Jonathan Novak, a former U.S. Department of Justice litigator, has joined Dallas-based Fears Nachawati as an associate. Novak has experience with opioid litigation and civil litigation, with a focus on construction law, contract disputes, title insurance defense, administrative law and regulatory compliance, as well as legal consultation with law enforcement agencies.  He took part in a high-profile investigation detailing how opioid distributors works with a handful of lawmakers to push through a law that effectively that made it all but impossible for the Drug Enforcement Agency to freeze suspicious narcotic shipments from large drug companies. His work was featured on “60 Minutes” and in The Washington Post.

New Positions

Stephen Barrick has been promoted to partner in Houston-based Hicks Thomas. Barrick concentrates his practice on civil appeals in state and federal courts. The substantive area of his appellate practice includes contracts, oil and gas, intellectual property, insurance coverage and catastrophic personal injuries.

Chris Bennett, Nick S. Dhesi and Bryant P. Lee have been promoted to the position of partner in the Houston office of Latham & Watkins, effective Jan. 1, 2019. Bennett and Dhesi are in the firm's corporate department. Lee is a member of its tax department.

John B. Gessner has joined the Dallas office of Fox Rothschild as a partner in the firm's corporate department. Gessner handles risk management, corporate and regulatory compliance and real estate matters for franchisers. He previously served as general counsel and corporate secretary for Front Burner Restaurants.

Stephanie Dooley Nelson has joined the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight as counsel in the firm's trial practice group.  Nelson focuses her practice on appellate law and litigation.

Betty Q. Richmond, Melissa G. Vest and Jackie S. Wilhite have joined the Houston office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz as associates. Richmond concentrates her practice in the areas of construction and energy, primarily oil and gas-related matters. Vest's practice focuses on commercial disputes, insurance defense and consumer finance-related litigation. Wilhite assists clients with complex business litigation, bankruptcy and health care litigation matters.

Honors

Jarvis V. Hollingsworth, a Houston partner in Bracewell, has been named to the 2018 EBONY Power 100 List in recognition of his accomplishments and commitment to the African-American community. He has a fiduciary and corporate governance practice and chairs Bracewell's public/education law practice group.

Huyen Pham, a Texas A&M University School of Law professor, has been selected for the Eminent Scholar Award by Texas A&M University and the Women Former Students' Network.

Appointed

Cathy Altman, a partner in the Dallas office of Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, has been appointed to the Trinity River Authority board of directors by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Altman chairs Carrington Coleman's construction group.