Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added Bryce D. Linsenmayer as a corporate/M&A partner in the Houston office. He joins K&L Gates from Baker & Hostetler LLP. (more…)

www.klgates.com

The international law firm Orrick today announced seven additional partners in the firm’s new Houston office: Carlos Treistman, Bill Parish, Rodrigo Dominguez, Jonathan Ayre and Joe Roger all join from Morgan Lewis; and David Ronn, who will join the firm tomorrow, and Barbara de Marigny join from McGuireWoods. This team brings talent and depth in M&A, capital markets, tax, and energy and infrastructure transactions and projects, including substantial experience in cross-border transactions throughout Latin America. (more…)

www.orrick.com

The Dallas-based law firm Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP, has bolstered its corporate transaction and counseling services with the addition of former Fortune 500 general counsel David W. Black. (more…)

www.ccsb.com

Jackson Walker LLP is pleased to welcome attorney Brit Nelson. He joins the Houston office as a partner in the Intellectual Property group. (more…)

www.jw.com

The lawyers from Taube Summers Harrison Taylor Meinzer Brown, LLP, a preeminent
bankruptcy and civil litigation boutique firm in Austin, Texas, have joined Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP, a
leading provider of legal services to the healthcare, financial services, technology, retail and hospitality
industries. Thirteen trial attorneys with reputations for handling significant and complex litigation and
bankruptcy restructuring have joined Waller’s Austin office which the firm opened in 2012. Taube Summers is
recognized by Best Lawyers as a Tier One law firm in Texas with top‐tier rankings in Bankruptcy and Creditor
Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation ‐ Banking & Finance;
Litigation ‐ Bankruptcy; and Litigation ‐ Real Estate.
Handling large, complex litigation matters in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration disputes for clients
ranging from start‐ups and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies,  the lawyers from Taube Summers
represent clients in banking, insurance, real estate, securities, technology, energy, manufacturing, construction,
professional services, entertainment and other industries. The Taube Summers lawyers have significant
experience in real estate entitlement litigation, workouts, bankruptcy reorganization and litigation, as well as
partnership, trust and fiduciary litigation and employment matters.
“Joining forces with Taube Summers presents a very real competitive advantage for our clients and our law
firm,” said Waller chairman Matt Burnstein. “These are battle‐tested trial attorneys who have earned
reputations for getting results in high‐stakes and high‐pressure litigation.”
“It is a tremendous opportunity for us to align with Waller. Waller’s transactional and regulatory practices will
be great assets for our clients, and Waller’s litigation and restructuring teams add valuable depth and
experience for the litigation and bankruptcy cases we handle,” said Eric Taube. “With Waller we found a like‐
minded firm that shares our personal approach and commitment to client service and to being both advocates
for and  trusted advisors to our clients.”
“This is an example of our continued focus on having the best talent at every position,” Burnstein said. “We
aggressively recruit highly skilled veteran attorneys with proven experience as well as promising young attorneys
who will begin their careers at Waller. Our goal is to expand and enhance our team throughout the country, and
the lawyers joining us from Taube Summers are perfect matches for that strategy.”
Waller now has more than 225 attorneys in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala. and Austin. The 13
attorneys who joined Waller are:
Eric J. Taube – focuses on complex commercial and business litigation; bankruptcy restructuring and litigation;
securities litigation; real estate litigation; employment law; and fiduciary litigation. Taube earned his J.D., cum
laude, in 1983 from the University of Houston Law Center and his B.A. in 1979 from Vanderbilt University.
Before forming Taube Summers, Taube was a partner at Liddell Sapp in Austin and Houston.
Rick Harrison – focuses on complex commercial litigation; estate and trust litigation; intellectual property
disputes, professional malpractice cases; employment law; and general civil litigation. Harrison earned his J.D. in
1968 from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.B.A. in 1966 from the University of Texas at Austin.
Before joining Taube Summers, Harrison was a partner at Fritz, Byrne, Head & Harrison, LLP in Austin and also
served as the head of the litigation section in the Austin office of Jones Day.
Mark C. Taylor – focuses on bankruptcy, restructuring, creditors’ rights and collections; complex commercial
litigation and business torts; appellate law and general civil litigation. Taylor earned his J.D. in 1987 from the
University of Texas School of Law and his B.A. in 1984 from Rice University. Before joining Taube Summers,
Taylor practiced at Liddell Sapp.
B. Neal Meinzer – focuses on construction litigation; creditors’ rights and collections; complex commercial
litigation and business torts; and general civil litigation. Meinzer earned his J.D. in 1996 from St. Mary’s School of
Law and his B.A. in 1992 from the University of Texas at Austin.
Kevin Brown – focuses on complex commercial litigation and business torts; entertainment law and intellectual
property litigation; employment law; and general civil litigation; Brown earned his J.D. in 1998 from the
University of Texas School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, in 1995 from Northwestern University. Before joining
Taube Summers, Brown was an associate with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Pryor Cashman LLP and a
partner with Fritz, Byrne, Head & Harrison, LLP in Austin.
S. Alex King – focuses on complex commercial litigation and business torts; employment law; and general civil
litigation. King earned her J.D. in 2004 from Harvard Law School and her B.B.A, magna cum laude, in 2001 from
the University of Texas at El Paso. Before joining Taube Summers, King was a partner at Fritz, Byrne, Head &
Harrison, LLP in Austin and an associate with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in New York.
Paul Matula – focuses on commercial landlord and tenant disputes; construction litigation; creditors’ rights and
collections; employment law and general civil litigation; Matula earned his J.D. in 1990 from the University of
Texas School of Law and his Bachelor of Journalism degree in 1987 from the University of Texas at Austin. Before
joining Taube Summers, Matula served for nine years as Assistant Attorney General in the Texas Attorney
General’s Office.
Jamie McGonigal – focuses on complex commercial litigation and business torts; estate and trust litigation;
securities litigation; and general civil litigation. McGonigal earned her J.D., with honors, in 1998 from the
University of Texas School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, in 1995 from Texas Tech University.
Morris D. Weiss – focuses on bankruptcy; restructuring, and creditors’ rights and collections; and complex
commercial litigation and business torts. Weiss earned his J.D. in 1985 from South Texas College of Law and his
B.S. in 1981 from Babson College. Before joining Taube Summers, Weiss was Managing Director of Tejas
Securities Group, Inc., Senior Vice President and General Counsel of National Bancshares Corporation of Texas,
and a partner with Weil Gotshal and Manges LLP.

Christopher G. Bradley – focuses on complex commercial litigation and business torts; bankruptcy,
restructuring, creditors’ rights and collections; securities litigation; and appellate law. Bradley earned his J.D.,
magna cum laude, in 2007 and an LL.M. in International Legal Studies in 2008 from New York University School
of Law. He holds a Master’s degree (2003) and a Doctorate (2008) in English Literature from Oxford University.
Bradley earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in 2001 from Princeton University. Before joining Taube Summers,
Bradley was a Judicial Law Clerk in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of Texas and an associate
with Weil Gotshal and Manges LLP.
Cleveland R. Burke – focuses on complex commercial litigation and business torts; bankruptcy, restructuring,
creditors’ rights and collections; and appellate law. Burke earned his J.D., with high honors, in 2008 from the
University of Texas School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, in 2001 from Duke University. Before joining
Taube Summers, Burke was an associate with Thompson & Knight LLP.
Rola Daaboul – focuses on commercial landlord and tenant disputes; construction litigation; entertainment law;
intellectual property litigation; professional malpractice cases; and securities litigation. Daaboul earned her J.D.
in 2010 from South Texas College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. Before joining
Taube Summers, Daaboul practiced at Reed & Scardino LLP in Austin.
Andrew Preston Vickers – focuses on complex commercial litigation and business torts; and general civil
litigation. He earned his J.D. in 2012 from the University of Texas School of Law and his  B.A. in 2008 from the
University of Texas at Austin where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

www.wallerlaw.com

Paul Hastings LLP, a leading global law firm, announced today that Rick Burleson has joined the firm to head the Oil and Gas practice group out of the firm’s Houston office. He joins from Burleson LLP, an energy-focused firm which he founded and led. (more…)

www.paulhastings.com

The global law firm Dentons today named Houston Bar Association (HBA) president Laura Gibson as partner in the Firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. In this role she will head up the Houston Labor and Employment practice and work with clients involved in complex commercial disputes as well as arbitration pertaining to banking, energy, securities, copyright and communications law. (more…)

www.dentons.com

Patent litigators Mark C. Howland and Samuel E. Joyner have joined the Dallas-based law firm Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP, marking an expansion of the firm’s existing intellectual property practice. (more…)

www.ccsb.com

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that Anna Rotman has joined the Firm, where she will help build and grow the Houston office’s Litigation Practice Group. (more…)

www.kirkland.com

Mr. McKay joins Baker Donelson as a shareholder in the Houston office, where he concentrates on commercial, energy and real estate litigation with a particular focus on eminent domain and land use matters throughout the United States. He has extensive trial experience, having first-chaired numerous jury trial victories in addition to successful arbitration proceedings in multiple states. His eminent domain practice encompasses all aspects of condemnation law and right-of-way matters, including regulatory takings and inverse condemnation claims. (more…)

www.kinneyrecruiting.com

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP is pleased to announce that Partners Joyce Mazero and Leonard H. (Len) MacPhee will lead the Firm’s Global Supply Network Industry Team from its Dallas and new Denver offices. Ms. Mazero and Mr. MacPhee were most recently partners with Perkins Coie LLP, where they led its Supply Chain and Franchise & Distribution Practice Groups.

Ms. Mazero has significant experience as lead project partner, assisting clients in developing strategy, structuring, negotiating, implementing and resolving disputes for product and service-based domestic and international franchise, distribution, manufacturing and logistics businesses. Among her strengths are structuring and negotiating group purchasing cooperatives and arrangements for global contract manufacturing and sourcing, international franchise systems, special venue licensing, dedicated transportation and outsourced  logistics management.

“Joyce’s well-recognized international reputation as a strong advocate and trusted, strategic business advisor for her clients in the supply chain, food service, restaurant and retail industries reflects an important benchmark showcasing our commitment to ‘best in class’ legal services targeting these industries,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “The continued growth of our international trade and supply chain expertise is greatly enhanced with the addition of Joyce.”

Ms. Mazero has served on the boards of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, International Franchise Association, Women’s Foodservice Forum and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising. Ms. Mazero currently serves on the NRA’s Executive Supply Chain Advisory Council and as a trustee for the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at the University of North Texas. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Award, International Franchise Association Bonnie Levine Award and the Dallas Business Journal Women in Business Award. Ms. Mazero has consistently received the highest national ranking awarded by Chambers USA as one of the nation’s leading franchise attorneys, and she is recognized as a leading franchise attorney in Chambers Global, The Best Lawyers in America^©, U.S. News & World Report, International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers and Franchise Times. She is routinely named a Texas Super Lawyer and among D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas, in addition to serving as a member of Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles Hall of Fame.

Mr. MacPhee will be opening and managing the Firm’s new Denver office. He is well-known for his experience analyzing and advising clients on significant supply network matters, including pre-litigation work, structuring business strategies and negotiating contracts for the rollout, wind down and transition of product distribution networks across multiple supply chains. He frequently litigates business disputes and issues relating to supply network and distribution matters, as well as disputes involving contracts, business torts, trade secrets, trade dress, covenants not to compete, and enforcement of intellectual property rights before state and federal trial and appellate courts, including arbitration panels.

“Len brings a wealth of experience in supply chain and distribution matters, including franchise and commercial litigation,” says Ms. O’Neil. “Adding a well-established national practice with high-caliber Denver-based attorneys, led by Len, is the ideal way for Gardere to expand its footprint into Colorado, and we look forward to growing in that market.”

Mr. MacPhee is recognized as one of America’s leading franchise lawyers by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America^® and Colorado Super Lawyers. In 2014, he was named Franchise Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers^® Denver. Mr. MacPhee received his J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University. He serves on International Franchise Association committees for the IFA Legal Symposium and IFA Annual Convention, and as a host of Denver’s Franchise Business Network.

Joining Ms. Mazero and Mr. MacPhee are Partner Jess A. Dance and Associate Sarah A. Walters.

Mr. Dance focuses his practice on franchise, distribution and supply chain matters, as well as complex commercial litigation. He frequently represents clients in litigation and arbitration, and on a pre-litigation basis relating to supply network, distribution, trade secrets, trade dress, covenants not to compete, and enforcement of contract and trademark rights. He also advises clients in supply and distribution contract drafting and negotiation. Mr. Dance previously served as an assistant attorney general with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, representing state agencies in state and federal court in a variety of constitutional cases. He graduated with honors from the Georgetown University Law Center and has been recognized as a Colorado Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Mr. Dance has authored multiple articles for Law 360 and the International Law Office’s Franchising Newsletter – USA, and has presented at the IFA Legal Symposium and Denver Franchise Business Network events. In 2012, he was co-recipient of the Colorado Lawyer Committee’s “Team of the Year” award for his work on a pro bono case involving public school funding.

Ms. Walters focuses her practice on supply chain, franchise, distribution and logistics matters, counseling and coordinating projects for national and global clients for transactional, regulatory, governance and dispute resolution projects. This includes negotiation of a wide range of franchise and supply chain contracts on a domestic and international basis. Ms. Walters served as general counsel for a national franchisor, where she was responsible for the company’s franchise transactions, regulatory and corporate governance matters, and supply and distribution transactions. She is the host of Dallas’ Franchise Business Network and served as chair of the Dallas Bar Association Franchise Law Section in 2015.

www.gardere.com

The global law firm Jones Day has announced that William H. Sultemeier has joined the Houston Office as a partner in the Energy Practice. With over 20 years of large law firm, general counsel, and transactions management experience, Mr. Sultemeier counsels clients on deal structuring and execution, regulatory trends and compliance, and board of director duties and strategies to improve and advance business goals. (more…)

www.jonesday.com