Reed Smith announced that Houston-based partner Ricky A. Raven has been inducted as a fellow into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Raven is among a select group of 22 trial attorneys who were welcomed into the Academy as new fellows for 2019 at the IATL’s annual meeting in London on April 13-14. Raven’s practice is focused on products liability and mass tort litigation that are frequently cross-border in nature, involving multiple jurisdictions. Raven began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Harris County. He serves as a Fellow to the Houston Bar and Texas Bar Associations, and he is also an elected member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed recent Baylor Law graduate Ryan Sinclair (J.D., 2016) as District Attorney for the 355th Judicial District in Hood County, succeeding retiring District Attorney Rob Christian. Sinclair was administered the oath of office by District Judge Ralph Walton on April 5. He had previously served as first assistant district attorney for the 355th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Hood County and has worked for the D.A.’s offices in Ellis and Limestone Counties. He is also an adjunct professor of Business Administration at Southwestern Adventist University. Prior to law school, Sinclair was an accountant at Texas Health Huguley Hospital in Burleson, Texas. He graduated Southwestern Adventist University with a B.B.A. in accounting and obtained his C.P.A. license prior to entering Baylor Law in Waco.