Kudos
Congratulations to the following, who were among those named by Texas Lawyer as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice fields in and around Austin:
Thomas K. Anson
Energy Regulatory Law
Tom Anson practices state and federal energy and utility law at Clark Hill. He assists companies and governmental bodies on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters involving electricity and other infrastructure industries.
Hutcheson Bowers is proud to announce that Sue Ayers has joined the firm. Sue expands the firm’s practice areas to include her thriving eminent domain practice. As a commercial litigator, Sue also adds a wealth of experience to the firm’s litigation practice. Shannon and Allison, the founders of Hutcheson Bowers, are excited to add Sue and her practice to the firm. “Sue is one of the sharpest lawyers I know. Not only are we adding an experienced commercial litigator to our existing financial services and employment practices, but we are adding a whole new practice area of eminent domain. Our energy clients will benefit from that new offering,” said Shannon Hutcheson. Allison Bowers added, “Shannon and I have known Sue since we all started practicing law together at Baker Botts more than 20 years ago. The three of us have remained close and celebrated all of Sue’s legal accomplishments with her. We share the same fundamental values and focus on client service.”
W. Stephen Benesh
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Steve Benesh is a seasoned business litigator in his 36th year of practice at Bracewell.
Michael L.R. Burnett
Family Law
Michael Burnett is a shareholder at Burnett Turner. He is certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Michael is an experienced trial lawyer in the areas of family law. He spent his first decade of legal practice in complex commercial and business litigation, giving him a unique advantage in dealing with marital estates involving valuation, tracing, and characterization issues.
Jennifer B. Claymon
Healthcare Law
Jennifer Claymon offers more than 25 years of legal experience representing health care entities in Texas. Board-certified in Health Law, Jennifer focuses on administrative and health law related to hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, and she advises health care clients on a wide range of organizational and regulatory issues.
Jennifer has worked extensively with health care facilities in drafting and revising governing body bylaws and medical staff bylaws, compliance plans, employee handbooks and policies and procedures.
Jonathan P. Friday
Family Law Mediation
Jonathan Friday is a partner at Friday Milner Lambert Turner. He devotes the majority of his time working on high-net-worth divorces dealing with business valuations, commercial property appraisals, separate property tracing, trusts, unique employee incentive plans, and other complex legal matters in and around Central Texas.
His clients have included former NFL players, PGA golfers, NFL team owner, songwriters and musicians, restaurant owners, trust fund beneficiaries, developers, and many other successful business owners, public officials, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, lawyers and their spouses.
Laura M. Merritt
Labor Law Management
Laura is a partner at Boulette Golden & Marin and is certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Representing employers in a wide range of employment and labor areas, Laura’s practice includes litigation, training, counseling, collective bargaining and other labor union-related matters, and negotiating definitive and ancillary employee-related agreements in corporate transactions.
Robert D. Miller
Government Relations Practice
Robert Miller is a partner at Locke Lord and chair of the firm’s Public Law Section. He has been named one of the top two lobbyists in Texas by Capitol Inside, and he has lobbied local, state and federal governments on behalf of public and private concerns for more than 30 years.
One of his greatest contributions was helping to keep the Houston Astros in Houston by contributing to the creation of a Sports Authority, which led to the construction of a retractable-roof stadium. Robert has also held numerous leadership positions in civic organizations, including serving as chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas.
James L. Pledger
Financial Services Regulation Law
James Pledger is a partner at Jackson Walker. With more than 35 years of experience, his practice focuses on the regulation and operation of banks, savings banks, credit unions, bank holding companies and mutual holding companies, financial institution public and private equity and debt offerings.
Barry R. Senterfitt
Insurance Law
Barry Senterfitt is a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, where his practice focuses onthe insurance and managed care industries.
His practice includes assisting clients with acquisitions and mergers of insurers, HMOs and insurance agencies; holding company transactions for insurers and HMOs, including state insurance holding company act compliance; HMO formation and licensure; insurance company formation and licensure; redomestications of insurers; demutualizations and other complex corporate reorganizations; financial and reinsurance issues for insurers and HMOs; and plans of rehabilitation for insolvent or troubled insurers.
Whitney L. Swift
Energy Law
Whitney Swift is a partner at Bracewell, where his practice focuses on advising industrial companies on air quality matters, such as state and federal new source review permitting and Title V operating permit matters. In connection with that permitting work, he has represented applicants in contested permit matters before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).