to become a Privacy Law Specialist at https://iapp.org/certify/pls/ or email pls@iapp.org.

Chrysta Castañeda has been awarded The National Law Journal’s Elite Trial Lawyers Award for 2018.

The Castañeda Firm, based in Dallas, represents litigation clients in the energy industry.

“One of Ms. Castañeda’s most notable recent victories was a $145 million verdict on behalf of T. Boone Pickens and Mesa Petroleum, which was recognized as one of the largest in the nation in 2016 by NLJ and one of the largest in Texas by Texas Lawyer,” the firm said in a release.

Castañeda served as lead trial counsel for Pickens’ company in the long-running dispute, which resulted in a five-week trial in Pecos, Texas.

Read details of the award.

Steven Pflaum, a Neal Gerber Eisenberg partner and co-chair of the firm’s litigation department, was honored by the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) at its annual luncheon on Dec. 7, 2018, for his service on the Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee. The event also honored retired Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles Freeman and outgoing Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

“I am heartened by the IJA’s recognition that our partners continue to guide the legal profession on integrity, ethics, and service,” said Scott J. Fisher, the firm’s managing partner. “One of our founders, the late Phil C. Neal, set a shining example for us all, and I am certain that Phil would share our collective pride that Steve has been recognized for his dedicated and enduring work with an organization that he has been a member of since its founding.”

The Illinois Judicial Ethics Committee is a joint committee of the IJA, Chicago Bar Association, and Illinois State Bar Association that provides guidance to judges regarding their responsibilities under the Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct and recommends revisions to the Code to the Illinois Supreme Court. Steve has served as a member of the group since its founding in 1992 and has served as the chair since 2013.

“Steve Pflaum’s dedication to helping judges learn about ethics is an extraordinary contribution to the legal community,” said James E. Snyder, president of the Illinois Judges Association and an associate judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. “His hard work helps us all do better.”

The IJA consists of more than 1,250 current and retired judges and supports judicial excellence and professional development and judicial education, fosters public confidence in an independent judiciary, works to preserve the independence of the judiciary by educating the public and students, and promotes a diverse judiciary that administers justice in a fair and impartial court system.

Dykema’s National Pro Bono and Diversity Counsel Heidi A. Naasko was selected as the 2018 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award by the United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC). She was recognized at the UCHC annual meeting in November.

The firm said Naasko was selected for the honor in thanks for her support of the UCHC’s 36th District Court Eviction Defense Clinic. Not only did Naasko take cases directly in one of the busiest eviction courts in the nation, but she also encourages other attorneys from large and small firms, as well as corporations, to volunteer and take eviction cases. She also assisted in efforts to increase the right to representation for defendants in eviction proceedings to reduce homelessness in Detroit.

The UCHC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive housing assistance to Detroit’s low-income residents. Since 1973, the organization has worked with tenants, homesteaders, homeowners, the homeless and community organizations, rebuilding neighborhoods and providing affordable housing, religious, civil rights, labor and housing advocacy to improve, preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities for low-income Detroiters.

In addition to her role administering Dykema’s Pro Bono program and mentoring lawyers in various areas of public interest law, Naasko maintains a substantive poverty law practice. Her caseload includes representation of unaccompanied immigrant children who are child victims of human trafficking and have either been victims of crime in their country of origin or in the United States. She also represents domestic violence survivors in divorce, child custody, immigration matters, and personal protection orders.

She also works with Dykema’s business clients to create pro bono partnerships with a focus on identifying relevant, succinct and high-profile opportunities.

Naasko, who earned a J.D., cum laude, from Boston University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan, is also a past recipient of the Washtenaw County Bar Association’s Annual Pro Bono/Public Service Award, as well as the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award.

Erin Jane Illman and Steven T. Snyder, attorneys in Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Charlotte office, are among the first North Carolina lawyers to earn the new Privacy and Information Security Law Specialty certification through the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

“We congratulate Erin and Steve on earning distinction as North Carolina board-certified Privacy and Information Security Law attorneys,” said Bradley Charlotte Office Managing Partner Christopher C. Lam. “Erin’s and Steve’s leadership in this emerging industry has established Bradley as the go-to firm for advice and counsel on the ever-evolving complex issues of privacy and data security. Our clients greatly benefit from Erin’s and Steve’s deep knowledge and experience for helping businesses address growing privacy threats and deal with data loss or misuse of information assets. This certification is a confirmation of their demonstrated skill and highest standards of commitment to this critical area of importance to businesses.”

Created by the North Carolina State Bar, the Board of Legal Specialization certifies qualified North Carolina lawyers as specialists in designated areas of law. The new specialty certification focuses on North Carolina, as well as federal and international law, and is based upon the Certified Information Privacy Professional-US (CIPP/US) national certificate issued through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Illman and Snyder both hold CIPP/US status, accredited by the American National Standards Institute. Snyder also holds the IAPP-issued Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) credential. Illman and Snyder also serve on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Privacy and Security Committee.

A partner and co-chair of Bradley’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group, Illman regularly advises clients on state and federal privacy and data security requirements, global data protection laws, and guides clients on risks and potential liabilities associated with inadequate privacy and data security practices. She also manages privacy-related enforcement actions and litigation. Her practice includes representing companies in reactive incident response situations, including insider cybersecurity threats, electronic and physical theft of trade secrets, and investigation, analysis, and notification efforts with respect to security incidents and breaches. In addition, Illman counsels clients on a variety of e-commerce, electronic marketing, digital contracts, and emerging technologies such as blockchain. She also has broad experience in complex loan transactions, including trade finance, capital-backed subscription lines, and multi-bank, multi-state and international lending arrangements.

Heim Payne & Chorush has secured three of the legal industry’s most significant patent litigation honors, with recognition by Chambers USA, International Asset Management’s IAM Patent 1000, and U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.”

Chambers USA singled out the firm and co-founder Mike Heim among the state’s top IP practitioners.

And the firm, along with Heim and partners Douglas Wilson and Eric Enger were recognized in the IAM Patent 1000, a global guide to patent firms and lawyers.

Most recently, the firm was included on the 2019 U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America Best Law Firms list. Based on input from clients and peer lawyers,

Read more about the honors.

Texas litigator Steve Stodghill, partner in the Dallas office of Winston & Strawn, is being honored with two awards this month.

On Nov. 15 he will be presented with the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2018 Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award.

The Schoenbrun Award has been presented annually since 1989 to a member of the North Texas legal community in recognition of outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions to the community, and a commitment to the ideals of the ADL. Founded in 1913, the ADL is a leading civil rights and human rights organization devoted to fighting anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry and discrimination.

“At the heart of the mission of the ADL is the fight against injustice and intolerance,” said Stodghill. “The use of bully tactics, whether it be on a personal or professional level, is something I abhor. I am thankful I am able to use my legal skills to help in that fight. Our current social climate has made it even more imperative that we stand up for what is right and for those who are being intimidated.”

Stodghill and his wife, Anne, will be honored on Nov. 16 by the Business Council for the Arts as 2018 Obelisk Award honorees. They will be presented with the Juror’s Award for their lifetime advancement of the arts.

The Obelisk Awards recognize companies and individuals whose contributions and achievements in the arts have made a profound impact in North Texas. Instrumental in promoting the growth of the Dallas Film Society, the organization presented its inaugural Stodghill Award earlier this year to recognize individuals for their long-term efforts on behalf of the art of film.

“While these are two very different honors, one thing that they share is a recognition of Steve’s unwavering dedication to the community. When he believes in a cause he is nothing short of a force of nature,” said Tom Melsheimer, managing partner of the Dallas office of Winston & Strawn. Along with Todd Wagner, co-founder of Broadcast.com and founder and CEO of The Charity Network, Tom is co-chair of the 2018 Schoenbrun Award luncheon.

Houston-based construction and business litigation firm West Mermis, PLLC, has earned national recognition among the Best Law Firms in the country by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

The firm was selected to the 2019 list of construction litigation firms recognized nationally, and in the Houston metro area, West Mermis is ranked in the top tier of such law firms.

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers selection process involves a lawyer survey and feedback from clients on a firm’s expertise, responsiveness and cost-effectiveness along with other questions.

Read details about the award.

Dallas-based litigation boutique Bailey Brauer PLLC has earned recognition among the Best Law Firms in the country for 2019 by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America. The firm was singled out for its appellate work.

Selection is based on extensive client and attorney evaluations, practice-specific peer review and editorial review. To be eligible for consideration, a firm must have a lawyer listed in the annual Best Lawyers in America guide. Firm co-founders Clayton Bailey and Alex Brauer are each recognized in the 2019 edition – Bailey for his appellate work and Brauer for commercial litigation.

“This firm works to provide our clients exceptional legal advice start to finish, from negotiating disputes and preparing for litigation to trying a case and following through on appeal,” said Brauer. “To be considered among the top firms is validation of our dedication to our clients.”

In October, Bailey was named a Litigation Star in commercial litigation for the fifth year in a row by the Benchmark Litigation legal guide. He was also recognized by Benchmark for his competition-based litigation practice, as well as his international arbitration work.

Bailey and Brauer were each selected to the 2018 Texas Super Lawyers listing for their business litigation work. The guide to Texas’ top lawyers is published annually by Thomson Reuters in Texas Monthly and Super Lawyers magazines.

Earlier this year, Brauer was recognized for a third consecutive time among D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas.