Mark E. Macias has joined Langley & Banack, Inc. as part of the firm’s insurance litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice groups.

The firm said Macias practices in the area of general civil trial law with a focus on all areas of insurance defense litigation, including personal and commercial injury defense and first party cases. In his practice, Macias handles disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, deceptive trade practice, negligence claims, construction defects, and personal injury.

He also is a professional mediator. Fluent in Spanish, Macias routinely conducts mediations on behalf of his clients addressing adverse parties in Spanish, the firm said.

Macias holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and a juris doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

A San Antonio native, Macias is a civic volunteer at many local non-profits, including the San Antonio Food Bank, Trinity University, and the Westside YMCA where he was awarded Volunteer of the Year. He is also recognized for his services with the Archdiocesan Legal Services.

Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri, outgoing chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), will chair Quarles & Brady LLP’s Indian Law and Policy Group from its Washington, D.C. office, effective May 20.

In a release, the firm said President Barack Obama first designated Chaudhuri to serve as acting chairman in 2013, following his initial appointment to the agency by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. He was then nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2015. During his tenure at the NIGC, Chaudhuri oversaw the $32.4 billion Indian gaming industry spanning approximately 250 tribal nations and 500 facilities across 29 states. Working with over 6,000 tribal regulators in the field, Chaudhuri led the NIGC during key milestones in connection with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which promotes tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.

Earlier in his career, he served as senior counselor to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. His 20-year legal career includes serving as a judge on five different tribal courts, including serving as chief justice of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court, the highest court of the fourth largest tribe in the nation.

In tandem with his move to Quarles & Brady, Chaudhuri will begin an ambassadorship with his tribal nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, headquartered in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Originally from Tempe, Arizona, Chaudhuri has also served as a community organizer, adjunct professor, public defender, legal services director, and author. He received his J.D. from Cornell Law School, and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Holland & Hart announced that Kristy Kimball joined the firm’s healthcare team as a partner in Salt Lake City.

Before joining Holland & Hart, Kimball was the founding partner of Kimball Legal, PLLC, where she served as outside counsel to several major healthcare companies, including the largest hospital holding company in the U.S. Kimball is the founder and past chair of the Health Law Section of the Utah State Bar Association.

Jackson Walker announced the addition of Joseph P. Regan and Adam L. Plumbley to the Chambers USA-ranked Trial & Appellate Litigation practice in Fort Worth.

In a release, the firm said Regan practices energy litigation with a concentration in eminent domain and related matters. He regularly serves as counsel for midstream energy clients and other condemning authorities in matters related to real property rights acquisitions, easement negotiations, and condemnation proceedings and trials. He has spoken and written on a range of industry topics, including condemnation and eminent domain, general litigation, and issues impacting the energy industry and financial services institutions.

Regan received his B.A., summa cum laude, from The University of Texas at Arlington and his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law, where he served as Casenote Editor of the Computer Law Review and Technology Journal and was President of the Student Bar Association. Upon graduating law school, he served as a briefing attorney for Justice Douglas S. Lang of the Fifth District.

He is president of the Board of Directors for The WARM Place, a grief support center for children and their families. In addition, he is a member of the Texas Bar College and has held leadership positions on the Tarrant County Bar Association’s Board of Directors and several of its committees.

Plumbley represents oil and gas producers, utilities, common carriers, and midstream companies in all aspects of energy litigation, condemnation and eminent domain, and real property disputes. He also handles a variety of general commercial litigation, including product liability and financial services.

Plumbley received his J.D., cum laude, from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (Texas A&M University School of Law), where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Prior to law school, he received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Texas Christian University.

He is a member of the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Eldon B. Mahon American Inn of Court. Previously, he volunteered his time with the Board of Directors of the Ladder Alliance and the March of Dimes Fort Worth Division.

Blank Rome LLP announced that Richard J. Miller Jr. and Sean R. Weissbart have joined the firm as partners, along with additional professional staff, in its Tax, Benefits, and Private Client group.

In a release, the firm said they are based in the firm’s New York office, which relocated last week to 1271 Avenue of the Americas after 40 years in the Chrysler Building. The group joins from one of New York’s oldest law firms, Morris & McVeigh LLP, where Miller previously served as managing partner. Morris & McVeigh, which will wind down, was formed in 1862 under the name of Henry Lewis Morris. Originally, the firm was primarily engaged in managing the real estate interests of the Morris family, which owned large portions of Morrisania, and it also represented prominent New York families. It gradually enlarged its practice through the years, offering comprehensive legal services to individual and corporate clients, both foreign and domestic, and various nonprofit organizations and foundations.

Miller and Weissbart have experience in estate planning services, including probate and estate administration; trust administration; estate and trust litigation; nonprofit matters; matrimonial matters; and domestic and cross-border income, estate, and gift taxation, the firm said.

William C. Vail Jr. has joined Littler as special counsel in its Atlanta office. Vail previously spent seven years at Kindred Healthcare and Kindred at Home. He most recently served as division vice president and deputy chief litigation officer of Kindred at Home, the nation’s largest home health and hospice provider.

In a release, the firm said that, at Kindred, Vail advised on employment law compliance across a wide range of areas, including wage and hour, employee benefits, leave administration and disability accommodation, and federal procurement and contract regulations. He has resolved employment disputes across the country involving such issues as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and breaches of non-compete agreements. Vail also has experience conducting internal investigations, drafting employment agreements, policies and handbooks, performing due diligence for employment matters, and managing integration initiatives in mergers and acquisitions.

Vail received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Kentucky College of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Washington and Lee University.

Joan Baughan has joined Steptoe & Johnson LLP as a partner based in the Washington office. Baughan practices food and drug law, focusing on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and comparable international regulation of food contact materials, drugs, drug packaging, cosmetics, and medical devices. She will lead the firm’s global food contact materials practice.

In a release, the firm said Baughan’s food contact regulatory work includes the broad spectrum of activities associated with food contact materials including regulatory filings, opinion letters, performing compliance audits and training courses for clients, and advising on recalls. She also advises clients on drug packaging regulations, medical devices, Proposition 65 warning requirements, and cosmetics packaging issues. Baughan has experience with the regulation of food packaging materials and medicinal products under European Union and member state legislation, and is also familiar with the food contact approval regimes in Canada, China, Japan, and MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela).

Baughan earned her J.D. from the Catholic University of America, where she was managing editor of The Catholic University Law Review. She received both her B.S. and B.S.M.T. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Redgrave LLP announced that three of the firm’s attorneys have been ranked nationally for Litigation: E-Discovery in Chambers USA 2019, a leading resource guide for businesses seeking external legal counsel in the United States. In addition, three attorneys also are ranked in Chambers Global 2019 for Litigation: E-Discovery – USA.

Jonathan M. Redgrave, managing partner of the firm, is again ranked as the only “star” practitioner in the area, which Chambers awards to lawyers “with exceptional recommendations in their field.” Chambers USA’s editorial says:

Kevin F. Brady, of counsel at the firm, is ranked in Band 2 in the most recent USA listings.

Redgrave partner Karin S. Jenson is ranked in Band 4 in the most recent USA listing.

Redgrave partner Christopher Q. King is ranked in Band 4 in the most recent Global listing.

London-based Chambers and Partners annually ranks the leading U.S. firms and attorneys based on in-depth research and interviews with clients and peers. Chambers ranks individual lawyers in bands 1 (highest) to 6, with all band rankings considered to be a significant achievement. Chambers assesses attorneys on attributes most valued by clients, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, and commitment.

The Texas Senate adopted a resolution honoring firm founder and legal legend Walter Umphrey for his legal accomplishments and philanthropic service to Southeast Texas and on behalf of all Texans.

Senate Resolution No. 641, at the request of Sen. Kirk Watson, was approved unanimously on April 25, 2019.

“Walter Umphrey has had a profound impact on the legal profession in Texas, and it is truly fitting that he receive special recognition for his career and for his invaluable service on behalf of the men and women of this state,” the resolution states.

Texas SR641 highlighted Umphrey’s commitment to the law and his legal accomplishments including his work as lead counsel for the group of attorneys representing the state of Texas in the historic $15.3 billion settlement with the tobacco industry.

Umphrey’s many accolades and awards include “Legal Legend” by Texas Lawyer and “Top Texas Lawyers of the 20th Century.” Of special note were Mr. and Mrs. Umphrey’s philanthropic support of Baylor Law School, Lamar University the Beaumont community and his service on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Thanking Senator Watson for carrying the resolution, Provost Umphrey partner Bryan Blevins said, “The Senate resolution is a noteworthy testament to Walter’s remarkable career and his dedication to the hard-working men and women of Texas.” In addition to the resolution, Mrs. Umphrey was presented with a gubernatorial proclamation and the flag flown over the capital in her husband’s honor.

Umphrey grew up in Port Arthur and graduated from Baylor Law School. Provost Umphrey Law Firm is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year.

Akerman LLP announced its expansion in Texas with the addition of Ryan Beard, a first-chair patent litigator.

In a release, the firm said Beard practices intellectual property law and has experience in the areas of medical devices, mechanical devices, automotive products, computer equipment, other technology related to the internet and data, and copyrights and trademarks.

Since 2016, Akerman’s headcount has more than doubled in Texas to 66 lawyers and business professionals in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Recent additions in Texas include real estate partners Mark McElree and Kacy Whitehead, and insurance litigation partner Elliot Strader in Dallas. In Houston, a four-member team led by partners David Clark and Kristen McDanald joined Akerman to enhance the capabilities of the national Litigation Practice Group in the area of insurance litigation.

Holland & Hart announces the addition of tax partner William Colgin and tax associate Diana Myers.

In a release, the firm said Colgin and Myers are the latest additions to the firm’s expanding Tax and Benefits Practice, which also recently added one partner and three new associates.

Colgin focuses primarily on large-dollar, complicated, and contentious disputes, and will work closely with the Government Investigations and White Collar Defense team on criminal tax matters. Bill litigates in the U.S. Tax Court, federal district courts, state courts, and appellate courts throughout the country on a wide variety of tax issues including international transfer pricing, foreign asset and bank account compliance, intellectual property, economic substance, partnership tax, employment and benefits, and other high-profile areas of tax dispute.

Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Colgin was a partner at Morgan Lewis in Silicon Valley, where he was local practice group leader for the firm’s West Coast tax practice. Colgin began his career as a civil trial attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice with primary case dockets in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Colgin is admitted to practice in California and Virginia, and he is temporarily authorized to practice in Colorado pending admission under C.R.C.P. 205.6.

Myers has international tax experience from her practice at Baker McKenzie in Chicago. Prior to joining Holland & Hart, she worked for the chief tax strategist at Northern Trust Corporation, covering tax reform legislation for the company and its clients. Myers is admitted to practice in Wyoming, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Langley & Banack, Inc. attorney Kristal C. Thomson was honored by the State Bar of Texas for her contributions in 2018 to the Bar’s continuing legal education efforts. Thomson was one of four volunteer lawyers receiving an award selected by the staff of TexasBarCLE.

In addition to her speaking engagements in 2018, Thomson served as a course director for two TexasBarCLE courses.

Thomson is board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Other recognition for Thomson include being a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Life Member of the Texas Family Law Foundation, a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and Chair-Elect of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Thomson also is a Grievance Committee Panel Chair and a member of the Pattern Jury Charge Committee, Estates & Family Law.

Thomson holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

Melissa K. Peters has joined Littler‘s Workplace Safety & Health Practice Group as special counsel in the Walnut Creek, Calif., office.

Peters previously was staff counsel with the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) in the Los Angeles Legal Unit.

In a release, the firm said that, while at Cal/OSHA, Peters regularly advised on enforcement and investigation-related matters and represented the division in administrative appeals and third-party litigation arising from workplace fatalities. She worked with Cal/OSHA’s High Hazard, Labor Enforcement, Crane and Elevator units and handled numerous workplace violence cases, particularly involving hospitals, as well as cases involving heat illness and bloodborne pathogens.

Peters received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and her B.A. from Syracuse University. She is licensed to practice law in California and Montana.

David Olstein, an ERISA lawyer with a background advising financial institutions, plan sponsors and investment committees on matters relating to the investment of pension plan assets, has joined Stroock’s Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA group as a partner.

In a release, the firm said Olstein has experience with the application of ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility provisions, built through matters as varied as representing fund sponsors and managers in connection with the formation and operation of private investment funds, counseling issuers and underwriters in connection with marketing securities to benefit plan investors and advising plan sponsors in connection with the selection of annuity providers.

Olstein has served on the New York City Bar Association’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Committee, and he is a contributing author to the Bloomberg BNA treatise ERISA Fiduciary Law.

Foley & Lardner announced that Paul Labov has joined the firm’s Litigation Department and Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations Practice Group as a partner in the New York office.

Labov focuses his practice on representing creditor committees and other major constituencies in large Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, including significant creditor committee engagements in the cases of Beaulieu Group LLC, Family Christian Stores, Uplift Rx and Garces Restaurant Group. Labov’s experience also includes serving as co-counsel to an ad hoc group of vendors holding hundreds of millions in administrative claims in the Toys “R” Us Chapter 11 proceeding.

The firm said Labov also advises investment funds, insurance companies, and commercial banking institutions in connection with the purchase and sale of distressed debt and assets, debtor-in-possession financing and claims trading. In addition to his work with distressed funds, Labov counsels private equity firms, such as A&M Capital Partners, on the acquisitions of portfolio companies.

Labov joins Foley from Fox Rothschild LLP, where he was a partner on the financial restructuring and bankruptcy team. He began his career at a bankruptcy boutique firm in New Jersey, where in addition to bankruptcy, he was recognized for his commitment and efforts on behalf of those in need of legal service but who were unable to afford a lawyer.

Christine Payne has joined Redgrave LLP as a partner in Chicago. Payne most recently led Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s eDiscovery efforts as co-chair of the firmwide Electronic Discovery Committee.

In a release, the firm said Payne’s experience includes handling complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company cases, as well as restructuring-related litigation, products liability litigation, antitrust matters, and ongoing and pending investigations. She has also counseled clients on litigation readiness, developing eDiscovery strategy, and recovering from data loss. Payne also teaches, speaks, and writes frequently about eDiscovery strategy and advocacy. She currently is an adjunct professor of electronic discovery law and problem solving at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Payne received her J.D. (with honors) from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Dykema announced that Kyle R. Dufrane, Detroit-based member in the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Practice Group, has been reappointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the State’s Military Appeals Tribunal for a term that expires in April 2023.

In a release, the firm said Dufrane has now been appointed by governors from both major political parties, with his first appointment to the tribunal coming from Governor Rick Snyder in 2011.

The Military Appeals Tribunal was created by Act 523 of the Public Acts of 1980. It consists of five members and has appellate jurisdiction, upon petition of an accused, to hear and review the record in all decisions of a court-martial after the review provided in the Michigan code of military justice. It sits as a panel of three members with the concurrence of two members necessary for a decision. The tribunal also may promulgate administrative rules.

Dufrane’s law practice focuses on litigating consumer financial services disputes for national financial institutions, pharmaceutical and medical device defense, automotive product liability defense, toxic tort, complex commercial litigation, and insurance litigation. He represents some of the nation’s largest financial institutions in matters concerning mortgage and consumer lending.

Dufrane also maintains an active role in several professional and legal organizations. He also was previously appointed to serve as a hjearing panelist for Michigan’s Attorney Discipline Board, and continues to serve the State Bar of Michigan in this position.

Dufrane earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Detroit and a A.B. from the University of Michigan.

Bloomberg Law reports that the former chair of Dentons government contracts practice group claims that the firm owes her more than $390,000, but the firm has fired back, saying she owes the firm almost $2 million in client fees.

Jessica Abrahams, now at Drinker Biddle & Reath, claims Dentons breached a contract that guaranteed she’d have the funds in her capital account returned to her if she left the firm.

Dentons responded in a statement that when Abrahams left, “Dentons was owed more than $1.8 million from her clients and those fees and costs largely remain outstanding today.”

Read the Bloomberg Law article.

The Florida Bar hit Fort Lauderdale lawyer Ashley Krapacs with an emergency suspension for alleged behavior including “terrorist legal tactics” and “cyberstalking restraining order” in online posts about two peers.

The Miami Herald reports that the case started with Krapacs filing for a restraining order against a man whom she claimed was violently abusive during their relationship. The Bar presented an example from Krapacs’ LinkedIn account that referred to one of the lawyers on the other side:

“Old White Male Attorney #2 steps up to the plate to harass a domestic violence victim with yet another baseless legal treat. Classy.”

She also accused the court of being biased, according to the Herald‘s David J. Neal.

Read the Miami Herald article.

Attorney Deborah Hankinson has been selected for the 14th time to D Magazine’s list of the Best Lawyers in Dallas for her practice in conflict resolution.

The 2019 honor recognizes the former Texas Supreme Court Justice’s comprehensive practice in conflict resolution, which includes mediation, early neutral evaluation, arbitration, settlement consulting, and special settlement counsel.

The award recognizes Hankinson’s practice as a broad range of consulting and counseling options that take full advantage of her analytical and problem-solving skills. From pre-litigation to post-trial, she advances procedural efficacy and the potential for settlement.

Her practice promotes opportunities for problem-solving and resolution at all stages of a dispute by making a range of easily accessible services available to those seeking alternatives to trial. This approach expands traditional mediation and arbitration to offer a new, broad-based resource for solving legal conflicts.

Hankinson offers early neutral evaluations to assess the merits of a dispute as a predicate to potential settlement. She also conducts pre-suit mediations and helps clients develop early settlement strategies. Based on her broad expertise, she is often retained as special settlement counsel.

Hankinson has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Texas Super Lawyers, Benchmark Appellate, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Business Journal, Martindale-Hubbell and Lawdragon, in addition to D Magazine. She also has been honored as a Texas Trial Legend by the Dallas Bar Association and was selected to The National Law Journal’s inaugural ADR Champions list, recognizing trailblazers from across the nation.