St. Mary’s University in San Antonio has named Patricia Roberts as dean of the St. Mary’s University School of Law. Roberts comes to St. Mary’s from William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she earned her Juris Doctor and currently serves as vice dean. She is set to begin her tenure as dean June 1 and will arrive on campus later that month. “Roberts’ leadership and teaching experiences, as well as her focus on professional responsibility, involve training ethical, competent and compassionate lawyers and align with St. Mary’s mission in the Catholic and Marianist tradition,” said law school president Thomas Mengler in a statement by the law school. “I was drawn to St. Mary’s because of its Catholic and Marianist mission, and I look forward to enhancing the efforts of the St. Mary’s faculty and staff in their commitment to faith and social justice,” said Roberts in a statement by St. Mary’s, who was also named the Charles Cantú Distinguished Professor of Law. Roberts earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, with a double major in biology and psychology.

Houston Firm Gains Shareholder in Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group

Andrews Myers in Houston announced the hiring of restructuring lawyer Edward L. Ripley as a shareholder to join its restructuring and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights group. Ripley has over 30 years of restructuring experience and has been involved in some of the largest bankruptcy cases in Texas and around the U.S., and is joining the firm after 13 years at King & Spalding. He started his career at the bankruptcy boutique Sheinfeld, Maley & Kay. He has experience in the energy and space fields, as well as in the real estate, construction, hospitality and retail areas, representing debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, contract-counter-parties and entities looking at distressed acquisition. “I am very excited to start on a new chapter in my career, working with an established team of well-regarded bankruptcy lawyers and litigators, and I’m looking forward to joining the Andrews Myers firm as it continues its strategic growth, furthering our services and reach both in-state and on a national basis,” said Ripley in a statement by the firm.

Houston-Based Firm Opens Office in Dallas