Steve Mostyn, a top Democratic donor and prominent Houston trial lawyer who made his fortune suing insurance companies on behalf of homeowners after hurricanes, has died at 46.

Amber Mostyn, his wife, released a statement saying her husband died after “a sudden onset and battle with a mental health issue.” She did not disclose the cause of death,” reports The Texas Tribune.

KTRK, the Houston ABC television affiliate, reports that Mostyn died at his home Wednesday night, and, according to authorities, he took his own life.

Tribune reporters Morgan Smith and Jay Root write that Mostyn and his wife, also an attorney, have long been considered the state’s most powerful Democratic backers, spending millions on Democratic campaigns in Texas and beyond.

Read the Texas Tribune article.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Chuck Katz, a public finance attorney, to its Chicago office as a partner in the Government Services and Finance Department.

Katz has worked in the public finance arena for more than 30 years and focuses on the tax component of public finance transactions across the country. He serves in a variety of roles related to tax-exempt financing transactions, including as bond, underwriter’s, tax, issuer’s or borrower’s counsel.

In a release, the firm said:

Katz is experienced in virtually all types of bonds, including governmental, public power, single- and multifamily housing, airport and other transportation, solid waste and sewer, and small issue manufacturing, along with bonds issued for hospitals, colleges and other nonprofit organizations. He advises governmental and nonprofit organizations on the various tax law requirements related to bond-financed property, including use of proceeds, private use, arbitrage and rebate compliance.

“Chuck has a leading public finance and tax law practice that spans 25 states,” said Mark Rust, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Chicago office. “He’s joining an exceptional team that has long-standing relationships with clients at all levels of government, particularly serving the municipal finance market for both public and private projects.”

Additionally, Katz regularly counsels clients on tax law compliance matters, tax form preparation and filing, and the evaluation of management contracts and research agreements.

Katz earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and his B.A. from Union College. Katz was previously a shareholder at Polsinelli.

Perkins Coie announced that Adam H. Schuman has joined the firm’s White Collar & Investigations practice group as a partner in the New York office.

Schuman has experience as a former general counsel, federal prosecutor, law firm attorney and federal law clerk. He joins the firm from the New York State Executive Chamber, where he served as Special Counsel for Public Integrity for Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.

In a release, the firm said:

A seasoned litigator with more than 25 years’ experience, Adam has been at the focal point of some of the most highly publicized investigations and cases in the country, including serving as lead prosecutor in a securities fraud and money laundering trial arising out of the boiler room depicted in the film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” managing as senior in-house counsel the defense of Standard & Poor’s against multiple domestic and international government investigations and private litigations coming out of the 2008 financial crisis and, as a member of Governor Cuomo’s senior staff, advising the Executive Chamber on ethics, risk and compliance matters. As a result of Adam’s efforts as a federal prosecutor, he was awarded the Director’s Award for Superior Performance from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Adam is a highly respected and experienced litigator and trial attorney,” said Markus Funk, Chair of Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations practice. “His prosecution and high-stakes defense background, coupled with his in-house and public sector experience, is an ideal match with our culture of professional excellence. We are excited to have him on our team.”

Before joining the Governor’s office in 2016, Adam began his career in public service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York. He then spent 12 years at McGraw-Hill/Standard & Poor’s, including as Executive Managing Director and Chief Legal Officer. The year prior to his tenure with the Governor’s office, Adam served as General Counsel for New York State Homes and Community Renewal, where he oversaw a legal team of more than 100 attorneys. Before that, Adam was a lawyer with the New York firms Paul Weiss and Corbin Silverman & Sanseverino and served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska in the Southern District of New York.

“Adam is admired by his peers nationally and in the New York legal market, and he brings an impressive list of credentials,” said Keith Miller, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s New York office. “As a former federal prosecutor, his addition complements the strategic growth of our New York office.”

Adam will focus his practice on representing and counseling companies through criminal and civil investigations and complex government, regulatory and compliance matters, including investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Senate and House committees and State Attorneys General. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from New York University School of Law and received his B.A., with Honors, from Swarthmore College.

Berkeley Research Group announced that Kristen Schwendinger has joined the Health Analytics practice in the firm’s Washington, DC, office and will focus on Corporate Compliance and Risk Management.

She joins BRG from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and has significant industry experience across provider and supplier entities. She will focus her consulting practice on pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device manufacturers, a wide array of healthcare providers, companies in other regulated industries and individuals on a variety of compliance-related issues, including federal healthcare laws and regulations; policies and procedures; compliance assessments related to Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities & Exchange Commission and other regulatory investigations; IRO monitoring and testing; CIA readiness assessments and reporting; and creative restructuring and reform.

Before joining BRG, Schwendinger served as a senior counsel at HHS OIG, where she focused on healthcare enforcement, compliance and investigations. She has experience in the government’s fraud investigation process, the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Civil Monetary Penalties Law and exclusions from federal healthcare programs. Schwendinger is a respected compliance professional, having managed numerous corporate integrity agreements while advancing the OIG’s approach to corporate monitoring.

“In a climate of increased scrutiny and accountability for compliance programs, it is an exciting time to join BRG’s Corporate Compliance and Risk Management team. I am honored to contribute to BRG’s impressive team, bringing knowledge from monitoring corporations as part of my expertise from HHS OIG,” said Schwendinger.

In a release, the company says:

Schwendinger brings deep experience to BRG for a wide range of providers to include grantees, contractors, life science companies, physician practices, hospitals, health centers, durable medical equipment, pharmacies, manufacturers and long-term care providers and suppliers. Among her accomplishments are collaborations on various matters with the National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as with HHS representatives at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. She also worked on OIG’s updated healthcare provider self-disclosure protocol, in addition to processes for disclosures by contractors or grantees.

Across hundreds of cases for which she obtained settlements or judgments, Schwendinger advocated for OIG’s enforcement positions related to hospice, home health, durable medical equipment, life science companies and individual providers. She served as OIG’s Grant and Contract Fraud coordinator, earning awards for excellence and innovation. She also served as a member of the grant fraud subcommittee for the DOJ’s Financial Fraud Task Force for HHS OIG. Working from the start of investigations through to resolutions, she took depositions and also handled appeals before the Departmental Appeals Board and federal courts. She championed an initiative for OIG to obtain new grant and contract Civil Monetary Penalty Law authority, which was enacted as a part of the 21st Century Cures Act.

“We are excited to have someone of Kristen’s caliber join BRG’s Corporate Compliance team. Her OIG and healthcare experience will strengthen our range of services to life sciences and other organizations, as well as their counsel.” said Ed Buthusiem, Managing Director of BRG’s Corporate Compliance and Risk Management team.

Prior to her time at the OIG, Schwendinger worked at IU Health (formerly Clarian Health) and Massachusetts General Hospital on community benefits tax reporting and research fundraising.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Natalie Perry to its Chicago office as a partner in the Corporate Department. Perry focuses her practice on estate, gift and income tax planning, and business succession planning.

Inn a release, the firm said Perry, who also is a Certified Public Accountant, represents high net worth families and business owners and advises on asset protection strategies, tax planning and wealth transition, and the formation and administration of private foundations and charitable trusts. She also has extensive experience with contested estate and trust administration matters that involve disputes among beneficiaries and advised trustees.

“Natalie works with families and closely held businesses on estate and corporate planning issues that range from the routine to the complex,” said Mark Rust, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Chicago office. “She will play an instrumental role in further developing the sophisticated services that we deliver to private clients in the Midwest and across the country.”

Earlier in her career, Perry served as a wealth adviser for JPMorgan’s Private Bank, where she assisted business owners with succession planning. In 2016, Perry was elected to the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, where Fellows are chosen based on their professional reputation, exceptional skill and substantial contributions to the field through lecturing, writing, teaching and bar activities.

Perry earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Perry was previously at Ice Miller.

North Texas lawyer Paul Hewett has joined the family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, as a partner in the firm’s newly opened Frisco, Texas office.

“We are very pleased to bring an attorney with Paul’s reputation and deep ties to the Frisco community to our firm,” said firm partner and co-founder Keith Nelson. “Family law requires a unique level of trust with a client and a special understanding of what is most important in order to deliver the results that matter. That is exactly what Paul does.”

In a release, the firm said Hewett’s practice involves complex family law, including divorce, property characterization and valuation, and pre- and postmarital agreements. A former child support enforcement officer with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Hewett also focuses on child custody and enforcement actions.

He joins the firm from the Frisco-based family law boutique Woods, May, Rachel, Matlock & Hewett.

“The attorneys at ONDA are hands-down the best in Texas, and the opportunity to join a firm with such a phenomenal reputation was something I could not let pass by,” said Hewett, a longtime Frisco resident and a graduate of Leadership Frisco.

Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2008, Hewett is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the bar associations of Collin and Denton counties. In recognition of his family law work, Hewett has been selected to the Texas Super Lawyers listing of top attorneys in the state annually since 2013.

DLA Piper announced that Michael Krauss has joined the firm’s Litigation practice as partner in the Minneapolis office.

Krauss, a former assistant U.S. attorney in New York, advises trustees, creditors and lenders on complex financial disputes. He has represented leading national banks in corporate trust and structured products matters, such as residential mortgage-backed securities litigation and indenture claims, and has secured over US$150 million in related settlements. Krauss also advises clients on creditor litigations and insolvency.

“Michael is a top-notch litigator with an impressive track record representing clients in the financial services sector,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “That background, coupled with his enforcement experience as an AUSA, makes him an important addition to our representation of some of the world’s largest financial institutions.”

In a release, the firm said Krauss also has experience working on financial issues and potential liabilities in the highly-regulated field of tribal gaming, and has won judgments and settlements for lenders and developers nationwide.

“Michael is known in the Twin Cities and nationally as an impactful litigator with the ability to efficiently manage the spectrum of financial disputes that a company may face,” said Kathleen Smith Ruhland, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Minneapolis office. “Those skills will be immediately beneficial to our clients based here and throughout the country.”

Krauss is the most recent addition to DLA Piper’s Minneapolis office, which welcomed partner Michael Fisco earlier this year. The firm’s Litigation practice has also welcomed several partners this year, including Amy Rudd (Austin), Ilana Eisenstein (Philadelphia), Christopher Oprison (Miami), David Sager (New Jersey), John Rah (Washington, DC), Raphael Larson (Washington, DC), Thiru Vignarajah (Baltimore), and Louis Ramos (Washington, DC).

Krauss joins DLA Piper from Faegre Baker Daniels in Minneapolis, where he was the Finance Litigation team leader. He earned his J.D., with distinction, from Stanford Law School and his B.A., with highest distinction and high honors, from the University of Michigan.

Jay Sawczak has joined Farrell Fritz’ commercial litigation practice group as an associate. He concentrates his practice in construction law.

Prior to joining Farrell Fritz, Sawczaks, a Hoboken, NJ resident, was general counsel at JRM Construction Management, LLC in New York, NY. He was general counsel and a contract negotiation associate at Ocean Pacific Interiors (New York). He also worked at the Community and Transactional Legal Clinic (Newark, NJ).

Sawczak is admitted in New York State.

He earned his J.D. from Rutgers Law School and his B.S. from the University of Vermont.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Dorothy Watson has rejoined the firm’s Environmental Regulation practice as of counsel in the Orlando office.

Watson has 10 years of experience as an environmental lawyer from both an outside and in-house counsel perspective. For the last four years, Watson has been environmental counsel for multiple business lines within Schlumberger, the world’s leading provider of technology for the oil and gas industry. While there, she advised management teams on environmental risks and provided legal compliance counsel for matters arising under various state, federal and international environmental laws and regulations, including the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Toxic Substances Control Act and REACH, as well as regulations under the authority of OSHA, MSHA and the FAA.

Watson began her environmental law practice at Foley & Lardner in 2007 as an associate where she advised clients on state and federal waste, air, water and OSHA compliance issues, including site remediation and permitting strategies.

“We are excited to have Dottie return to our team,” said Gary Rovner, chair of Foley’s Environmental Regulation practice. “The business-oriented practicality she gained working as in-house counsel for an industry leader will complement the firm’s expertise to position us to successfully address the most pressing environmental issues facing businesses today. We look forward to helping her grow her practice with us.”

Mike Okaty, managing partner of Foley’s Orlando office said, “Dottie brings with her an ideal skill set for our clients. Her knowledge of the U.S. EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will help serve the needs of our clients in our burgeoning Florida market and throughout the country.”

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Sidley Austin LLP announced that it will add a team of five partners to its Capital Markets and M&A practices, four of whom – David Buck, Jon Daly, Angela Richards and George Vlahakos – will be based in its Houston office, with the remaining partner – Bill Cooper – splitting his time between Houston and Washington, D.C. Buck, Daly, Vlahakos and Cooper will join Sidley November 1, while Richards will follow in early December.

“David, Bill, John, Angela and George are widely known in the energy sector and recognized for their experience and industry insights,” said Kevin Lewis, co-managing partner of Sidley’s Houston office. “For the past two decades they have been advising energy companies, investment banks, funds and others on complex and innovative transactions, including for master limited partnerships. Their coveted MLP capital markets and tax work will be an important addition to our office, and together with their broader capital markets and M&A capabilities will complement Sidley’s formidable, globally recognized capital markets and M&A practices.”

Their arrival is coming on the heels of several other energy partners that have recently joined Sidley, including David Asmus, Brian Bradshaw and Brian Minyard in Houston, and Emily Pitlick Mallen in Washington, D.C.

The firm provides the following biographical information for each of the new partners:

David Buck – Buck is a senior capital markets and M&A partner with a distinguished corporate and securities law practice emphasizing transactional and governance matters. His corporate finance practice includes representing both issuers and investment banks in initial public, private equity and debt offerings. He has particular industry experience with domestic and international energy, including oil and gas exploration and production, midstream, offshore drilling, seismic and other energy services. Buck advises special committees and financial advisers concerning merger and acquisition transactions, joint ventures and private equity investments. Additionally, Buck regularly counsels public clients regarding compliance with periodic reporting, proxy solicitation, corporate governance matters and other requirements of the federal securities laws, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Stock Market and other exchange rules.

Bill Cooper – Cooper concentrates his practice on complex capital markets transactions representing both issuers and underwriters on initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on equity offerings, traditional private placements, Rule 144A offerings and private investments in public equity. He has substantial experience with master limited partnerships (MLPs), including private formation transactions, IPOs, sponsor drop-down transactions and conflicts committee representation.

Jon Daly – Daly focuses his practice on corporate and securities law. He represents public and private companies, MLPs and investment banks in all forms of capital raising transactions, including IPOs, registered offerings of equity and debt securities, as well as private placements of equity and debt securities. In addition, he advises on corporate governance matters, periodic reporting and other requirements of federal securities laws, and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Angela Richards – Richards advises clients in the energy sector on various federal income tax matters, particularly on domestic business transaction planning. She counsels MLPs on mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, acquisition and recapitalization issues. She has also served as tax counsel to both issuers and underwriters in connection with numerous MLPs, IPOs and follow-on offerings.

George Vlahakos – Vlahakos has experience in a broad range of transactional and corporate governance matters. His practice includes representing public and private entities, investment banks and private equity firms in connection with IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and registered offerings, as well as private placements of equity and debt securities. He also counsels MLPs and clients across the energy value chain, including those engaged in upstream, midstream, downstream and oilfield service-related matters.

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Hogan Lovells announced that Michael C. Hefter, Seth M. Cohen and Ryan M. Philp have joined its New York office as partners in the firm’s Litigation practice.

The group previously practiced together at Bracewell LLP where Michael co-chaired the securities litigation practice and served as the head of commercial litigation in the New York office. The team focuses on a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, including M&A, transactional and securities litigation, as well as Delaware governance issues.

“Michael, Seth and Ryan are distinguished additions to the firm,” said Michael Davison, head of the firm’s Litigation, Arbitration and Employment practice group. “Their combined experience and excellent reputation will be instrumental in strengthening both our Global Litigation and Transactional practices.”

In a release, the firm said the team represents corporations, investment funds, banks, and officers and directors in litigation and arbitration in a wide variety of industries, including claims involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and other business disputes, securities litigation, RICO class actions, structured finance disputes, post-acquisition disputes, corporate governance, claims involving lender liability issues, shareholder class and derivative actions, claims involving LLC and limited partnership issues and structures, bankruptcy-related litigation, energy disputes, and other forms of litigation.

“This move strategically meets the increasing demand by our New York clients for more Delaware M&A and securities litigation support,” said Dennis Tracey, head of the firm’s Litigation Practice in the Americas. “Our US Litigation practice has been focused on recruiting laterals with experience representing corporations and financial service companies in disputes that arise out of major public and private transactions, particularly with the recent expansion of our M&A practice in Northern California.”

About the Lawyers:

Michael C. Hefter was co-chair of the securities litigation practice group and head of commercial litigation in Bracewell LLP’s New York office. He has acted as lead litigation and trial counsel for numerous clients in complex jury and non-jury trials.. He received his J.D., with honors, from Emory University School of Law and his B.A from the University of Michigan.

Seth M. Cohen is a trial partner who advises clients on a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters in the federal, state and appellate courts. Cohen graduated with his J.D., cum laude, from Emory University School of Law and received his B.A., cum laude, from Cornell University.

Ryan M. Philp is a trial partner who represents public companies, private investment firms, financial institutions and officers and directors in all phases of civil litigation. He earned his J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Loyola College in Maryland.

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Sean Thomas Keely has joined Freeborn & Peters LLP’s New York office as a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and a member of the Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team.

In May 2016, Freeborn combined with Richmond, Va., law firm Brenner, Evans & Millman P.C., which preceded the combination last March with New York City firm Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C. In addition, Freeborn opened its first Florida office in May 2017, led by two veteran attorneys based in Tampa.

“We are enthusiastic about Sean joining Freeborn to bolster our Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team and further enhance the firm’s practice in the New York market,” said Daniel Hargraves, a partner and leader of the firm’s New York office. “Sean brings significant litigation experience and deep knowledge of the legal issues that concern our insurance and reinsurance clients. He is a great addition to our team.”

Joseph T. McCullough IV, a partner and leader of Freeborn’s Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team, said, “The firm’s recruitment of another leading reinsurance litigator further underscores Freeborn’s commitment to enhancing the depth and scope of our services to our valued insurance industry clients in the United States and abroad. We will continue to expand our team in New York as well as Chicago, Richmond and Tampa.”

Most recently a partner with Hogan Lovells in New York, Mr. Keely concentrates his practice on litigating and arbitrating commercial disputes, with a particular focus on the reinsurance industry. His cases have involved late notice, allocation and aggregation of losses, follow-the-settlements, breaches of the duty of utmost good faith, material misrepresentation, and insurer insolvency. His cases include trial verdicts in state and federal courts, and arbitration awards for clients in the United States as well as in Europe and Asia.

Keely also has handled litigation and arbitration of complex disputes for financial services providers, energy companies, manufacturers and beverage companies.

A member of the Education Committee of the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society, Keely has presented and served as chair at seminars and workshops for certified reinsurance arbitrators and industry practitioners.

Keely earned his J.D. (cum laude) from New York University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University.

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Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added corporate and transactional attorney John Dickey to the Dallas office as a partner in the Corporate Department.

Dickey focuses his practice on representing domestic and international businesses in private equity, corporate finance and capital markets-related matters, including sophisticated mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reorganizations, capital raises, reorganizations and joint ventures.

Dickey also handles complex regulatory and corporate governance issues for financial services industry clients, private equity funds, nonprofits, and family offices.

“John is a highly skilled corporate and transactional attorney who brings more than three decades of experience to the firm,” said Mark Bayer, managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office. “His work with domestic and international businesses paired with his deep corporate governance knowledge complements our expanding corporate practice and adds value for our clients.”
Dickey earned his J.D. from St. Mary’s University and received his M.P.A. from Texas Christian University, where he served as a University Fellow. He also received his bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Dickey was a partner in the Corporate and Transactional Practice at Polsinelli LLP. Early in his legal career, Dickey was associate general counsel with General Dynamics, where he had extensive responsibility for the company’s international business matters.

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Amy Rudd has joined DLA Piper’s Litigation practice as partner in the Austin office, the firm announced.

Rudd represents clients in a range of industries, including pharmaceutical products, financial services, healthcare and insurance, among others, in complex, multi-jurisdictional litigation matters. She has also counseled clients before regulatory boards around the world, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the International Trade Commission.

“Amy is an impressive trial lawyer with a proven track record in high stakes cases,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “She immediately enhances our platform both nationally and in Texas, and we’re confident that our clients will value her counsel.”

Inn a release, the firm said Rudd also maintains an extensive pro bono practice. Her work includes the successful representation of the Texas NAACP and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus in a bench trial and appellate briefing against Texas’ voter ID law in 2016.

“Amy is a highly-skilled and well-respected litigator who has tried significant cases throughout the US and abroad,” said John Guaragna, co-managing partner of DLA Piper’s Austin office. “Amy’s breadth of experience across industries and jurisdictions will help our clients evaluate and resolve disputes in ways that best serve their needs.”

Rudd is the most recent addition to DLA Piper’s US Litigation practice. Since January, the practice has welcomed partners Ilana Eisenstein (Philadelphia), Christopher Oprison (Miami), David Sager (New Jersey), John Rah (Washington, DC), Raphael Larson (Washington, DC), Thiru Vignarajah (Baltimore), and Louis Ramos (Washington, DC).

Rudd received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law, and her Bachelor of Journalism, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Board certified commercial litigation attorney Bruce W. Bowman Jr. has been promoted to the position of Vice Chairman of the Dallas-based trial and appellate law firm, Godwin Bowman & Martinez PC.

In addition, Sidney H. Scheinberg, Shareholder and Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights section, has been named to the Godwin Bowman & Martinez Executive Committee, where he will be closely involved in the firm’s decision-making process. Both changes are effective as of Oct. 1, 2017.

“These promotions further strengthen our Firm’s leadership,” says Godwin Bowman & Martinez Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Donald E. Godwin. “Bruce Bowman has been part of our leadership team for many years, and having him as Vice Chair helps ensure strong continuing direction for our firm. Sid Scheinberg is one of our finest attorneys, as well as one of our most creative, and productive, rainmakers. Having him as part of our Executive Committee works to enhance the production of every attorney at Godwin Bowman & Martinez.”

In a release, the firm said:

Mr. Godwin will continue as Chairman and CEO of the Firm, Jenny Martinez will remain in the role of Senior Vice President, while maintaining her duties as Treasurer, and Shawn M. McCaskill will remain as Senior Vice President and Secretary of the Firm. In addition to his responsibilities as Vice Chairman, Mr. Bowman will continue to serve as Managing Shareholder and General Counsel of Godwin Bowman & Martinez as well as maintaining his position as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Section.

Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Mr. Bowman is a highly respected litigator who has successfully handled litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants for many years, primarily in business disputes. His work has included the recovery of assets from trusts in prolonged trust and bankruptcy litigation and defending against trade secret allegations involving oil field technology in state and federal courts. He also has successfully defended directors, lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, and other professionals in many areas of business. In addition to trying hundreds of cases to verdict, he has handled numerous arbitrations, mediations and appeals before the Texas Supreme Court, federal appeals courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Reflecting the excellence of his practice, Mr. Bowman has been named among the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, is a 12-time recipient of Texas Super Lawyers honors from Thomson Reuters, and has been rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for legal skills and ethics. He also has achieved a 10.0 rating from AVVO, the company’s highest attorney rating.

Sidney H. Scheinberg brings more than a quarter century of experience to businesses in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. He is the Chair of the Godwin Bowman & Martinez Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights section, representing clients in complex and critical cases. The primary focus of his practice is on bankruptcy and business litigation matters, with an emphasis on the representation of secured creditors, such as automobile finance companies and national banking associations. His clients have included such luminaries as Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota Financial Services, Nissan and GM Financial.

A former radio broadcaster, Mr. Scheinberg is a frequent speaker at National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees’ and National Creditors Bar Association meetings. Honored by peers and the public alike, he has been AV-rated “Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest peer rating for legal skills and ethics, selected among the Best Lawyers in Dallas by D Magazine, as well as the Top Lawyers in Houston by Houstonia Magazine, and has achieved a 10.0 “Superb” rating from AVVO, the highest attorney rating.

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Scott Thomas has joined Winston & Strawn LLP as a partner in the Dallas office.

A trial lawyer with experience in commercial litigation, securities litigation, and shareholder disputes in federal and state courts in Texas, New York, and California, Thomas joins Winston after leaving Fish & Richardson earlier this year.

“Scott stands out from his peers based on his trial experience, case savvy, and judgment,” said Tom Melsheimer, who leads the firm’s Dallas office as managing partner with Bryan Goolsby, and who worked with Scott while at Fish & Richardson. “He has been a critical member of our team for more than a decade and is another reason why the Winston team here in Dallas is second to none.”

In a release, the firm said:

“When we opened the Dallas office eight months ago, we had a vision of the kind of top-quality people we wanted and needed to attract in order to make it work, and work well,” said Bryan Goolsby, Winston’s Dallas managing partner. “Scott fits perfectly with those plans and allows us to continue growing in a manner that’s best for our clients.”

Scott has represented public and closely held companies, as well as individuals, in areas such as securities, fiduciary duty, fraud, minority shareholder claims, trade secrets, insurance coverage, and breach of contract.

He has obtained favorable results for his clients in trial, including a verdict for one of three individual minority shareholders of over $178 million, which was recognized as one of the top verdicts in the country in 2009, according to the National Law Journal. He was also recognized for his work in a highly publicized insider trading trial, which led to his prior firm’s litigation group being recognized as one of the “best” by Texas Lawyer in 2014. Recently, he has obtained summary judgments in favor of his clients as plaintiffs in significant indemnification cases in New York and California, leading to settlements right before damages trials.

Prior to his legal career, Scott worked at the international accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He holds a B.B.A. in accounting and finance from Texas Christian University, an M.A. in taxation from Baylor University, and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Nine lawyers at Ware, Jackson, Lee, O’Neill, Smith & Barrow LLP have been recognized by Thomson Reuters Texas Super Lawyers in 2017, the firm announced.

The lists are compiled by using a multi-phase selection process based on peer recognition and professional achievement.

At Ware Jackson, this year’s Super Lawyer honorees include Don Jackson and Paul Smith for business litigation, Tim Lee and Eileen O’Neill for appellate law, and Dennis Barrow for construction litigation. Partners Tim Lankau, Wes Jackson, and Tyler Henkel, as well as associate Michelle Meriam were recognized as Rising Stars.

Read details of the recognition.

Trial lawyer Talmage Boston has joined the business and entertainment law firm Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, as a partner in the Dallas office.

Boston has trial and appellate experience in dispute resolution in commercial transactions, and is counsel of record in 27 published opinions. He also is a former Chair of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas and chair of the Business Litigation Section of the Dallas Bar Association.

“Talmage is a superb addition to our team, and our clients will greatly benefit,” said founding partner John Shackelford. “Talmage has successfully tried jury cases and argued appeals in numerous state and federal courts across Texas. He is a person of impeccable character whose superior knowledge will complement our team of distinguished business litigators.”

In a release, the firm said Boston, whose practice includes arbitration and mediation, has jury trial experience in consumer protection, real estate, energy, business fraud, banking, construction, intellectual property, condemnation and contractual cases. He joined Shackelford after 20 years as a member of Winstead PC’s business litigation team.

“I’m enthusiastic about joining Shackelford’s robust practice where the lawyers view themselves as counselors as much as attorneys,” said Mr. Boston. “That perfectly fits my perspective of helping clients take control of their legal issues and plan for success.”

Boston has been a speaker on a variety of litigation ethics topics at law seminars in Texas and across the country. He has been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law since 1988 and in Civil Appellate Law since 1991, and has been selected to the Thomson Reuters’ Texas Super Lawyers list each year since 2003 and to the Best Lawyers in America list since 2013.

A prolific writer, he is the author of the books Cross-Examining History: A Lawyer Gets Answers From the Experts About Our Presidents (with a foreword by Ken Burns), Raising the Bar: The Crucial Role of the Lawyer in Society (foreword by Former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh), 1939: Baseball’s Tipping Point (foreword by John Grisham) and Baseball and the Baby Boomer (foreword by Frank Deford). He has also written 75 op-ed pieces and book reviews for the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Business Journal.

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Trial and appellate attorney Clayton Bailey, co-founder of Dallas-based litigation boutique Bailey Brauer PLLC, has earned recognition for a fourth consecutive year as a “Local Litigation Star” in the Benchmark Litigation guide to the nation’s top lawyers.

Bailey was named among the leading attorneys in Texas for his general commercial litigation practice. He was also selected for his professional liability practice, competition and securities-based litigation and his international arbitration work. The 2018 edition of Benchmark Litigation was compiled after months of peer review, client-based research and a review of attorney casework.

“Earning recognition from Benchmark Litigation is certainly an honor, not only for me, but also for our firm,” said Bailey. “It serves as a strong indicator that our commitment to our clients has not gone unnoticed.”

Bailey was also recently selected to join the invitation-only National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 civil plaintiff lawyers in Texas. Membership is extended to only those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications, trial results and professional leadership.

Founded in 2013, Bailey Brauer has won multiple individual and firm recognitions from BTI Consulting Group, the National Law Journal, The Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers and D Magazine.

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Patrick J. Trostle has joined has Thompson & Knight LLP as a partner in its New York office in the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Group.

“With 25 years of experience, Patrick will add immediate depth to our nationally recognized Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice. He will spearhead our distressed investing practice in New York City,” said David M. Bennett, the Firm’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Leader. “Patrick’s leadership skills and experience will complement our existing New York presence and position us to better service our clients. We simply are delighted to have him on our team.”

Trostle focuses his practice on complex restructuring and Chapter 11 reorganizations, including litigation related to troubled or insolvent businesses.

In a release, the firm said:

He has extensive experience in cross-border restructurings and in the evaluation and acquisition of distressed debt, assets, and businesses. He has represented a number of the world’s largest hedge funds in a variety of matters, including disputes involving mortgage-backed securities, derivatives, and other structured products. He has been involved in a number of landmark bankruptcy cases, including as appellate counsel in multiple cases before the United States Supreme Court. Notably, Mr. Trostle served as a team leader in the representation of the court-appointed examiner in the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy case, and as co-debtor’s counsel in the General Motors Chapter 11 case regarding the sale of its assets to a newly formed entity sponsored by the United States Treasury.

Recognized for his legal work, Mr. Trostle has been selected for inclusion in New York Metro Super Lawyers® by Thomson Reuters (2010-2017) and The Legal 500 U.S. by Legalease (2013). Mr. Trostle is the Former Vice Chairman of the Business Bankruptcy Trust Indenture Subcommittee of the American Bar Association and a member of the Advisory Board of the Commercial Law Centre for Harris Manchester College – University of Oxford. He was recently appointed Chair of the Advisory Board for the Institute of Transnational Commercial Law at Queen Mary University of London. He often speaks on issues related to insolvency, restructuring, and bankruptcy.

Mr. Trostle has received several awards for his pro bono representation of a United States charity operating in Rwanda, a project that created the largest grid-connected solar field in east Africa. The National Law Journal recognized his efforts on its “Pro Bono Hot List.” His work was also honored by American Lawyer with its Global Legal Award for Citizenship and by the Financial Times in its North American Innovative Lawyers report as a “standout” – the publication’s highest rating.

Mr. Trostle received a J.D. from Vermont Law School in 1992 and a B.A., with highest honors, from Trinity College in 1989. He also attended the University of Oxford, and he served as a law clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York.

Prior to joining Thompson & Knight, he was a partner at an international law firm in New York and served as Chair of its New York Restructuring and Bankruptcy Practice. Mr. Trostle is admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut.

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