Texas Law Alumni News & Notes - https://law.utexas.edu/alumni/news-and-stories/
 
MARCH 15, 2023
AN E-NEWSLETTER FOR TEXAS LAW ALUMNI
 
 

ALUMNI NEWS

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Nelson ’93

Nelson ’93 Confirmed to Federal Bench

The longtime jurist was the first Black woman on the Oregon Supreme Court. She is now the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. District Court for Oregon.
Chari Kelly ’02

Alumnae Spotlights for Women’s History Month

From the boardroom to the bench, and from Houston to Hollywood, these five powerhouse grads are making an impact.
Sampson and Kirk

Sampson ’80 Wins Virgil C. Lott Medal

A legend of the Dallas Bar, DeMetris Sampson was honored in front of a capacity crowd in an emotional ceremony. See the pictures. 
Lawyers in Love

Lawyers in Love: Reunion Edition

For Valentine’s Day this year, see why our Instagram audience loved our featured alumni couples who are celebrating their reunion class anniversaries (from years ending in “3” and “8”). 
 
Eliot Cotton ’10

Alumni Q&A: Eliot Cotton ’10

Alumnus Eliot Cotton talked to us about his career, experiences in law school, and advice for today’s students.
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The Fund for Texas Law Supports Student Success

Alumni support of the Trial Advocacy Program made it possible for John Conover ’23 and Grace Darrrah ’24 to take top prize in the 2023 Elliot Cup. Next stop for the team? The Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition in New York next month! Thank you, alumni!
John Conover '23 and Grace Darrah '24
Give to the Fund Today
 

LAW SCHOOL NEWS

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Albert

Prof. Richard Albert Convenes Summit on Constitutionalism

The Global Summit will bring a diverse group of over 200 scholars from more than 40 countries to Texas Law this week for three incredible days of programming.
 
Seppers

Prof. Elizabeth Sepper Defies Categorization

With work that focuses on the intersections of equality, healthcare, and religious rights, her extensive scholarship probes the ambiguities and potential conflicts among these subjects.
Jones

Jones ’23 Wins Paper Chase Legal Writing Competition

She is the third Texas Law winner in the last five years while 2Ls Eva Robins and Carlos Torres each received an honorable mention. 
Tran

Meet Today’s Texas Law Students

2Ls Crystal Tran and Jamaal Locking are the latest students featured on our ongoing series of student profiles. Read our interviews with Crystal and Jamaal, and check out the full collection of student Q&As!
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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

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Gift Honoring Taylor ’41 Creates Special Scholarship

Her father’s love of all things Longhorn inspired Mary Henderson to provide a special scholarship to the Law School for veterans and small-town Texans.
 
 

FACULTY IN THE NEWS

4 portraits of faculty
Pictured (from left):  Lynn Baker, Sanford Levinson, Maria Ponomarenko, Ward Farnsworth
Texas Law faculty often are quoted in news stories, and some law professors also pen articles or guest essays that are published by local and national media. Comments from the following faculty have been featured in recent news stories:  Lynn Baker, Bruce Craig Deats, Mechele Dickerson, Luke Ellis, Randall Erben, Tara Grove, Henry Hu, Sanford Levinson, Thomas McGarity, Maria Ponomarenko, Michael Schmitt, Elizabeth Sepper, Charles Silver, Stephen Vladeck, and Heather Way.

In addition, Ward Farnsworth’s “The Socratic Method: A Practitioner’s Handbook” was reviewed on the Discourse website. The reviewer noted that the book “makes the Socratic method come alive for modern times.” 
Read Faculty in the News
 

ALUMNI EVENTS

TEXAS LAW ON TOUR
Register Now for:
April 26 – Atlanta, GA
May 17 – Austin, TX

Save the Date
June 7 – LONDON
Dean Chesney with alumni at the Texas Law on Tour in Dallas
View event photos!
 
March 16-18 – The Global Summit on Constitutionalism
March 20 – Dr. Heather Dorries: Sacred Fires, Homeless Encampments, and Planning Toronto Parks, Rapoport Center Colloquium on Cultures of Environmental Justice
March 21 – Public Lecture by Justin Driver: “Schooling Free Speech”
March 22 – Ex Libris Series Event Panel Discussion: Her Honor (CLE), Center for Women in Law
March 23 – Central Texas Women in Leadership Symposium, cosponsored by Texas Law’s Office for Equity and Inclusion
March 24 – Texas Hispanic Journal of Law and Policy Annual Symposium
March 30 – Book presentation by Ariel Dulitzky: El “Tri”: Deportes, Derechos Humanos y Violencia (The “Tri”: Sports, Human Rights, and Violence)
2023 ALUMNI WEEKEND
April 14 – Alumni Awards Dinner – By invitation
April 15 – Alumni Reunion – Daytime events for all alumni and parties for honored classes whose graduate years end in "3" and "8"
View More Texas Law Events
 

CLASS NOTES

Ordered by class year, then by last name.
Pictured (top, from left): Top row: George P. Bush ’03, Michelle Gomez '13, Michael B. Overstreet '11, Nicole LeFave '12;  Bottom row: Sara Harris ’12, Fidel Rodriguez Jr '80, Brittany Dadon '15, Jeffrey S. Edwards '99

James Perkins ’63 was awarded the 2023 Texas Higher Education Distinguished Service Award.

Chris Paliare ’71 was honored with the Award of Distinction by the Toronto Lawyers Association.

Eugene “Chip” Brees ’76 was named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor.

Carl H. Green ’76 was named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor.

Jim Hill ’78 was recognized by San Diego Magazine as a 2023 Top Lawyer in San Diego in the field of bankruptcy.

Fidel Rodriguez Jr. ’80 was named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor.

Michael Slack ’83 was named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor.

Ken Wall ’86  joined the Houston trial law firm Alavi Anaipakos as of counsel, focusing his practice on complex business disputes.

Robert Alden ’87 was named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor.

Scott A. Marks ’94 joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group in Austin.

Anjana Patel ’97 was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Springpoint senior living communities.

Jeffrey S. Edwards ’99 was added as a partner at Barnes & Thornburg.  

Robert Hilton ’99 was named one of the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in San Antonio by Forbes Advisor.

David Woodcock ’00 joined Gibson Dunn as a partner and co-chair of Gibson Dunn's securities enforcement practice group.

George P. Bush ’03 joined Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as a partner and Michael Best Strategies LLC as a principal.

Andrew Zeve ’03 joined White & Case's global commercial practice and energy group as a partner.

Chris Dodson ’05 joined White & Case LLP as a partner.

Brian J. Willey ’05 was promoted to chief financial officer of Matador Resources Company.

Aron Potash ’07 was elected as partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, focusing on environmental law.

Kevin Little ’09 has joined FordHarrison LLP as counsel at the firm's recently opened Houston office.

Michael B. Overstreet ’11 was promoted to shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka.

Sara Harris ’12 was promoted to partner at Jackson Walker LLP, specializing in healthcare and employment law.

Nicole LeFave ’12, an attorney in the Austin office of Littler, was elevated to shareholder.

Lauren Fitte ’13 was promoted to partner at Giordani Baker Grossman & Ripp LLP.

Michelle Gomez ’13 was promoted to partner at Baker Hostetler LLP in Denver.

Brittany Dadon ’15 has become a partner at Stahl, Davies, Sewell, Chavarria & Friend.

Sam Roberts ’20  joined McAfee & Taft as a transactional attorney, joining the firm's Business Transactions and Finance and Securities practice groups.
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IN MEMORIAM

Ordered by class year, then by last name.
Francis Broaddus ’48 
Harry Whittington ’50 
John Gillett Sheppard, Sr. ’56 
Arthur Lamb ’57 
John Selman ’58
Jim Sales ’60
Robert Jones ’64 
Timothy Lynn Brown ’65
John Graml ’65
Scherry Ann Perkins Braziel ’65
William Rayford Price ’67
James Babcock ’68
Alexander Bell ’69 
Richard Shook ’69
Charles Behrman ’72 
Hollis Drake Leddy ’73
John Meinrath ’73 
Anthony McGettrick ’74 
David Robert Sorrell ’75
Jules Angelley ’95 
Edward Garcia ’96
Read In Memoriam Notes
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Alumni News and Class Notes are compiled based on the information we receive and edited for space. If you have professional news to share, please submit a class note online.

Feedback? Email us at alumni@law.utexas.edu.
The University of Texas at Austin School of Law