Phil Johnson, a justice on the Texas Supreme Court, has submitted his resignation from the high court. His term ends in December 2020. When Johnson's resignation becomes effective on Dec. 31, he will have served as a judge for 20 years, including 13 years on the Supreme Court and seven on the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo, where he first served as a justice and then as the chief justice. After graduating from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1975, Johnson joined the Lubbock firm of Crenshaw Dupree & Milam, where he became a partner.   Johnson was a decorated Air Force pilot and instructor prior to attending law school.

Paul Coggins, a Dallas partner in Locke Lord and co-chair of its white-collar criminal defense and investigations practice group, has been elected president-elect of the National Association of Former United States Attorneys. President Bill Clinton appointed Coggins as the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, a position he held from 1993-2001.

Larry Bowman, a director with Texas-based Kane Russell Coleman Logan, has been elected a Fellow with the American Bar Foundation. He has represented clients in large loss subrogation, insurance, construction and intellectual property matters and disputes for more than 30 years.

Peter Martyr, global chief executive of Norton Rose Fulbright, has joined the Catalyst CEO Champions for Change, making a personal pledge to accelerate gender equality and inclusion within the global firm.

New Positions

Mark Melton, a tax attorney, has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in the firm's Dallas office. Melton focuses his practice on federal income taxation issues related to domestic and international transactions of private equity and hedge funds, as well as other investment partnerships, joint ventures and operating businesses.

Stephanie Kaiser has joined the Austin office of Husch Blackwell as a partner.  A litigator, Kaiser is a member of the firm's financial services and capital markets industry team. She has handled an array of complex commercial litigation, matters involving bankruptcy and adversary proceedings, antitrust, intellectual property disputes and regulatory proceedings.

Paul Kellogg has joined McGlinchey Stafford in Houston as of counsel in the firm's consumer financial services compliance section. Kellogg focuses his practice on mortgage and commercial lending and motor vehicle finance with a variety of clients, including nonbank lenders, state and national banks and credit unions.

Awards

Daniel L. Butcher, a Dallas partner in Clark Hill Strasburger, and his firm have received the 2018 “Compass Award” presented by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. The award recognizes their support for and provision of career opportunities for diverse attorneys.

Mary Emma Karam, a Dallas partner in Jackson Walker, is the recipient of the Louise B. Raggio Award presented by the Dallas Women Lawyers Association in recognition of an individual who exhibits the utmost professionalism while aiding in the advancement of women attorneys.