Michael D. Pegues, a shareholder in the Dallas office of Polsinelli and vice chair of the firm's intellectual property technology litigation practice, has received the 2018 “Trailblazer of the Year Award” from the Texas Minority Counsel Program. The award recognizes Pegues' strong commitment to supporting and advancing the legal careers of people in traditionally underrepresented groups.

Hunton Andrews Kurth has been named Dallas Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. The firm's attorneys, paralegals and other staff donated almost 4,000 hours to pro bono programs in the Dallas community. Fawaz Bham, an associate with Hunton Andrews Kurth, was recognized as “One of DVAP's Finest” and Louis M. Stahl, another associate with the firm, was named “Outstanding Clinic Volunteer” for his leadership and service to DVAP's Veterans Clinic.

New Positions

Jenny Martinez, a trial attorney, has joined Munck Wilson Mandala in Dallas as a partner. Martinez previously was a named partner in Godwin Bowman & Martinez and worked on complex commercial litigation matters.

Jennifer Brooks Crozier, Shanna Dean and Meagan McKeown have joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges as associates in Dallas. Crozier is in the firm's litigation department. Dean and McKeown are in its corporate department.

New lawyers that Baker Botts has welcomed to its Texas offices include, in Houston: Ahmed Alrikhaimi, Branden Lankford, Casey Polivka and Christopher Tutunjian, global projects; Jack Chadderdon, Samantha Chestney, Catherine Ellis and Parker Hinman, corporate; Domonick Constantino, Juliann Krolick and Jane Wilde Zilkha, tax; Elizabeth Furlow, Shayna Goldblatt, Caroline Gorman, Alex Hernandez, Anthony Lucisano, Kristina Vu and Margaret Wittenmyer, litigation; Louis Liao, intellectual property. New lawyers welcomed in the firm's Dallas office include: Marcus Brakefield, Cason Cole, Frances Mackay and Casey Shomaker, intellectual property; Kevin Chiu and Taylor Courtade, corporate; Jamie Drillette, Bobboy Graves and Jace Yarbrough, litigation; Xue Rui, tax. New lawyers welcome in the Austin office include: Brian Garrott, corporate; Delaney McMullan and Joshua Morrow, litigation; Clark Oberembt, Alexander Piala, Emily Pyclik (McBiles) and Christopher Ratway, intellectual property.

Benjamin Adelson, whose practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions/private equity, is a new partner in Kirkland & Ellis in Dallas. The firm's new partners in Houston include Ryan J. Copeland and Chad Nichols, debt finance; John D. Furlow, Chris Heasley and Kyle M. Watson, M&A/ private equity; Laura M. Stake, investment funds; and Sarah E. Williams, litigation.

Janet A. Hendrick has joined the Dallas office of Phillips Murrah as a director. She is an employment attorney who represents employers in several capacities, including proactively counseling clients on best employment practices and compliance and handling audits.

Appointed

Elise J. Selinger, an associate in the Dallas office of Patterson + Sheridan, has been named to a three-year term on the State Board of Texas Intellectual Property Section Council.