Class Notes 2023-2024

Class of 1971

Al Ellis was named a Texas Legal Legend by the State Bar of Texas Litigation Section. 

Class of 1973

Hon. Fred Biery received the 2024 Samuel Pessarra Outstanding Jurist Award from the Texas Bar Foundation.

Class of 1975

Rusty Hardin received the 2023 Paul Stallings Civility and Ethics Award from the Texas chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

Class of 1982

Dave Amidon joined Barclay Damon as a partner in its Boston, MA office.

Class of 1983

Antonio Garza, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, delivered the 2023 commencement address at 51做厙.

Class of 1985

John Pierre was promoted to chancellor at Southern University Law Center.

Charla Aldous was named a Living Legend by the Dallas Bar Association. 

Hon. Michael J. Truncale was elected to membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates. 

Class of 1986

Michael B. Thimmig joined Blank Rome as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Class of 1987

Gregg Stevens joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as a partner in its Dallas office.

Class of 1989

Scott D. Weber joined Husch Blackwell as a partner in its Dallas office.

Class of 1991

Mark Harris joined Blank Rome as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Class of 1992

Claire Babineaux-Fontenot received the 2024 Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame.

Paul E. McGreal's book, "Questions & Answers: Constitutional Law," co-authored with Charles W. Rhodes, was published by Carolina Academic Press. 

Class of 1996

Troy Smith joined the Bedell Firm as a director in Jacksonville, FL.

Class of 1998

Burke McDavid joined Winstead PC as a shareholder in its Dallas office.

Class of 1999

Jason C. Ray joined Blank Rome as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2000

Richard W. Bennett was sworn in as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Texas on April 18, 2024.

Abigael Campbell joined Fox Rothschild LLP as an associate in its Dallas office.

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jason Herring as District Attorney of the 47th Judicial District in Armstrong and Potter counties for a term set to expire on December 31, 2024.

Michael C. Kotwal passed the Texas Board of Legal Specialization exam in child welfare law. 

Michael C. Kotwal celebrated his three-year anniversary as an Army Reserve JAG Corps attorney. He is a captain assigned to trial defense services. 

Class of 2001

Cory Feinberg was appointed general counsel & corporate secretary at MoneyGram International.

Class of 2002

Jacob Wilson was appointed chief legal officer at Cirba Solutions.

Brandy Treadway was appointed senior vice president and chief legal officer of RumbleOn.

Class of 2003

Russ Roody joined Conner & Winters as a partner in its Oklahoma City, OK office. 

Class of 2004

Elayna Erick joined Brousseau Naftis Erick & Massingill as a named shareholder.

Christa Brown-Sanford was named Chair of the Intellectual Property Department at Baker Botts. 

Class of 2006

Matthew S. Beard published a legal treatise titled, "" (PLI 2024).

Class of 2007

Noel Chakkalakal was elevated to principal at Fish & Richardson in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2009

Dustin Appel joined Bradley as as a senior attorney in its Houston office.

Jonathan Elifson joined the firm as of counsel in the Dallas office of Fisher Phillips.

Class of 2010

Parker Lee joined Bracewell as a partner in its New York office.

Andrew Wootton joined Baker Donelson as of counsel in its Houston office.

Jennifer Ryback joined Carrington Coleman as a partner in its Dallas office.

Dan Smith joined Jackson Walker as a partner in its Dallas office.

Class of 2011

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Mala Sharma to the Texas Optometry Board for a term set to expire on January 31, 2029.

Erin Wood was named partner at Nachawati Law Group. 

Cameron J. Asby was elevated to special counsel at Duane Morris in its New York office. 

Class of 2013

Andrew McDonald was promoted to equity shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in its Dallas office. 

Hon. Maria Aceves was named a Woman of Influence by D Magazine. 

Christopher Haug was re-appointed to the California Judicial Council Probate and Mental Health Advisory Committee for a three-year term. 

William Hotze joined Kane Russel Coleman Logan as a senior attorney in its Houston office. 

Class of 2014

Chris Anaya joined Carrington Coleman as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Phillip R. Sanders was promoted to partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in its New York office.

Chris Lambert passed the Texas Board of Legal Specialization exam in family law.

Kyle Park was promoted to partner at Sherman & Sterling in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2015

Carrie Thomas joined Barbieri Law as a senior trial attorney in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2016

Julia Gasc Beckman was promoted to shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. in its Dallas office. 

Liz Drumm joined the firm as of counsel in the Dallas office of Fisher Phillips.

Clark Kimball was promoted to partner at McCall Parkhurst & Horton in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2017

Alexandra Easley was promoted to principal at McKool Smith in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2018

Baile Xie was elevated to principal at Fish & Richardson in its Dallas office. 

Ryan C. Dean joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP as an associate in its Dallas office. 

Class of 2019

Alen A. Samuel joined the firm as an associate in the Dallas office of Fisher Phillips.

Class of 2022

Mary Elizabeth King joined Stites & Harbison as an attorney in its Nashville, TN office. 

Class of 2023

Tiereney Bowman joined Cantey Hanger as an associate in its Fort Worth office.

Emma Conde joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as an associate in its Dallas office. 

Sarah Yue joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as an associate in its Dallas office.