Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Legal Aid) has announced the recipients of its 16th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards to be presented on July 12 in Dallas. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas will receive the Business Leadership Award; Rev. Larry James and  CitySquare will receive the Nonprofit Leadership Award; Paul Zoltan will receive the Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award; and Randy Johnston will receive the Champion of Justice Award.

The Women’s Advocacy Awards (WAA) supports civil legal aid for victims of domestic violence. Each year, the WAA recognizes exceptional advocacy on behalf of women living in poverty. This year’s event will be held at 6 p.m., July 12, 2016, in Arlington Hall at Lee Park.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has a long history of working to advance opportunities for women and children in Texas. BCBSTX has provided numerous grants through its “Healthy Kids, Healthy Families” initiative, partnering with nonprofits to offer sustainable programs to underserved communities and provides safe environments for growth. Notable among these are partnerships with the Caring for Children Foundation, which provides immunizations to uninsured children through its Care Van fleet, and the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation, which provides urban gardens along with healthy cooking demonstrations and mentoring provided to residents in need, as well as “Kids Meals,” a Meals-on-Wheels-style summer program that helps feed young children who may not otherwise have regular meals outside the school year due to limited economic and transportation resources.

BCBSTX also created the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas STEM Scholarship, which provides $20,000 scholarships to underprivileged high school seniors seeking college study in a STEM-related field. In a related effort, BCBSTX’s WISE group (Women Improving the Strength of the Enterprise) hosts Dallas Girl Scouts at its state-of-the-art facility, providing a full day of STEM-related activities for young girls. In addition, leadership within BCBSTX actively demonstrates its support through the encouragement of executives to hold Board seats with organizations including Texas CASA, REAL School Gardens, and It’s Time Texas. The organization also promotes advancement of women from within and encourages female leadership to participate in programs such as the Leading Women’s Executive program.

Larry James

Larry James has been involved in developing and implementing holistic, justice-focused approaches to congregational and community service and outreach throughout his career. Since 1994, James has provided executive leadership for CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries), a faith-based, human and community development corporation that battles poverty and its various related expressions in several inner city neighborhoods in Dallas and beyond. First serving as Executive Director and then President and CEO, James began his CEO role with a vision for CitySquare’s future fund development and external community endeavors. CitySquare offers a variety of services to its clients: legal services, youth and children’s ministry, affordable workforce housing, initiatives related to work force development and technology training, housing interventions for homeless persons, and spiritual development to neighbors living in the communities of East and South Dallas.

James, a native of Richardson, Texas, is married to Brenda Erwin. The couple, who reside in one of the neighborhoods CitySquare serves, have two grown daughters.

Paul Zoltan

Paul Zoltan is a long-time pro bono attorney volunteer specializing in immigration law. In 2014, inspired to do more when the influx of Central American women and children to Texas soared, Zoltan launched a pro se asylum workshop model that would multiply the representation provided to these refugees. In the last two years, more than 150 asylum applications for women and children have been completed at and submitted through these workshops. Through this project, Zoltan is credited with saving the lives of immigrant women and children who fled horrific and violent circumstances in their home countries.

Zoltan also mentors other attorneys, and works closely with the Catholic Charities team of AmeriCorps lawyers, whose caseloads number as high as 250 individuals and families. He helped the organization start its own legal program for immigrant children, training and mentoring staff in their representation of children in immigration court. He is a passionate advocate who fights against poor attorney practices in the field of immigration law, and is an inspiration not only to immigration lawyers, but also to those who practice in the area of public service law.

Randy Johnston

Randy Johnston has been a great supporter of women’s causes and legal aid for the poor for many years. Johnston, whose law practice focuses on the professional and ethical practice of law, is known both as “the lawyer with a ponytail” and the attorney who will sue other lawyers for malpractice and client abandonment. A founding supporter of the Dallas Bar Association’s Law Jam, a musical fundraising for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP), a joint program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. During Law Jam 2, Johnston auctioned off the right for the winning bidder to cut off his ponytail following the performance of his blues band, Blue Collar Crime. Two groups paid $7,000 each for the right to cut off his ponytail, and all of the proceeds went to DVAP.  Randy was awarded a Presidential Citation by the Dallas Bar Association for his efforts to aid the poor.

He is a highly sought after speaker, presenting more than 100 speeches designed to educate other lawyers on how to avoid client problems while complying with the ethical rules and standards of professionalism. Johnston is proud to practice law with Robert Tobey, Chad Baruch, and his son, Coyt. He is married and the proud father of eight children, five of whom are strong, independent women.

Ramona’s Story

Ramona’s husband tried to kill her in front of a crowd of bystanders when he lifted her off of the ground by the throat. Before bystanders could intervene, Ramona was thrown onto the concrete sidewalk and she lost consciousness. A witness called police, but the abuser had fled the scene and his family and friends refused to cooperate with authorities or share the husband’s location.

With her husband on the run, Ramona, the mother of two children, filed for divorce pro se. Unsure how to proceed on her own, she applied for help at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Legal Aid). With the assistance of the Legal Aid attorney, Ramona amended the petition for divorce, and located and served her husband, who was in jail. Legal Aid assisted Ramona in finalizing the divorce, where she obtained sole managing conservatorship of her children, permanent injunctions against further abuse by or contact from her ex-husband, and no visitation of the children by their father.

The Women’s Advocacy Awards event helps provide critical civil legal aid for women like Ramona. This year’s WAA event takes place from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, July 12 in Arlington Hall at Lee Park in Dallas. Additional information is available on the 16th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards Facebook event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/1572399809724590/permalink/1580695462228358, or by contacting Sam Prince at princes@lanwt.org.

Strasburger & Price attorney Kathryne “Kate” M. Morris has earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Morris earned the credential based on successfully passing the IAPP comprehensive examination covering privacy and data protection laws and practices in the United States, including how to respond in the event of a data breach.

Privacy professionals play an increasingly important role in today’s data-driven global economy. In a release, the firm said Morris’ knowledge in this area will allow her to assist Strasburger clients manage rapidly evolving privacy threats and mitigate the potential loss and misuse of information assets.

Morris is an associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Litigation practice groups. Her practice focuses on the areas of technology, e-commerce, privacy and data security. She regularly advises clients from a variety of commercial sectors, including retail and finance, in all aspects of technology transactions, the collection, use, disclosure, retention and destruction of data, and eDiscovery. Additionally, Morris’ practice includes disputes over copyrights and trademarks, software licensing, breach of contract and fraud, among other issues and claims.

The IAPP is the first organization to publicly establish standards in professional education and testing for privacy and data protection. IAPP privacy certification is internationally recognized as a reputable, independent program that professionals seek and employers demand. Although more than 8,000 professionals worldwide currently hold one or more IAPP certifications, very few attorneys hold this important credential.

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. The CIPP/US demonstrates a strong foundation in U.S. private-sector privacy laws and regulations and understanding of the legal requirements for the responsible transfer of sensitive personal data to/from the U.S., the EU and other jurisdictions.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that BTI Consulting Group has named it one of the best firms delivering alternative fee arrangements (AFAs). Out of the 650 firms surveyed, 22 firms received this honor.

According to BTI Consulting Group, “top legal decision makers credit their new love of AFAs to improved client focus, predictability in budgets, a more streamlined approach to the work, and the savings—which remain well in the double digits. Clients using AFAs report savings of 13.9% in 2015 compared to 14.4% in 2013. These savings effectively add $2.7 million to the average client’s legal budget.” On April 28, the results were published in Law360.

“The firm strives to provide the absolute best legal counsel at a price that is right for our clients,” said firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “We are proud to be listed as one of the top firms at developing and delivering AFAs.”

To view BTI Consulting Group’s report, click here.

Dallas appellate lawyer and strategist Deborah Hankinson of Hankinson LLP has earned recognition on D Magazine’s 2016 listing of the Best Lawyers in Dallas. This is the 11th time the former Texas Supreme Court justice has been recognized in the annual list based on her expertise in appellate law, arbitration, mediation and trial consulting.

Earlier this year, Hankinson was one of just 48 attorneys nationwide selected to The National Law Journal’s inaugural ADR Champions listing, which honored the leaders and trailblazers in alternative dispute resolution. Last year, Ms. Hankinson was named a Texas Trial Legend by the Dallas Bar Association. She also has earned honors for her work from The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Texas Super Lawyers, Benchmark Appellate, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Business Journal, Martindale-Hubbell and Lawdragon.

She has been honored by such organizations as the Women’s Advocacy Project, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation, American Board of Trial Advocates, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and the State Bar of Texas.

Hankinson is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Arbitration Association.

D Magazine’s 2016 listing of the city’s top attorneys was determined through peer nominations submitted by thousands of attorneys throughout North Texas. An independent panel of distinguished lawyers helped the magazine’s editors select the honorees. The complete listing is featured in the May 2016 edition of D Magazine and online at www.dmagazine.com.

Two partners at the Texas-based family law firm Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, have been selected to D Magazine’s 2016 list of The Best Lawyers in Dallas.

This marks Scott Downing’s third appearance on the Best Lawyers list and the ninth time Jeff Anderson has earned this distinction. Both are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and are Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

In a release, the firm said:

In addition to his D Magazine honors, Mr. Downing has earned recognition four times among Texas Super Lawyers’ Top 100 Lawyers in Texas and selection to The Best Lawyers in America 10 times. He has built his distinguished reputation on numerous complex and contentious trials across the state. Mr. Downing’s reputation for being a fighter in the courtroom brings an unexpected benefit, the ability to settle cases outside of that arena.

Mr. Anderson has been recognized twice among the top 100 Lawyers in Dallas/Fort Worth by Texas Super Lawyers, has been selected as a Texas Monthly Super Lawyer every year since 2003 – the year it started – and eight times to The Best Lawyers in America listing.  He grew up in a family of litigators where he learned a balance of aggressive trial skills and family values as he represents his clients in divorce, custody and property division.

Ten Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP attorneys have received recognition in D Magazine’s 2016 Best Lawyers in Dallas list.

“The recognition in D Magazine of our partners, who specialize in numerous disciplines of law, demonstrates the quality of our lawyers across the firm,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “We are honored to have this group of attorneys recognized among the best in the Dallas legal community, and we congratulate them on this achievement.”

Gardere attorneys named to the 2016 Best Lawyers in Dallas list, and their areas of practice, include:

Beverly B. Godbey – Insurance Law
Carrie B. Hoffman – Labor & Employment
Peter L. Loh – Business/Commercial Litigation
Joyce Mazero – Franchise Law
Michael H. Newman – Corporate Law: General
Alan J. Perkins – Corporate Law: Mergers & Acquisitions
Frances E. Phillips – Environmental Law
Larry Schoenbrun – Corporate Law: General
David H. Timmins – Insurance Law
Peter S. Vogel – Digital Information Law

The complete list of honorees will be featured in the publication’s May issue. Each year, D Magazine conducts a search for the best local legal professionals, inviting nearly 9,000 attorneys from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to vote for their peers. Finalists are selected by an independent panel of anonymous lawyers and D Magazine‘s editorial staff. The complete list can be found at www.dmagazine.com.

Attorney Michael Lyons, co-founder of the Dallas-based trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, and firm partner Brian Lauten have earned selection to the 2016 D Magazine list of the Best Lawyers in Dallas.

“Brian and I take great pride in the work we do on behalf of our clients and appreciate earning the recognition of our peers,” says Mr. Lyons, who was named to the list for the fifth time.

In a release, the firm said:

Lyons has earned a reputation for using innovative trial strategies and a client-first approach in representing victims of catastrophic personal injuries, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death. He is equally respected for his work in complex business disputes, having successfully represented small businesses and large companies in “bet-the-company” litigation involving breach of contract, shareholder and royalty disputes, securities claims, business torts, and director and officer liability. Mr. Lyons is one of the few attorneys to earn recognition for both business and personal injury litigation in the listing of Dallas’ top attorneys.

This is Mr. Lauten’s second appearance on the list of Dallas’ best. He has extensive experience handling complex commercial litigation involving legal malpractice, professional liability, business and commercial torts, breach of fiduciary duty, contract disputes, and labor and employment matters. He is also a skilled appellate lawyer who has argued before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the various Texas courts of appeal. Mr. Lauten is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified in Civil Trial Law Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and Board Certified in Civil Pretrial Practice by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification.

Lisa J. Banks, co-founding partner of Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP, is co-author of the recently released book “Whistleblower Law: A Practitioner’s Guide.”

Available in eBook and print formats from its publisher, ALM’s Law Journal Press, the book is a practical, comprehensive guide to rapidly evolving whistleblower law and the numerous and often complex issues facing practitioners today from both sides of the whistleblower bar, the firm said in a release. Banks, along with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Partner Jason Schwartz, have written a balanced view of the law useful to both whistleblower advocates and defense counsel alike.

The book’s topics include:

• Major legislation, including the False Claims Act of 1863, the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, and The Dodd-Frank Act;

• Whistleblower protection for employees across a broad spectrum of industries, including the nuclear and environmental, consumer and investor, and transportation fields;

• Survey of state whistleblower laws in the 50 states and the District of Columbia;

• Whistleblower incentive programs, including those from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and Internal Revenue Service;

• Unique challenges faced by whistleblowing attorneys and compliance officers; and

• Employer considerations, including preventative measures, investigations, disclosures, privilege and settlements.

In her review of the book, Danielle Brian, Executive Director of the Project on Government Oversight, said: “As a federal government watchdog, I often work with corporate and government insiders with first-hand knowledge of matters vital to the public interest. Whistleblowers are the first and best line of defense against waste, corruption, and other misconduct by the government and its contractors. This book is simply without equal as a comprehensive, non-biased guide to the current landscape of federal and state whistleblower law.”

Roel Campos, former Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and current Chair of the Securities Enforcement Practice at Hughes Hubbard & Reed added: “Lisa Banks and Jason Schwartz have given lawyers an excellent resource for navigating the growing maze of whistleblower laws that impact on nearly every practice area today. For attorneys involved in the heavily regulated financial markets, where whistleblowers are playing in increasing role, the authors not only equip practitioners with an in-depth knowledge of statutes and case law, but they also provide insightful practice tips for that can help both sides of the bar counsel their clients on the handling of whistleblower issues as they arise and unfold. This fresh look at whistleblower law and practice is a go-to resource for in-house counsel, compliance officers and whistleblowers alike.”

Eight associates and a partner at  Houston-based Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing have been named to the annual Texas Rising Stars list, which recognizes the top young attorneys in the state.

The lawyers include partner Elizabeth Pannill Fletcher and associates Jamie Alan Aycock, Sammy Ford IV, Benjamin Foster, Tiffany Joud, Alisa Lipski, Michael McBride, Adam Milasincic and Monica Uddin.

Only 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys are chosen for Texas Rising Stars, which recognizes lawyers who are 40 or younger, or who have been in practice no more than 10 years. Selection is based on peer nominations and editorial review.

Read more about the AZA Rising Stars.

Jonathan Hudis, a partner in Quarles & Brady LLP‘s Intellectual Property Practice Group, recently edited “A Legal Strategist’s Guide to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Practice, Third Edition,” published by the Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association.

In the book, trademark lawyers and specialists who practice before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board share insights and analysis from their years of practice. Each chapter also includes a checklist of items to consider during each stage of a Board proceeding.

Hudis practices in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, helping clients of all sizes establish and grow trademark and copyright portfolios, design and implement procedures to protect their intellectual capital, resolve foreign and domestic disputes, preserve trade secrets, and formulate companywide IP strategies and policies. Well-versed in trademark prosecution and registered copyright protection matters, he formerly served as an adjunct professor of trademark and unfair competition law at the George Mason University School of Law.

Hudis is particularly knowledgeable about Internet-related trademark and copyright protection matters and is a member of several arbitration panels in the areas of Internet domain names.

“The information these authors provide is an invaluable resource for anyone who is involved in litigating proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, and I am thankful to the Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association for asking me to be involved,” said Hudis.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP presented the 2016 Donald C. McCleary Gardere Leadership Scholarship to law student Brett Moore at the Dallas Bar Foundation Fellows Luncheon on March 30. Moore is a second-year law student at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

“Mr. Moore exemplifies the qualities we look for in a scholarship recipient,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “His drive and initiative embody the spirit of Don McCleary, and it is an honor to present him with the 2016 Donald C. McCleary Gardere Leadership Scholarship.”

Moore, who has consistently been named to the dean’s list, is heavily involved in law school organizations and activities at SMU. He is one of 15 law students elected to Barristers, an exclusive service organization that selects members based on scholarship, leadership, service and character. He serves as the public event co-director for the Board of Advocates and competes on the group’s Negotiations Team. He also is a member of the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Fraternity.

Moore also was the recipient of the Carl W. Summers Jr. Endowed Scholarship, and he is heavily involved in community service projects, including the preparation of an apartment for an underprivileged family as part of the InterFaith Housing Coalition.

Moore graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. While at Vanderbilt, he ranked as the best debater on the school’s Moot Court Team and served as co-president of the Vanderbilt Habitat for Humanity.

The Donald C. McCleary Gardere Leadership Scholarship is awarded annually to a second-year SMU law student in memory of former Gardere Managing Partner Don McCleary. Recipients are evaluated and chosen based on excellence in academics, leadership, character and involvement in both law school and the community, core values embraced by McCleary.

McCleary served as Gardere’s managing partner from 1991 through 1995, before he passed away in 1996. His vision for Gardere included participation in local, state and national public affairs, humanitarian activities and pro bono work. He established many of the community outreach programs that have become the hallmark of the firm, including the Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition, which this year celebrated its 24th anniversary in Dallas and its 20th anniversary in Houston.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announces that Partner Cristina Portela Solomon has been inducted as president of the Houston Association of Women Attorneys, effective April 1.

The AWA is the only organization in the Houston area that focuses exclusively on the advancement of women law students, lawyers and judges. Ms. Solomon’s appointment was formally announced at the organization’s AWA Premier Women in Law Luncheon held on March 23.

“Cristina has established herself as one of the most respected and capable attorneys in the Houston legal community,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “She is a tireless advocate for the advancement of women in the practice of law, as evidenced by her impressive professional achievements and dedication to AWA.”

Solomon is a partner in Gardere’s labor and employment practice group.

“She is a seasoned trial lawyer who represents clients on employment matters in both state and federal court,” the firm said in a release. “She devotes a significant amount of her practice to trade secret litigation and has developed a reputation throughout Texas for successfully prosecuting and defending cases involving emergency relief in injunctive proceedings. Solomon, who is fluent in Spanish, often represents clients in employment matters throughout Latin America and Mexico.”

Under the AWA bylaws, the president must first serve as president-elect for the year preceding her term. Each year, the president-elect is nominated by the incoming president and approved by a majority vote of AWA members. In addition to serving as the organization’s president-elect, Solomon has acted as chair of the AWA Foundation’s Board of Trustees and also served on the nominating committee for the annual Premier Women in Law luncheon, the foundation’s primary fundraising event.

“Cristina has assembled a remarkable Board, who will continue building on the accomplishments of the organization,” says Christina Ponig, the outgoing AWA Houston president. “The Board is poised to do great things this year in the Houston legal community, guided by Cristina’s capable leadership. This will be an outstanding year for the AWA.”

The AWA Houston began in 1976 as a small group of women attorneys gathered in an empty courtroom to discuss ways to combine their strengths to improve opportunities for all women lawyers and promote recognition of their capabilities. Today, the AWA hosts a variety of fundraisers, educational events and scholarships designed to empower women to maximize their potential for success in the legal profession.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, announced that trusts and estates lawyer Dale Noll has been appointed president-elect of the National Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association.

Noll will be installed as president of the country’s largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied legal professionals in 2017. During his tenure, he will preside over the 28th annual Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair, a leading industry event that brings together lawyers, law students, law firms and government agencies to exchange information about the important issues impacting the LGBT community. As president, Noll also will work with the board of directors to advance the National LGBT Bar Association’s mission to promote advocacy and equal access to the law for the diverse LGBT community.

In a release, the firm said Noll is a devoted LGBT advocate. He joined the National LGBT Bar Association in 2012, where he served on its finance committee for two years, and was then appointed to the board of directors as Association Treasurer. He was the 2015 co-chair of the Miami Dade County Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Association and was previously a gala committee member of the Broward County Gay and Lesbian Lawyers Network. He regularly speaks on marriage equality and estate planning issues for alternative families and same sex couples.

At Akerman, Noll represents trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries in a wide variety of fiduciary issues and assists them in their roles as fiduciaries in administering estates and trusts. A particular focus of his practice is the representation of fiduciaries, beneficiaries and other interested parties in high-conflict, complex, and high-profile guardianship, trust and probate matters.

Akerman is a longtime champion of diversity in the legal profession and a demonstrated leader in the LGBT business community. In 2016, Akerman received its second perfect 100 percent rating on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the national benchmarking survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for workplace inclusion and equality, and has earned the “Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality” distinction. Akerman also was ranked for another consecutive year among the nation’s top 50 law firms for diversity by The American Lawyer. The collective recognition Akerman has received is a testament to the firm’s continuing hiring and professional development practices that support a diverse group of men and women.

Beck Redden LLP to announces that partner Kat Gallagher has been selected by Lawyer Monthly magazine as a recipient of the 2016 Women in Law Award in recognition of her  legal expertise and contribution within the area of litigation. The award recognizes and honors the achievements of women that have challenged, influenced or changed the practice of law over the last 12 months across the globe.

“With more than 25 years practicing law, Kat Gallagher has distinguished herself as an elite trial lawyer with outstanding instincts for how to best tell her client’s story in the most persuasive and compelling manner,” the firm says in a release.

“She is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, a preeminent association of trial lawyers limited to the top one percent of lawyers in any given jurisdiction,” the release continues. “In addition, she is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL) – membership in the Academy is limited to only 500 Fellows in the U.S.   Kat is also an Associate in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Read the release.

Donald Trump is facing some tax and legal challenges that could complicate his bid for the White House, reports Bankrate.

“Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, has asked the IRS to look into a donation from the Trump Foundation to a group connected with the Florida attorney general. CREW contends that the gift was improperly made to a political group and was not reported as required on the foundation’s tax filing,” the article says.

The Donald J. Trump Foundation is a tax-exempt organization with an IRS 501(c)(3) designation.

Read the article.

For a second consecutive year, every eligible lawyer at Dallas-based Deans & Lyons, LLP, has been selected to the annual Texas Rising Stars list, which recognizes the top young attorneys in the state.

Earning spots on the 2016 list from Deans & Lyons are Robert Bogdanowicz III, Courtney Bowline, Christopher Simmons and Kathleen Kilanowski.

“We are proud to again have all of our eligible attorneys chosen for this highly selective honor,” says firm co-founder Michael Lyons. “By design, our young lawyers are expected to compete and win against even the most seasoned attorneys, and this group continues to demonstrate that philosophy.”

This is the fifth consecutive year Bogdanowicz has been included on this list based on demonstrated excellence in cases involving business disputes. He also handles cases involving intellectual property, construction disputes, catastrophic personal injuries and wrongful death.

This is Bowline’s third consecutive selection to Texas Rising Stars. Her practice is dedicated to handling complex cases for plaintiffs and defendants involving business disputes, construction disputes, and personal injury and wrongful death.

Simmons has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star for a third consecutive time. He represents plaintiffs and defendants and focuses on a wide variety of business disputes and cases involving personal injury and wrongful death.

This is Kilanowski’s second Texas Rising Stars appearance. Selected for her real estate practice, she also handles construction litigation and complex commercial litigation.

Only 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys are chosen for Texas Rising Stars, which recognizes lawyers who are 40 or younger, or who have been in practice no more than 10 years. Selection is based on peer nominations and editorial review. The complete list can be found at www.superlawyers.com and appears in the April editions of Texas Monthly and Texas Rising Stars magazines.

Two attorneys from the Texas-based family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, once again have earned recognition among the state’s top young lawyers in the 2016 edition of the annual Texas Rising Stars list.

Dallas associate Holly B. Rampy and San Antonio associate R. Porter Corrigan II were selected for their accomplishments in family law.

 “We are thrilled, but not surprised, that these two exceptional attorneys were recognized yet again on the Rising Stars list,” says firm partner Scott Downing. “Both Holly and Porter are valuable assets to their clients and our firm. We are proud to have them on our team.”

Texas Rising Stars recognizes the state’s leading attorneys who are 40 or younger, or who have been in practice no more than 10 years. Only 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys receive this award, which is based on peer nominations and extensive editorial review, the firm said in a release.

A third-time Rising Stars honoree, Rampy focuses her practice on cases involving divorce, complex property division, modification actions, enforcement actions and child custody issues. She earned her law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.

Corrigan is making his sixth appearance on the Rising Stars list. Corrigan, who worked with two federal judges at the district and appellate court levels, represents family law clients in both trial courts and appeals courts. He graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

The complete 2016 list of the state’s leading young attorneys is available online at www.superlawyers.com and will appear in the April issues of Texas Monthly and Texas Rising Stars magazines.

Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP,  has 16 lawyers and offices in Dallas, San Antonio and Frisco, Texas. Every firm partner is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists and all are Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Orsinger holds additional board certification in Civil Appellate Law.

Strasburger & Price, LLP has announced that 17 attorneys from across the state have been selected for inclusion in the 2016 Texas Rising Stars list. The April 2016 issue of Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers – a Thomson Reuters business – Rising Stars Edition will feature the selected attorneys.

In a release, the firm said Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list is developed using the same multiphase selection process used for the Super Lawyers list except, to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. While up to 5 percent of the lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to Rising Stars.

AUSTIN
Sujata Ajmera (2013 to 2016), Immigration Law: Business
Jeff Bates (2008, 2012 to 2016), Real Estate: Business, Business Litigation, Banking

COLLIN COUNTY
Julie Biermacher (2011 to 2016), Business Litigation, General Litigation, Banking
Alyson Blatney (2015 to 2016), Business Litigation
Allison Reddoch, Employment & Labor, Consumer Law
Martin Thornthwaite (2010 to 2016), Business Litigation, Employment Litigation: Defense
Ginny Webb, Business Litigation

DALLAS
Carla Crapster, Insurance Coverage
Tate Hemingson, Business Litigation, Professional Liability: Defense, Franchise/Dealership, Appellate
Jadd F. Masso (2009 to 2016), Appellate
Justin P. Melkus (2013 to 2016), Insurance Coverage
Kathryne Morris (2014 to 2016), Business Litigation, Intellectual Property, Technology Transactions
Melody Smith (2015 to 2016), Employment & Labor, Business Litigation, Government Relations
Carr Staley, Banking, Business/Corporate

HOUSTON
Kelly Hunsaker Leonard, Appellate

SAN ANTONIO
Katherine E. David (2005 to 2016), Tax, Nonprofit Organizations
Carrie L. Douglas (2015 to 2016), Healthcare, Business Litigation, Transportation/Maritime

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP  has announced that 17 of the firm’s attorneys have been selected for inclusion on the 2016 Texas Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state are honored with this distinction.

“These 17 lawyers represent the many ‘rising stars’ at Gardere,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “To earn recognition on the official Texas Rising Stars list reflects the exceptional work these lawyers provide for our clients and our Firm, and we congratulate them on this well-earned honor.”

The Gardere attorneys named to the 2016 Texas Rising Stars list and the practice areas for which they are being recognized are:

Dallas:

• Michael S. Haynes, Business: Bankruptcy
• Rick Jordan, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Rachel Kingrey, Business Litigation
• Kimberly P. Mabel, Insurance Coverage
• Virgil Ochoa, International
• Aimee Cook Oleson, Business Litigation
• James C. (Jim) Scott, Business Litigation
• Sarah A. Walters, Franchise/Dealership
• Taylor E. White, Employment & Labor

Houston:

• Katharine D. (Kate) David, Eminent Domain
• Scott D. Ellis, Business Litigation
• Mary Elizondo Frazier, Business Litigation
• Jessica Glatzer Mason, Employment & Labor
• Audrey Momanaee, Business Litigation
• Alfredo Ramos, Energy & Natural Resources
• Mike Seely, Business Litigation
• Rhonda Reed Weiner, Business Litigation

In a release, the firm said Rising Stars recognizes top up-and-coming attorneys who are 40 years of age or younger, or have been in practice for 10 years or less. The annual selections are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys, the firm said.

The complete 2016 Texas Rising Stars list will appear in the April 2016 issues of Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars magazine.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an Am Law 200 firm founded in 1909, has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Mexico City.

Seven Beck Redden attorneys have been named as 2016 Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers.

The Super Lawyers list recognizes no more than five percent of attorneys in each state and the Texas Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of Texas attorneys. Selections are determined through peer nominations and research. To be eligible, attorneys must have been in practice for fewer than 10 years or be 40 years of age or younger.

The complete list of Beck Redden 2016 Rising Stars:

Austin

• Chris Cowan – Business Litigation

 Houston

• Patrice Childress – Civil Litigation: Defense
• Chad Flores – Appellate
• William Peterson – Appellate
• Bryon Rice – Business Litigation
• Alex Roberts – General Litigation
• Andrea Whitley – General Litigation