Amanda Terr, with Polsinelli. Courtesy photo

New Associates at Polsinelli Firm

The Polsinelli law firm has enhanced its Dallas presence with the addition of associates Joshua S. Owings and Amanda L. Terr. Owings joins the firm's Employment Disputes, Litigation and Arbitration practice group, where he draws on his experience representing businesses and public organizations in all aspects of employment law, including litigation and human resources counseling. Owings earned his J.D. from the Washington University School of Law and previously completed his B.S. at Oral Roberts University. With a background of advising clients on a variety of complex business transactions and corporate matters, Terr joins Polsinelli's Corporate and Transactional practice group. Terr completed her J.D. at the University of Miami School of Law and previously earned her B.A. from Rollins College.

New Shareholder at Munsch Hardt

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr P.C. a Texas-based, mid-sized commercial law firm, announced that Keith Morris has joined the firm as a shareholder and will lead the firm's new Probate and Fiduciary Litigation practice group in Dallas. Morris maintains a thriving practice that focuses on probate, guardianship, fiduciary litigation and administration matters. In this capacity, he represents individuals, small businesses and corporations in litigation and administrative matters. He will be working in the Houston and Dallas offices as he continues to serve clients throughout Texas. 

New Partners at Sidley Austin

Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to welcome Jessica N. Adkins and Ron I. Erlichman as partners to its global Energy and Infrastructure practice. Adkins will be based in Sidley's Houston office and Erlichman will be based in the New York office. They join from Bracewell LLP, where Adkins was chair of the Power Projects practice and Erlichman served as co-chair of the Project Finance practice. Adkins is a nationally recognized leader in the renewable energy finance and transactional space. As a trained engineer, Adkins combines her legal advice with a deep understanding of the energy markets and her clients' businesses. Erlichman advises and represents clients in all aspects of developing and financing energy and infrastructure projects, including renewable energy, thermal power generation facilities, chemical and petrochemical facilities, midstream assets, transmission facilities and terminals. 

Dallas Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year

Sidley Austin has been named "Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year" by the Dallas Bar Association for what the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program describes as "Extraordinary Pro Bono Service." This is important recognition for the firm, which has led pro bono legal battles in some of the state's most important pro bono matters. Among them: Nursing Home Class Action: For eight-plus years, Sidley lawyers have been involved in litigation against the state of Texas to protect intellectually and developmentally disabled (Texans who have been warehoused and subjected to systemic and unconstitutional mistreatment in Texas nursing homes. Veterans: Sidley lawyers in Dallas are actively involved in helping vets with their legal problems. Sidley lawyer Aaron Rigby is a vet himself and volunteers his time as the pro bono general counsel for nonprofit Carry the Load Foundation, where he also serves on the board of directors. SB 1 Sanctuary Cities: Sidley lawyers were directly involved in a legal challenge to the controversial SB1 show-me-your-papers "sanctuary cities" law. After passage of the law, the firm jumped on short notice and assembled a multidisciplinary team or litigation, legislative and appellate experts to challenge it. Asylum: Earlier in 2019, Sidley lawyers in Dallas successfully obtained asylum for a Ugandan woman who was persecuted, arrested, sexually assaulted and tortured for being gay.

Two Receive Award from NAAG

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Austin on Sept. 25 congratulated Assistant Attorneys General David Ashton and Nick Grimmer of the Antitrust Division on receiving an award from the National Association of Attorneys General's Antitrust Task Force. The award was given for an amicus brief they authored in Apple v. Pepper, a case the United States Supreme Court heard last term. In their brief, Ashton and Grimmer led 30 other states in support of protecting indirect purchasers from antitrust violations. Ashton has served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Texas Attorney General's Antitrust Division for 11 years. He received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law. Grimmer also serves as an Assistant Attorney General with the Texas Attorney General's Antitrust Division, where his practice spans the antitrust gamut, from mergers and conduct to investigations and prosecutions. Grimmer graduated from the University of Houston Law Center. 

Fort Worth Attorney Selected as Litigation Counsel Fellow

K&L Gates partner Jamie Lavergne Bryan has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Bryan practices out of K&L Gates' Fort Worth and Houston offices, and is a member of the oil, gas & resources practice group. She focuses her practice on a broad range of energy issues, including royalty disputes, lease termination issues, surface use issues, municipal ordinances, environmental claims, right to take challenges and eminent domain. The Litigation Counsel of America is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society established to reflect the new face of the American bar, according to a statement by the firm.

In-House Attorney Award

Preston Moore, a Dallas-based associate in the Corporate Department of law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, has received the Outstanding In-House Attorney Award from the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP), a joint program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. The award recognizes Moore's exceptional pro bono work on behalf of DVAP and his outstanding efforts in the justice system. Earlier this year, Moore was announced as Weil's 12th Lend-a-Lawyer and spent two months working full time on-site at DVAP. Weil created the pioneering Lend-A-Lawyer program in 2005, through which the firm sends a third- or fourth-year attorney to provide pro bono legal services at the organization while continuing to receive full pay and benefits from Weil. In addition to Moore's honor, Weil's Dallas office also received the DVAP Silver Award for Pro Bono Service. 

Federal Appointment

Baker Donelson's Scott L. Campbell has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB). Campbell is the senior strategic adviser to Baker Donelson in Washington, D.C.; the president of the Howard Baker Forum, Baker Donelson's in-house think tank and convener on public policy issues; and the former managing shareholder of the firm's Washington, D.C., office. The SEAB provides insights and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on the ongoing Department priorities. Prior to coming to Washington, D.C., Campbell practiced law in Houston, Texas, served as a federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice, and served as an executive of an energy company in Texas.

Firm Relocates Dallas Office

After opening its Texas office only two years ago, Oklahoma-based Crowe & Dunlevy has moved to a new Dallas location to allow for growth and increased legal services to clients. The firm's Texas offices can now be found at 2525 McKinnon Street, Suite 425 in Dallas. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the law firm opened its Dallas office in 2017 to better serve its Texas-based clients as well as other regional clients. In addition to its Oklahoma City and Dallas offices, Crowe & Dunlevy also has offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma.