Justice For All

Houston Bar Bulletin

Inside This Issue:State Bar Awards....................... 2

HBF Veterans Grant................... 2

Constitution Day Readings........ 6

63rd Harvest Party.................... 5

HBA People................................... 6 Souper Bowl of Caring.............. 6

Gender Fairness Luncheon...... 7

100 Club..................................... 8

HBA/CLE Programs.................. 12

September Calendar.............. 13

October Calendar.............. 14

Committee/Section Directory.. 16

Share the joy of reading with others by donating your gently-used books to the HBA Lawyers for Literacy’s annual Fall Book Drive, benefiting local homeless shelters and literacy projects. According to Literacy Advance Houston, Texas ranks 47 out of 50 states in English literacy levels. Books may be dropped off at the HBA office between September 10 and September 14, 2012. The drive collects books for read-ers of all ages, with a particular emphasis on books for young children and young readers. Monetary donations to purchase books also are welcome. Checks should be made payable to the Houston Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Last year’s Fall Book Drive collected over 20,000 books and $2,713 in cash dona-tions. Books were distributed to 26 different organizations, while the monetary donations were used to purchase new books for the HBA’s adopted school, B.C. Elmore Middle

School in the North Forest ISD. Co-chairs of the Lawyers for Literacy Committee are Yvonne Ho of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP and Danny Long of Crady, Jewett & McCully, LLP. Books may be dropped off or delivered to the Houston Bar Association office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Mon-day through Friday. The building’s main en-trance is located at 1001 Fannin, but books should be delivered to the loading dock at the rear of the building on San Jacinto. If you are unable to deliver the books, you may contact Claire Nelson at clairen@hba.org or 713-759-1133 by September 4 to arrange for a member of the Lawyers for Literacy Com-mittee to pick up your books. Volunteers are always needed to sort and box books for distribution during the week of September 17-21. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Claire Nelson.

Pass on the Joy of Reading Through Fall Book Drive, Sept. 10-14

A Publication of the Houston Bar Association www.hba.org Vol. 112 Number 5 September/October 2012

There are 10,000-12,000 homeless people in Houston on any given night, according to HomeAid-Houston.org. Help make winter a little warmer for some of them by donating your gently-used coats, sweaters and other clothing items through the HBA’s 2012 Coat and Warm Clothing Drive, scheduled for October 8-October 12. Sponsored by the HBA Cam-paign for the Homeless Committee, the drive collects items that will be distributed to Houston’s homeless shelters. Todd M. Frankfort of Fullenweider Wilhite PC chairs this year’s Campaign for the Homeless Committee. In addition to collecting coats and warm cloth-ing, the HBA will partner with Dress for Success

Houston to collect interview-appropriate suits and handbags for women. Monetary donations also will be accepted. For every $75 donation, Dress for Success can purchase one new suit. The mission of Dress for Success is to advance the economic and social development of low-income women and to en-courage self-sufficiency through career development and employment retention. Checks should be made payable to the Houston Bar Foundation. All law firms and legal departments of five or more attorneys will receive a letter from HBA President Brent Benoit, asking them to organize and support a drive in their office. Donations from individuals are welcome and encouraged. Items may be delivered to the HBA office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from October 10-14. The building’s main entrance is located at 1001 Fannin, but clothing should be delivered to the loading dock at the rear of the build-ing on San Jacinto. Volunteers always are needed the following week to assist with sorting and boxing clothes for distribution. For more information on the Coat and Warm Clothing Drive, please contact Claire Nelson at clairen@hba.org or 713-759-1133.

HBA Coat and Warm Clothing Drive Scheduled for October2012-2013Committee &

Section DirectoryINCLUDED

Brent Benoit, right, accepts the HBA’s Star of Achievement and Outstanding Partnership awards from 2011-2012 State Bar President Bob Black. See the full story on this award and other HBA honors on page 2.

2 September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

HBA Earns Recognition from State Bar of Texas The Houston Bar Association received the State Bar of Texas Star of Achievement for the April 21 Family Day of Service, in which 314 HBA members and their chil-dren volunteered at 10 different community projects on one Saturday. The HBA also earned an Outstanding Partnership Award for its leadership role in the Veterans Legal Initiative, a coalition of bar associations that provides pro bono legal services to veterans in a 14-county area in Southeast Texas. The Jefferson County Bar Association, one of the partners in the coalition, also received an award in its membership size category for the association’s role in the program. Brent Benoit accepted the HBA’s awards on behalf of 2011-2012 HBA President Denise Scofield at the 2012 State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting held in June in Houston. Former HBA president, Travis Sales of Baker Botts LLP, received the Judge Sam Williams Award for outstanding contributions to community service, pro bono, public education about the law, and legal education. Travis Sales and HBA Director Alistair Dawson, of Beck, Redden & Secrest, LLP, received Presidential Citations for their hard work and inspiration in producing an exceptional annual meeting. Bill Kroger of Baker Botts LLP, former chair of the Houston Bar Foundation, received a Presidential Citation and Certificate of Merit for his vision in identifying and preserving important historical documents, as well as his work to encourage ongoing preservation. Mickey Baden of the HBA’s Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program received the J. Chrys Dougherty Legal Services Award, given by the State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Com-mittee. He was recognized for his outstanding service to the HBA/HBF Veterans Legal Initiative, which provides legal services to veterans in a 14-county area in Southeast Texas. Kelly Frels of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, former HBA president and former State Bar president, received the Dan Rugely Price Memorial Award, presented by the Texas Bar Foundation, honoring an attorney who serves the profession as an outstanding volunteer and legal scholar while also actively practicing law, and who exhibits exceptional dedica-tion to serving the public and the Bar. E. William “Bill” Barnett, attorney at law; Harry M. Reasoner of

Vinson & Elkins LLP; and the Hon. Ewing Werlein, Jr., U.S. Judge for the Southern Dis-trict of Texas and former HBA presi-dent, were honored by the Texas Bar Foundation as Outstanding 50-Year Lawyers for adhering to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession and service to the public. Fred Hagans of Hagans, Burdine, Montgomery & Rustay, P.C., received the Lola Wright Foundation Award from the Texas Bar Foundation, exemplifying the highest standards of professional ethics. Hon. Berta A. Mejia of the Harris County Municipal Courts received the Reynaldo G. Garza Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Hispanic Issues Section. Lionel M. Schooler of Jackson Walker LLP received the Justice Frank G. Evans Award, presented by the Alternative Dispute Resolu-tion Section. Gary McGowan, attorney at law, received the Distinguished Coun-selor Award, presented by the Antitrust & Business Litigation Section. Gordon Quan of FosterQuan LLP received the Justice David Wel-lington Chew Award, presented by the Asian Pacific Interest Section. J. Thomas Black, attorney at law, received the Pro Bono Service Award, presented by the Bankruptcy Section. Charles W. Hall of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. received the Texas Tax Legend Award, presented by the Taxation Section.

HBF Receives Grant for Expanded Veterans Clinic Coalition The Houston Bar Foundation has been awarded a 2012-2013 Legal Aid for Veterans Grant from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. The HBF, along with fellow grantees the Jefferson County Bar Association, Fort Bend Lawyers Care and Baylor Law School, as well as the Austin Bar Association, will expand the current 14-county program to create a coalition to serve veterans in 17 counties with access to legal advice clinics and legal represen-tation by volunteer attorneys. The coalition will encompass Bell, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galves-ton, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Liberty, McLennan, Montgomery, Orange, San Jacinto, Travis, Walker and Waller counties. The area is home to nearly 500,000 veterans. The program is modeled on the Houston Bar Association’s suc-cessful Veterans’ Legal Initiative, which is entering its fifth year and has served over 6,000 veterans. The HBF/HBA will work with other bar associations and legal service providers in the 17-county area to

establish clinics at VFW and American Legion posts, as well as other facilities, and to recruit and train attorneys to staff the clinics and handle pro bono cases for qualifying veterans. A recruitment letter will go out to almost 36,000 attorneys in the coalition area. A training program on veterans’ benefits and other legal issues will be offered free to attorneys who commit to handling cases through the coalition in their area.

“We are grateful to receive these funds from the Texas Access to Justice Founda-tion that will enable us to assist many

more veterans in Texas,” said Bob McAughan, chair of the Houston Bar Foundation. “I urge HBA members to volunteer for this coalition to help men and women who have sacrificed and served our nation.” Please watch your mail and email for more information, or visit the HBA website, www.hba.org, for a volunteer form.

Left: Mickey Baden, attorney in charge of the Veterans Legal Initiative, accepts the Dougherty Award from Bob Black and congratulations from Brent Benoit.

Otway B. Denny, Jr. of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. counsels a veteran at a July 28 legal clinic in Navasota.

Travis Sales received the Judge Sam Williams Award.

3September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

The firms and corporations listed below have agreed to assume a leadership role in providing equal access to justice for all Harris County citizens. Each has signed a five-year commitment to provide representation in a certain number of cases

through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. For more information contact Kay Sim at (713) 759-1133.Large Firm Champions

Andrews Kurth LLPBaker Botts L.L.P.

Bracewell & Giuliani LLPFulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Locke Lord LLPVinson & Elkins LLP

Corporate ChampionsBaker Hughes Incorporated

BP America Inc.CenterPoint Energy, Inc.

ConocoPhillipsExxon Mobil Corporation

LyondellBasellMarathon Oil Company

Port of Houston AuthorityShell Oil Company

Intermediate Firm ChampionsGardere Wynne Sewell LLPHaynes and Boone, L.L.P.

King & Spalding LLP

Mid-Size Firm ChampionsAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Adams & Reese LLPBaker Hostetler LLP

Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P.Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry

Greenberg Traurig, LLPJackson Walker L.L.P.

Jones DayMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Porter Hedges, L.L.P. Strasburger & Price, L.L.P.

Susman Godfrey LLPWeil, Gotshal & Manges

Winstead PC

Small Firm ChampionsAbraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend

Beck, Redden & Secrest, L.L.P.Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Hays, McConn, Rice & Pickering, P.C.Hughes Watters Askanase LLP

Johnson DeLuca Kurisky & Gould, P.C.Kroger | Burrus

Schwartz, Junell, Greenberg & Oathout, L.L.PSutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP

Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C.Yetter Coleman LLP

Boutique Firm ChampionsBlank Rome LLP

Coane & AssociatesConnelly • Baker • Wotring LLP

Edison, McDowell & Hetherington LLPFullenweider Wilhite PC

Funderburk & Funderburk, L.L.P.Hicks Thomas LLP

Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P.Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall, L.L.P.

Squire Sanders LLPSutton McAughan Deaver LLP

Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard, L.L.P.Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, P.C.

Solo Champions Law Office of O. Elaine Archie

Peter J. BennettLaw Office of J. Thomas Black, P.C.

Law Office of David Hsu BrogdenLaw Office of Robbie Gail Charette

Chaumette, PLLCLaw Office of Papa M. Dieye

The Ericksen Law FirmFrye & Cantu, PLLCFuqua & Associates

Terry L. HartLaw Office of James and Stagg, PLLC

Katine & Nechman L.L.P.The Keaton Law Firm, PLLC

Gregory S. LindleyLaw Office of Maria S. Lowry

Martin R. G. Marasigan Law OfficesThe Law Office of Evangeline Mitchell, PLLC

Bertrand C. MoserPilgrim Law Office

Robert E. PriceCindi L. RobisonScardino & Fazel

Shortt & Nguyen, P.C.Jeff Skarda

Tindall & England, P.C.Diane C. Treich

Norma Levine Trusch

Equal Access Champions

TAJC Recognizes HBF with Pro Bono Award

The Texas Access to Justice Com-mission has recognized the Houston Bar Foundation’s Veterans Legal Initiative with a Pro Bono Service Award. The award is designed to recognize organi-zations that have created self-sustaining pro bono projects that motivate lawyers to provide pro bono legal assistance to poor Texans. The award includes a $1,000 stipend, which the HBF will use for outreach projects to increase awareness of services provided through the Veterans Legal Initiative. Kay Sim, executive director of the Houston Bar Association and secretary of the Hous-ton Bar Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the HBF from State Bar President Buck Files at the Bar Leaders Conference, held in Houston on July 14.

4 September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

The HBA Special Olympics Committee is gearing up for a new year of events. The mis-sion of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults living with intellectual disabili-ties, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the com-munity. The HBA Special Olympics Commit-tee is chaired this year by Laurens Wilkes of Jones Day and Everett Day of Rensimer Day, LLP. If you would like to volunteer for any of the following events, please contact Bonnie Sim-mons at 713-759-1133 or bonnies@hba.org for more details. To volunteer online, visit http://a04hba2012events.eventbrite.com.

September 24 – Regional Golf Tournament, Cypress Lakes Golf Club October 6 – Area Aquatics Meet, Univer-sity of Houston Recreation Center October 13 – Area Softball Tournament, Collins Park, Spring December 1 – Area Bowling Tournament, Copperfield Bowl

The HBA’s Interprofessional Drug Education Alliance (IDEA) Program is a partnership be-tween the HBA and the Harris County medical community to educate elementary students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Teams of doctors and lawyers speak to 5th grade students about the medical and legal consequences of substance abuse on growing minds and bodies. The IDEA program will be held in the fall on October 18 and in the spring on May 7. Teams usually do two presentations at a school, from 9:00-10:00 a.m. and from 10:00-11:00 a.m. There is a particular need for medical personnel to volunteer for the program. An orientation for all volunteers is scheduled for Thursday, September 13, 2012 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Houston Museum of Health and Medical Science, 1515 Hermann Drive. If you know medical personnel who may be interested in volunteering and attending the IDEA orientation, please contact Natasha Wil-liams at 713-759-1133 or natashaw@hba.org. There will also be a tour of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department for committee members and volunteers beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28. Erin Craig and Mark Dube are co-chairs of the IDEA Committee.

Celebrate Constitution Day by Reading in Elementary Schools, September 17 Celebrate our nation’s founding document by spending an hour of your day on Monday, September 17, reading to elementary students in commemoration of Constitution Day. The HBA is seeking volunteer attorneys who would like to read to two classes of elementary students in third through fifth grades in schools throughout Harris County as part of an annual effort to educate children about the importance of the U.S. Constitution. Volunteers will read a book relevant to the Constitution and then the book will be donated to the school’s library. If you or any of your col-leagues are interested in reading on September 17, please contact Bonnie Simmons at the HBA at 713-759-1133 or bonnies@hba.org. The HBA also will once again partner with the Houston Chroni-cle’s Chronicle in Education Pro-gram to provide classroom guides that teach middle and high school students about the Constitution and how it affects their daily lives. Teachers are provided with “The Constitution in the News,” an edu-cational curriculum that examines court rulings on issues such as student drug testing, file sharing,

wiretapping, First Amendment issues, student cheating and gun laws, as well as how the news media covers the issues. The guides are available free of charge to classrooms through the Chronicle’s Readers are Leaders Foundation and the Houston Bar As-sociation. Last year, the partnership reached over 39,000 students. Also on September 17, HBA President Brent Benoit, Harris County Administrative Judge Ken Wise and District Clerk Chris Daniel will distribute pocket-size copies of the Constitution to all citizens who report for jury duty.

Bo Nichols reads to students at Bess Campbell El-ementary during last year’s Constitution Day.

Travis Torrence with students at Felix Cook Elemen-tary School.

September 13 Orientation Set for Doctor/Lawyer IDEA Program; Medical Volunteers Needed

Volunteers Needed for Fall Special Olympics Events

Underwriting the Harvest Party is one of the best investments you can make in the legal community and your community. You will support pro bono legal services for low-income families, show your firm’s community spirit, and enjoy the camaraderie of your colleagues in the legal profession at an elegant evening at River Oaks Country Club. The 63rd Harvest Party, the major fundraising event for the Houston Bar Foundation, is set for 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. on Monday, November 12, 2012. HBA Treasurer Carter Crow and Houston Bar Foundation Chair Bob McAughan are serving as co-chairs of the 2012 Harvest Party. The Houston Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the HBA, providing support for legal services and community education. The Foundation is the primary support of the

HBA’s Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, which provides pro bono legal services in civil matters to low-income Houstonians. Thanks to the generous contributors listed below (as of press time), the event has a good start on reaching the $600,000 underwriting goal set for this year’s gala. Underwriters receive tickets to the event commensurate with their contribution, as well as recognition in HBA publications, website, the HBF newsletter and signage at the event. For information on underwriting the Harvest Party, please contact Kay Sim at 713-759-1133 or kays@hba.org. Individual tickets for the Harvest Party are $115 per person. Use the form on www.hba.org to reserve your place at this special gala today. The ticket purchase deadline is noon on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.

$25,000Andrews Kurth LLPBaker Botts L.L.P.Bracewell & Giuliani LLPFulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.Locke Lord LLPVinson & Elkins LLPWilliams Kherkher Hart Boundas, LLP

$10,000Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLPBeirne, Maynard & Parsons, LLPExxon Mobil CorporationKing & Spalding LLPMelanie Gray & Mark WawroShell Oil CompanySidley Austin LLP

$7,500Beck, Redden & Secrest, L.L.P.Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLPWinston & Strawn LLP

$5,000Amegy BankBaker Hostetler LLPConocoPhillipsDLA PiperGardere Wynne Sewell LLPGibbs & Bruns LLPGreenberg Traurig, LLPHaynes and Boone, L.L.P.HBA Family Law SectionLyondellBasell IndustriesSchirrmeister Diaz-Arrastia Brem LLPSusman Godfrey L.L.P.Sutton McAughan Deaver PLLCThompson & Knight LLPWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLPWinstead PC

$2,500Abraham Watkins Nichols Sorrels Agosto & FriendBlank Rome LLPCenterPoint Energy, Inc.Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & MartinChristian, Smith & Jewell LLPCokinos, Bosien & Young, P.C.Connelly•Baker•Wotring LLPEOG ResourcesFTI ConsultingHewlett-Packard Co.Hogan Lovells US LLPLegge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath & Brown L.L.P.Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom, L.L.P.Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.Schwartz Junell Greenberg & Oathout, L.L.P.StoneTurn GroupStrasburger & Price, LLPTekell, Book, Allen & Morris, L.L.P.The Lanier Law Firm

$2,000Benny Agosto, Jr.

$1,500Alistair DawsonBrent BenoitKay SimThomas Roche

$1,000Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C.Bank of Texas, N.A.Campbell Harrison & Dagley L.L.P.David ChaumetteDenise ScofieldDobrowski L.L.P.

Ebanks Horne Rota Moos LLPFullenweider WilhiteHasley Scarano, L.L.P.HBA Appellate Practice SectionHBA Corporate Counsel SectionHBA International Law SectionHBA Oil Gas & Mineral Law SectionHBA Real Estate Law SectionHirsch & Westheimer, P.C.Jackson Walker L.L.P.Jim Adler & Associates, P.C.John Eddie Williams, Jr.Liskow & Lewis, A PLCLooper Reed & McGraw, P.C.MacIntyre & McCulloch, LLPMichael PerrinMunsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.Nathan Sommers JacobsNovak Druce & Quigg LLPOgden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall, LLPOlson & Olson LLPReynolds, Frizzell, Black, Doyle, Allen & Oldham LLPSchiffer Odom Hicks PLLCShannon, Martin, Finkelstein & Alvarado, P.C.Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P.South Texas College of LawSprott, Rigby, Newsom, Robbins, Lunceford & Bell, P.C.Strong Pipkin Bissell & Leydard, L.L.P.Todd FrankfortTotal Petrochemicals USA, Inc.UBS Wealth Management/Mark Elias & Dan CarterWare, Jackson, Lee & Chambers, L.L.P.Welsh & Chapoton LLPYetter Coleman LLP

$500Brent Perry

2012 Harvest Party Underwriters

*as of press time

September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin 5

63rd Harvest Party Will Raise Funds for Foundation, November 12

The Hon. Sherry Radack, chief justice of the First Court of Ap-peals, and the Hon. Olen Underwood, presiding judge of the Second Administrative Judicial Region of Texas, have been named by Gov. Rick Perry to the Governing Board of the Texas Indigent Defense Com-mission, which develops and sets policy and standards for legal services to indigent defendants.

Demetra Liggins, a partner at Thompson & Knight LLP, has been selected for the 2012 Fellows Program of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. This year-long mentoring program helps attorneys build relationships and leadership skills by connecting with and learning from a network of top general counsels and managing partners in the legal industry. She joins a class of 134 attorneys from around the country who will

participate in programs including conferences, legal training, peer group projects, and discussions with the council’s top leadership.

Randy Burton, partner at Burleson LLP, spoke at the International Conference on Children’s Rights at Swansea University in Wales on June 11-12. Burton, who founded Houston’s Justice for Children, a non-profit that provides guidance, advocacy and a safety net for abused children through pro bono representation, was one of only two speakers invited from the U.S. At the conference, the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea

University announced the creation of the International Observatory on Human Rights of Children and Young People, a collaboration between the university and Justice for Children. The new center will provide an international forum for the study of children’s civil rights, provided pro-fessional and judicial training, and identify and lobby for legal reforms.

Kathy Patrick, partner at Gibbs & Bruns LLP, was named overall “Female Litigator of the Year” as well as “Texas Litigator of the Year” at the inaugural Bench-mark Litigation Awards—South, presented on March 8 in Atlanta. In addition, Gibbs & Bruns LLP was named “Securities Firm of the Year” and the firm’s settlement on behalf of 22 investors with Bank of America was named Texas “Case of the Year.”

Tara George, a seven-year veteran of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and chief prosecutor in the 180th District Court, and Mary Covington, coordinator for the STAR Program, were appointed to Gov. Rick Perry’s Criminal Justice Advisory Council. Both have worked extensively for the Success Through Addiction Recovery (STAR) drug-court initiative, in which non-violent offenders are care-fully evaluated and then placed in intensive, comprehensive and rigor-ously supervised drug treatment programs. The nine-member Council advises the Governor on matters related to criminal justice.

Charles C. Foster, co-chairman of FosterQuan LLP, was selected by Human Resources Executive as one of 20 of the nation’s most powerful employment-immigra-tion attorneys. He was the only attorney selected in the Southwestern U.S. Graham Hill, who recently joined Heard Robins Cloud & Black LLP, has completed a term as president of the International Society of Barristers. He was only the second Texas attorney to be named president of the invitation-only group, which has just 650 members worldwide and is dedicated to preserving trial by jury, the adversary system and an independent judiciary. Ron Capehart, associate with Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith, has been invited to join the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, a non-partisan alliance comprised of thousands of insurance companies, corporations, risk managers and attorneys that creates a common interest in the representation by firms of companies through education, collaboration and promotion of the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense.

Richard N. Laminack, a partner in Laminack, Pirtle & Martines, L.L.P. has been named South Texas College of Law’s Distinguished Alumnus for 2012. The Hon. David Medina of the Supreme Court of Texas received the 2012 Public Service Award. Laminack is a 1987 graduate of South Texas College of Law and Justice Medina is a 1989 graduate. The awards will be presented at the Alumni Association’s Annual Meeting on September 7, where Laminack also will serve as keynote speaker.

David V. Wilson II, shareholder at Hays McConn, has been named to the South Texas College of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors for 2012-2013. One of nine new additions to the 24-member board, Wilson’s term will begin in October. Houston attorney Donna Reinbolt has been elected to the board of directors of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, the nation’s largest non-profit organization devoted exclusively to funding innovative lymphoma research and to serving those touched by the disease. In 2009 Reinbolt co-founded the foundation’s Hous-ton chapter, which has raised more than $100,000 for research.

6 September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

HBA People

Houston has the fourth highest rate of what is known as “food insecurity” in the nation, with more than 53,000 people in our community going hungry every day, many of them children. Beginning in November, the HBA will partner with the Souper Bowl of Caring, an organization that addresses hunger in Houston. The project will include a drive to collect food and monetary donations; for every $1 donated, four meals can be purchased for needy Houstonians. There will also be a volunteer project at the Houston Food Bank on January 19, 2013, where members and their families can have a hands-on experience sorting and boxing food for the needy. Watch for more details about the HBA’s Souper Bowl of Caring participation in the November/December Houston Bar Bulletin. For more information on the organization, visit www.souperbowl.org.

HBA to Join “Souper Bowl of Caring” Drive

7

Enjoy fall weather and help restore and beautify one of Houston’s historic sites. The HBA Lawyers Against Waste Committee will host a Fall Clean Up at the Dawson-Lunnon Cemetery, a historically African-American cemetery located in Houston’s East End, on Saturday, October 13, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. The cemetery is located at 5737 Kemp (77023), off Polk Street across from the Metro Station near the Gus Wortham Golf Course. Volunteers will mow, weed, clean debris from the site and plant trees. The graves date from 1915-1950 and were adjacent to the Mt. Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, now in ruins. The cemetery is in bad condition due to trash and erosion from the bayou. Laura Gibson of Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall, LLP chairs the Lawyers Against Waste Committee. Bring your family and friends to participate in this event. To sign up, contact Claire Nelson at 713-759-1133 or clairen@hba.org.

Lawyers Against Waste Fall Cleanup Set for October

September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

First Gender Fairness Networking Luncheon to Focus on Human Trafficking

The HBA’s Gender Fairness Committee has scheduled its first Networking Luncheon of the bar year for Thursday, September 27. The program will feature a panel discussion on “Human Trafficking,” in recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Houston and a focus of the HBA this year. The luncheon will be held from 11:30-1:00 at Locke Lord LLP, 600 Travis Street, 25th Floor Conference Room, Houston, TX 77002. Lunch will be provided by Locke Lord. There is no charge for HBA members to attend the Networking Luncheons, but you must RSVP by September 21 by emailing

your contact information to taras@hba.org with “Networking Luncheon” in the subject line. Daniella Landers of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP chairs the Gender Fairness Committee. The Networking Luncheon Series features a speaker or panel discussion on topics relevant to women attorneys, such as business development, mentoring, life balance and other issues to help them succeed in their law practice. The series is offered free to HBA members. Watch future Bulletins for ad-ditional dates and topics.

HBA Membership Updates Roster Photos, September 11-12 If you would like to have a new photo made for the 2013 HBA Pictorial Roster, plan on coming by the HBA office September 11-12, 2012 to have a photo made at no charge. You may stop by the office at 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002 either Sep-tember 11 or September 12, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary and photos take only a few minutes. If you would like to submit a new or replacement photo on your own, the deadline is September 7, 2012. Hard copy photos must be at least 2 X 3 inches and must have the attorney’s complete name and date of submis-sion on the back. No passport photos will be accepted. Electronic photos must be saved as JPG or TIF files onto a CD or DVD at a minimum of 150 dpi, and the file must be named with the attorney’s first and last name. To submit a new photo, send it to the Membership Department, Houston Bar Association, 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 1300, Houston, TX 77002.

Renew Membership Dues Online You can now conveniently renew your dues and manage your HBA membership account online. To begin using this new feature, you will first need to create your online account by using the email address where you receive your HBA email announcements. Once created, you will be able to manage your HBA account at your convenience. To create your online account, please visit the link on the homepage of the HBA website, www.hba.org. VISA, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. For assistance with any membership or roster information, please contact the HBA Member-ship Department at 713-759-1133.

Section, Judges to Present Third Annual Juvenile Law Conference The Juvenile Court Judges of Harris County and the HBA Juvenile Law Section will pres-ent the Third Annual Juvenile Law Conference, September 14-15, at The Council on Alcohol and Drugs Houston, 303 Jackson Hill Street, Houston, Texas 77007. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on both days, with the program running from 8:15 a.m.-5:15 p.m. on Friday, Sep-tember 14 and from 8:00 a.m.-1:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 15. Topics will include arrest, searches, confessions, juvenile processing offices and waiver of rights; detention hearings; pretrial motions, discovery motions and motions to suppress; the adjudication hearing; dispositions; juveniles and human trafficking; mental illness pro-ceedings; ethics; legislative update; determinate sentencing proceedings; certificiation; sex offender registration; drug testing; challenges to experts; and case law updates. The program has been approved for 12.25 hours of MCLE credit, including 3.5 hours of ethics credit. It is also certified for CEU credit from the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and TCLEOSE credit for Texas Peace Officers. The cost is $150 for early registration by September 7 and $175 for door registration. The fee includes the seminar, lunch on Friday, breaks and any materials distributed on a CD at the conference. For a registration form and more information, visit the Juvenile Law Section page on the HBA website, www.hba.org. For questions, contact Brian Fischer at 713-520-7500 or bjflaw@hotmail.com.

The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP) is a confidential crisis counseling and referral

program that helps Texas lawyers, law students and judges who are challenged by substance

use and other mental health disorders, includ-ing clinical depression, anxiety, and stress

related concerns. TLAP and LCL have also teamed up to form the Houston Lawyers’ Forum on Depression and Health, which meets on the first Monday

of every month (the September meeting will be on the 10th) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Houston

Council on Alcohol and Drugs, 303 Jackson Hill, Room A115. This group provides participants

with a light dinner, presentations by local men-tal health professionals and peer support.

For more information, please call TLAP at

1-800-343-8527

Texas Lawyers assisTance Program

8 September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

Firms of 5-24 Attorneys Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & FriendAdair & Myers PLLC Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. Ajamie LLP Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP Andrews Myers, P.C.Bair Hilty, P.C.Baker Williams Matthiesen LLP The Bale Law Firm, PLLCBarrett Daffin Frappier Turner & Engel, LLP Bateman/Pugh, PLLC Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau, P.C. Berg & Androphy Bingham, Mann & HouseBlank Rome LLPBrewer & Pritchard PC Buck Keenan LLP Burck, Lapidus, Jackson & Chase, P.C. Bush & Ramirez, L.L.C. Butler I Hailey Caddell & Chapman Cage Hill & Niehaus, L.L.P.Campbell & Riggs, P.C.Chernosky Smith Ressling & Smith PLLC Christian Smith & Jewell, L.L.P. Conley Rose P.C. Connelly • Baker • Wotring LLP Cozen O’Connor Crady, Jewett & McCulley, LLP David Black & Associates De Lange Hudspeth McConnell & Tibbets LLP Devlin Naylor & Turbyfill PLLC Diamond McCarthy LLPDinkins Kelly Lenox Lamb & Walker, L.L.P. Dobrowski, Larkin & Johnson LLP Dow Golub Remels & Beverly, LLP Doyle Restrepo Harvin & Robbins, L.L.P. Ebanks Horne Rota Moos LLPEdison, McDowell & Hetherington LLP Ellis, Carstarphen, Dougherty & Griggs P.C. Ewing & Jones, PLLCFaubus & Scarborough LLPFernelius Alvarez PLLCFibich Hampton Leebron Briggs Josephson, LLP Fisher, Boyd, Brown & Huguenard, LLPFisher & Phillips LLP Fizer Beck Webster Bentley & Scroggins, P.C.Fleming, Nolen & Jez, L.L.P. Frank, Elmore, Lievens, Chesney & Turet, L.L.P. Fullenweider Wilhite PCFunderburk & Funderburk, L.L.P.

Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith Germer Gertz, L.L.P. Givens & Johnston PLLC Goldstein & Lipski, PLLC Gordon & Rees LLPGreer, Herz & Adams, L.L.P.Hagans Burdine Montgomery & Rustay, P.C.Harris, Hilburn & Sherer Harrison, Bettis, Staff, McFarland & Weems, L.L.P.Hays McConn Rice & Pickering, P.C. Hicks Thomas LLP Hirsch & Westheimer, P.C. Hogan Lovells US LLP Holm I Bambace LLP Hunton & Williams LLP Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs, PCJackson Lewis LLPJenkins Kamin, L.L.P. Johnson DeLuca Kurisky & Gould, P.C. Johnson Radcliffe Petrov & Bobbitt PLLC Johnson, Trent, West & Taylor, L.L.P.Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre, L. L. P.Joyce, McFarland + McFarland LLP Kane Russell Coleman & Logan PC Kelly, Sutter & Kendrick, P.C.Kroger | BurrusLeBlanc Bland P.L.L.C.Legge Farrow Kimmitt McGrath & Brown, L.L.P. Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP Liskow & Lewis Lorance & Thompson, PC MacIntyre & McCulloch, LLPMcGinnis Lochridge & Kilgore LLP McLeod Alexander Powel & Apffel PC MehaffyWeber PCMiller Scamardi & Carraba Mills Shirley L.L.P. Morris Lendais Hollrah & Snowden Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.Murray | Lobb PLLCNathan Sommers Jacobs Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall, LLP Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.Pagel Davis & Hill PC Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott Perdue Kidd & Vickery Phelps Dunbar LLP Phillips, Akers & Womac, PCPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Ramey, Chandler, McKinley & Zito Ramsey & Murray PCRoach & Newton, L.L.P. Roberts Markel Weinberg PC Ross, Banks, May, Cron & Cavin, P.C.

Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams, L.L.P. Rusty Hardin & Associates, P.C. Rymer, Moore, Jackson & Echols, P.C.Schiffer Odom Hicks & Johnson PLLC Schirrmeister Diaz-Arrastia Brem LLPSchwartz, Junell, Greenberg & Oathout, LLP Schwartz, Page & Harding L.L.P. Shannon Martin Finkelstein & Alvarado, P.C.Shepherd, Scott, Clawater & Houston, L.L.P.Shipley Snell Montgomery Droog LLP Short Carter Morris, LLPSingleton Cooksey LLP Smith Murdaugh Little & Bonham, L.L.P. Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P.Sprott, Rigby, Newsom, Robbins & Lunceford, P.C.Steele Sturm P.L.L.C.Stevenson & Murray Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard, L.L.P.Stuart & Associates P.C.Sutton McAughan Deaver, PLLC Tekell, Book, Allen & Morris, L.L.P.Thompson & Horton LLP Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP Tucker, Taunton, Snyder & Slade, P.C. Tucker Vaughan Gardner & Barnes, P.C.Ware, Jackson, Lee & Chambers, L.L.P. Watt Beckworth Thompson Henneman & Sullivan LLP Weycer Kaplan Pulaski & Zuber, P.C. White Mackillop & Gallant P.C. Williams, Birnberg & Andersen, L.L.P.Williams Kherkher Hart Boundas LLP Williams Morgan & Amerson, P.C. Willingham, Fultz & Cougill, LLP Wilson, Cribbs & Goren, P.C. Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, P.C.Wright Abshire, Attorneys, PC Wright & Close, L.L.P.Yetter Coleman LLP Ytterberg Deery Knull LLPZimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern & Wise, P.C. Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, L.L.P.

Firms of 25-49 Attorneys Adams & Reese LLPAkin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLPBaker & McKenzie LLP Beck Redden & Secrest, L.L.P. Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P.Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry Coats I RoseCokinos Bosien & Young

Gibbs & Bruns LLP Hoover Slovacek LLPJones Day Littler Mendelson, PCOlson & Olson LLPSeyfarth Shaw LLP Firms of 50-100 Attorneys Baker Hostetler LLP Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP Jackson Walker L.L.P. Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom, L.L.P.Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Porter Hedges LLP Thompson & Knight LLP Winstead PC

Firms of 100+ Attorneys Andrews Kurth LLP Baker Botts L.L.P. Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Haynes and Boone LLP Locke Lord LLPVinson & Elkins LLP

Corporate Legal Departments Anadarko Petroleum Corporation AT&T Texas BP CenterPoint Energy El Paso Corporation Kellogg Brown & Root Inc LyondellBasell IndustriesMAXXAM IncNewfield Exploration CompanyPetrobras America Inc. Plains Exploration & Production Co. Pride International Inc. Rice University S & B Engineers and Constructors, Ltd Sysco Corporation Texas Children’s Hospital Total E&P USA Inc. University of Houston System

Law School Faculty South Texas College of Law Thurgood Marshall School of Law University of Houston Law Center

Government Agencies City of Houston Legal Department Harris County Attorney’s Office Harris County District Attorney’s Office Harris County Domestic Relations OfficeMetropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County TexasPort of Houston Authority of Harris County Texas

The Houston Bar Association 100 Club is a special category of membership that indicates a commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and the better-ment of the community. The following law firms, govern-

ment agencies, law schools, and corporate legal departments with five or more attorneys have become members of the 100 Club by enrolling 100 percent of their attorneys as members of the HBA.

Join the HBA 100 Club!

To volunteer, please call 713-228-0735.

Houston Volunteer lawyers Program

Umeka A. Lewis, a 2010 gradu-ate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, recently answered a call for help from HVLP for a group of tenants living in deteriorating conditions in an apartment complex in south-east Houston. An attorney with the Escobar Lewis Law Group, Ms. Lewis dedicated many hours to extricating these individuals from uninhabitable and unfair living conditions, and she

had this to say about the experience: “I was introduced to the HVLP earlier this year when my law partner heard about an emergency need for volunteer lawyers to help a group of tenants at a local Houston apartment complex. The complex was in total disrepair. There were reports of mold and mildew, broken pipes causing flooding, sewage back-ups, ceilings caving in, live mushrooms growing indoors, and a tub even fell through one resident’s floor to the occupied apartment below. The local news stations and City Council member Wanda Adams could not ignore these tenants’ plight,

and I decided that neither could I. “As it turned out, the apartment complex originally had entered into all-bills-paid leases with the tenants, but during the middle of the lease term, the complex unilater-ally decided to charge tenants for electricity. When rent became due in May of this year, the complex rejected rent from those not prepared to pay both the rent and the separate new electricity bill. The apartment complex then initiated eviction suits against those tenants who refused or could not pay the new and separate electric-ity bill. Eighteen evictions suits were filed in total. We represented eight of the eighteen residents; four hearings, two weeks in a row. Although we were not successful with the first four, we won the second four and received attor-neys’ fee awards (which we donated to HVLP). We then appealed two of the original four suits, and won both of them. “Volunteering with HVLP was an enriching experience. I hope to always be available throughout my career to continue to volunteer, for the community’s sake as well as my own. I always vowed to assist individuals with fewer resources one day; HVLP was the perfect vehicle to do so, and I am honored to be a member of the HVLP.”

My Pro Bono Experience

9September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

Opening Doors to Justice Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program Updates

LyondellBasell, HVLP Legal Clinicfor People with Disabilities LyondellBasell and Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program will hold their second free legal advice clinic in October in conjunction with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities’ (MOPD) pro-gramming for Disabilities Awareness Month and HVLP’s programming for National Pro Bono Week. Like HVLP’s other free legal advice clinics, the clinic for persons with disabilities (which was first launched in July) provides advice to those in attendance and screens applicants for potential extended representation through HVLP. In addition to the clinic, HVLP will host a “Know Your Rights” presentation on housing issues for all interested applicants.

Consumer Task ForceThe Houston Bar Association’s Consumer Task Force will co-host HVLP’s Saturday Legal Advice Clinic on September 22, at the Cleve-land- Ripley House located in Pasadena, and on December 1, at the Bayland Community Center. The members of the Consumer Law Task Force assist the public with basic consumer issues, including landlord/tenant, foreclosure, bankruptcy, debt collection, and other matters.

2012 Shell-a-ThonOn October 2, Shell will partner with Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program for its Pro Bono Day. On Pro Bono Day each year, the legal department at Shell drafts wills and other es-tate planning documents for senior citizens for free and staffs an advice clinic for low-income Harris County residents on a variety of legal issues. HVLP looks forward to another suc-cessful event and a great collaboration between the two organizations.

Pro Bono WeekOctober 21 to 27 is National Pro Bono Week! HVLP is planning a host of activi-ties for you and your families, including a screening of a classic law movie at the newly renovated 1910 Courthouse on the evening of Thursday, October 25. Check the HVLP website (www.hvlp.org), Facebook page (www.facebook/hvlpinc) and Twitter (@HVLPTweets) for details soon!

Equal Access = Justice for All Houstonians

10 September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

Program Speakers, Supporters and SponsorsSusan Bickley, Blank Rome LLPChristina Bryan, Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P.Araceli Carrizales, Harris County District Clerk’s OfficeDavid Chaumette, Chaumette, PLLCCandace K. Childress, Blank Rome LLPChris Daniel, Harris County District ClerkHon. Jennifer Walker Elrod, U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth CircuitHon. Mike Engelhart, Judge, 151st District CourtHon. David Fraga, City of Houston Municipal CourtsLyndsay Garmond, South Texas College of LawHon. Vanessa Gilmore, U.S. Court, Southern District of TexasOfficer Gus Guerrero, Harris County Juvenile Probation DepartmentHBA CIS CommitteeBill Kroger, Baker Botts L.L.P.Barrett Reasoner, Gibbs & Bruns LLPHon. Josefina Rendon, Judge - 165th District CourtHon. Robert Schaffer, Judge, 152nd District CourtAssociate Dean Gena Singleton, South Texas College of LawProfessor Tobin Sparling, South Texas College of LawEd Sullivan, Oberti/SullivanAmy Tabor, Caddell & ChapmanTanya Urban, Gibbs & Bruns LLP

Pat Villafranca, FBI Michelle Walker, Cozen O’ConnorMatthew Yezierski, Oberti/SullivanJim Zucker, Yetter Coleman LLP

The Houston Bar Association/Communities In Schools Summer Legal Internship Program wrapped up its fourth successful year at the beginning of August, with 33 stu-dents placed in 24 law firms and corporate legal departments. Students who participate in the program are academically-outstanding young people who attend at-risk schools or come from family situations that place them in an at-risk environment. The Summer Legal Internship Program provides them with a paid, eight-week internship in a profes-sional environment, as well as enrichment programs and mentoring. Hon. David Fraga of the City of Houston Municipal Courts and Amy Tabor of Cad-dell & Chapman co-chaired the HBA CIS Committee. The HBA and Communities In Schools would like to thank those who served as speakers and coaches in the enrichment and mock trial program, as well as all of the firms and offices that employed students. Special thanks to Baker Botts L.L.P. for hiring four interns. We would also like to thank several firms who extended their stu-dent interns’ stay past the eight-week program (noted with an asterisk below).

Students from the Summer Legal Internship Program with CIS Director of Strategic Partnerships Angelica Adams (first row, far right).

HBA/CIS Summer Legal Internship Program Wraps Up Successful Fourth Year

The HBA’s CIS intern, Emily Lechuga, second from left, at the CIS End of Year Luncheon is joined by HBA President-elect David Chau-mette, luncheon keynote speaker Terry Bruner of Cook & Gore, PLLC; and Amy Tabor of Caddell & Chapman, HBA CIS Committee Co-chair.

Legal Internship Placements Andrews Kurth LLPBaker Botts L.L.P.Blank Rome LLP*Beck Redden & Secrest, L.L.P.Bracewell & Giuliani LLPCozen O’Connor*Eni US Operating Co. Inc.*Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.Gardere Wynne Sewell LLPGibbs & Bruns LLPGreenberg Traurig LLPHarris County District Clerk’s OfficeHouston Bar AssociationHouston Volunteer Lawyers Program - HVLPJones Day

King & Spalding LLPLone Star Legal AidLooper Reed & McGraw, P.C.*Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPNathan Sommers JacobsReynolds Frizzell Black Doyle Allen & Oldham LLPSmyser, Kaplan & Veselka, L.L.P.Vinson & Elkins LLPWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

The HBA Mentor/Protégé Program, sponsored through the HBA Professionalism Committee, pairs attorneys licensed three years or less with more experienced attorneys on an informal basis for the purpose of providing one-on-one guidance and advice. The program has an urgent need for mentors to pair with a number of protégés that are waiting to be matched. Attorneys licensed five years or more vol-unteer to serve as mentors to a less experienced protégé for a period of at least one year, during which time the mentor and protégé are encour-aged to meet on a monthly basis for discussion. Mentors are encouraged to share experiences and provide counsel on topics such as profes-sionalism, law practice economics and career advancement. The program is not designed as a substitute for legal research, continuing legal education or to provide job hunting op-portunities. Proteges are expected to enter into the mentor relationship with a goal of career

enhancement and professional development. “I would encourage all lawyers, both new and experienced, to sign up to be a mentor or a protégé in the HBA program. It is an avenue for experienced lawyers to impart their wisdom and practice tips to new lawyers, and to form some long lasting relationships with younger lawyers,” said Erin Lunceford, 2011-2012 co-chair of the HBA Professionalism Committee. “Likewise, it is a great way for younger lawyers to network and bounce ideas off of experienced practitioners who are outside of their firms. I consider it part of my responsibility as a lawyer to help the next generation of young lawyers.” The Mentor/Protégé Program also sponsors breakfasts or other events twice a year that provide speakers and additional networking opportunities. For more information, contact Claire Nelson at 713-759-1133 or clairen@hba.org. You may download an application on the HBA website, www.hba.org, under the “Join the HBA” menu.

Share Experience Through HBA Mentor Program

The University of Houston Consumer Law Project will present The People’s Law School on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the University of Houston Law Center. The program, which is co-spon-sored by the Houston Bar Association, is directed by Richard Alderman, director of the Center for Consumer Law at the Uni-versity of Houston and popular Houston author known as “The People’s Lawyer.” This free program allows the public to attend classes on laws that are relevant to everyday life. The event will be held from 8:00 a.m. until noon at the University of Houston Law Center. If you know some-one who would like to attend, registration is available at www.peopleslawyer.net.For information call 877-839-8422.

People’s Law School Set for September 29

September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin 11

DRC Attorney VolunteersThe Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) of Harris County relies on trained volunteers as mediators and arbitrators. If you are interested in serving as a volun-

teer and have completed the necessary DRC or DRC approved ADR training, please contact the DRC at 713-755-8274 or email@drchouston.org. The DRC and Houston Bar Association would like to thank the following volunteers who mediated DRC cases during June 2012 and July 2012:

June 2012Marlene Dancer AdamsJaneli ArredondoRoger BarrasFran BartonTony BenedettoMary Jo BlackMary Beth CameronMark CohenDanielle ComeauxClaude Davis

Angela DeSilvaBob DevlinPreston DodsonRussell DucoffShelly DurhamBruce FeichtingerJohn GeddieHarold GrahamJim GreenwoodDiane GuillermanTom HendersonMax HendrickAlan Holzberg

David HsuRoy HuddleAngela JohnsonCaliph JohnsonSuzi JohnsonJohn KellyPaul KriegerLori LaContaJohn LefeberDerek LiskErnest MartinDiane McManusLori Noack-May

Austin O’TooleRebecca RenfroMichael SandersJill ScheinStephen SchollKyle SearsWarren TaylorMargaret TuckerDavid Verbit

July 2012Marlene Dancer Adams

Janeli ArredondoRoger BarrasFran BartonMary Jo BlackScott BoatesFran BrochsteinGerald BrownDanielle ComeauxBob DevlinRussell DucoffMark FlanaganHarold Graham

Michael GrovesDiane GuillermanMichael GutheinzHal HargisTom HendersonMax HendrickDavid HsuRoy HuddleAngela JohnsonJohn KellyPaul KriegerDerek LiskErnest Martin

Jack MixaAlice O’NeillBrenda PageRebecca RenfroMark SalvatoMichael SandersJill ScheinKyle SearsDustin SullivanCheryl Crandall TangenWarren TaylorDavid Verbit

June 20VolunteersJeremiah AndersonSherry BankheadAndrew BibersteinKathryn BoatmanDavid Hsu BrogdenJohn ByronMeredith ClarkGeorge Craft, Jr.Louis DavisDaren DeGeorgeLauren EddyTrisha EnglishKenneth FreedEmily HerbsterSara HilkemannJeffrey JohnsonMargaret LecockeJ. Daniel LongAndrea MarksThomas R. McCulloch

Andrew PearceM. Jonathan PelayoSusan Sanchez Cassandra SmithAndy TorrantRahul VashiAllison Whitten

Family Law SpecialistsElva GodwinK. Nicole Voyles

July 12Consejos Legales VolunteersEddie CortesAngelica HernandezAdolpho VasquezJoe Villarreal

July 18Volunteers Alan AlexanderClay AllenKathryn BoatmanDavid Hsu BrogdenJennifer CampbellSafieh CampbellSuzanne ClevengerLauren CorbeilPaul DavisGreg DillardAndrea Fair Payal GarehgratCourtney GlaserRachel GroganJ. Marshall HortonPhilip KiefDarren Lindamood Utsav MathurE. Benjamin MorseGeorge Murphy

John PierattMitch ReidTeresa Garcia-Reyes Nicole SoussanDerek SpeckJocelyn TauGiselle TorresTara Tune Staci WilsonFiona Worrall

Family Law SpecialistsElena Halachian- KritzerSara Valentine

August 3VolunteersMarie CarlisleMadeline CoblenzKevin Connolly

Edward CottrellCassie DallasDoug D’ArcheChristina FojasJoshua FuchsTeresa Garcia-ReyesDavid GlennJack HardinJennifer HasleyJames HatchettKim HicksMorgan HotzelSean JainLori Kern Melissa LanierJim MarrowW. Cameron McCulloch, Jr.Elizabeth MyersJulie PradelMichael RaspinoClay Rogers

John SpillerKate SuhGus TamborelloLeslie TaylorChristine Vines Kristie WidnerSean Wion Zach Wolfe

Family Law SpecialistsElizabeth PagelSara Valentine

August 2Consejos Legales VolunteersEddie CortesFrancisco RiveroIvan RodriguezRick SolizJoe Villarreal

The HBA and the LegalLine Committee would like to thank the volunteers listed below and Which Wich?, Kinder Morgan/El Paso Tunnel Location, 1001 Louisiana, 713-658-9161 for providing dinner for LegalLine volunteers.

LegalLine Volunteers

The HBA and the LegalLine Committee would like to thank Kristee Boscarino of ‘Which Wich?” Caterers for providing meals for all LegalLine volunteers from July through Decem-ber. For more about Which Wich?, please visit www.whichwich.com

Law Firm Finds LegalLine Builds Community Pride Volunteering for LegalLine can be a great team building project for your law office or legal department. When six attorneys from the small firm of Fernelius Alvarez PLLC recently volunteered for a shift of LegalLine, they found it renewed their sense of com-mitment to the community and provided a convenient way to serve. “All of the attorneys at our firm believe that community service is a fundamental part of practicing law. The LegalLine program en-sures that our attorneys have the opportunity to help Houstonians, while addressing a wide range of legal issues,” says firm member Joel

C. Simon. “Because all of our attorneys volunteered for the program, we have a sense of pride in our firm’s commitment to our community. We look forward to continuing our efforts, and our participation in this valuable

program.” If you are interested in finding out more about your firm or legal department partici-pating in LegalLine, please call Lucy Fisher or Natasha Williams at 713-759-1133.

Joel C. Simon

Upcoming HBA/CLE SeminarsFriday, September 7, 2012 Don’t Get Caught with Your Pants Down in Tax Court

Thursday, September 13, 2012Will Review Checklist: A Practi-cal Guide for the Non-Specialist.25 hours ethics credit.

Friday, September 21, 2012Issues for Divorcing Parents with Special Needs Children Under the Texas Family Code and Texas Probate Code.25 hours ethics credit.

Thursday, October 4, 2012 Estate Planning and Property Ownership for Gay and Lesbian Clients.5 hours ethics credit.

Friday, October 5, 2012Small Claims Court: An Overview.5 hours ethics credit.

Friday, October 19, 2012U.S. Supreme Court Roundup for the 2012 Term

Friday, October 26, 2012Houston: A Hub for Human Traf-ficking

Friday seminars are held from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Harris County Jury Assembly Plaza, 1201 Congress St. Thursday seminars are held from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane. Seminars are free to HBA members only; mem-bers may purchase written materials from $5-$15. The cost for non-members is $50 per program, including written materials. Seminars are

approved for 1.5 hours of MCLE credit, including any ethics credit noted above. Registration at the door only. Please visit www.hba.org for the full seminar schedule.

12 September/October 2012 Houston Bar Bulletin

September:Fulbright & Jaworski

L.L.P.UH - Law Center

1010 LamarJones Day

440 LouisianaJPMorgan Chase -

DowntownChamberlain, HrdlickaSouth Texas College of

Law

The Williams Companies, Inc.

October:CenterPoint Energy:

CNP Tower1001 McKinney

COH: Municipal Courts Department

CBRE, Inc. - DowntownChase - Fannin

For more information on these and other blood drives in your area, as well as how you can give the gift of life by donating blood,

please visit the HBA website at www.hba.org

Blood Drives

Join your colleagues at noon at the HBA office for an hour-long CLE on various topics that are useful in today’s legal practice. Bring your lunch and participate in one of the

HBA’s newest CLE offerings! RSVP required. Visit www.hba.org/folder-CLE/learn.htm for RSVP details!

Lunch & Learn Series

2012 Lunch & Learn Presentations All presentations are 1.0 hour MCLE, including .25 hours ethics, unless other-wise noted. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch; pizza will

also be available for $5.

Wednesday, September 12“Supreme Court Update”

No ethics creditWilliam Peterson, Beck, Redden & Secrest, L.L.P.

Wednesday, October 10“Criminal Appointments: How Can I Get on the List?”Murray Newman, The Law Offices of Murray Newman

Wednesday, November 14“Effective Mediation Advocacy”

Barbara Radnofsky, Radnofsky Mediation Services

Wednesday, December 12“Criminal Law 101 – What Every Civil Lawyer Needs to

Know about Criminal Law”Cheryl H. Diggs, Diggs Law Firm

Need More Clients?Become a member of the Houston Lawyer Referral Service and get referrals.

Need to Refer a Client?Refer to the Houston Lawyer Referral Service

Helping the Houston metropolitan community to find quality legal representation in all areas of the law since 1958.

Call (713) 237-9429 or Visit www.hlrs.org

Co-sponsored by the Houston Bar Association.

HLRS is certified as a lawyer referral service as required by the State of Texas under Chapter 952, Occupations Code.

Additionally, HLRS is one of the select few programs that meet the standards established by the American Bar Association.