David Calvillo. Photo: DIVA PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Houston Attorney Appointed to ABOTA Chapter

David Calvillo, senior counsel in the Houston and San Antonio offices of Chamberlain Hrdlicka, has been invited into the Houston chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Calvillo was formally welcomed into the Houston chapter during its annual Dinner and New Member Induction on Oct. 26 at the Briar Club in Houston. ABOTA is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As a board-certified civil trial lawyer, professional neutral, certified public accountant and certified valuation analyst, Calvillo brings a variety of skill sets and focused passion to his practice. He has successfully tried, litigated and arbitrated matters in diverse practice areas, including breach of contract, business separation, commercial liability, construction, shareholder rights, professional malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death, employment, debt collection, and intellectual property matters. Calvillo received a bachelor's degree in accounting from The University of Texas–Pan American and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He is currently enrolled in the executive LL.M. tax program at Georgetown University Law Center with an anticipated graduation date in 2019.

Energy and Technology Firm Elects New Partners

Baker Botts, a leading international energy and technology law firm, has elevated several Texas attorneys to partner at the firm, as of Jan.1, 2020. Kristin Cope, litigation, Dallas, is a recognized first-chair trial lawyer and business litigator in the technology, energy and financial services sectors. She was one of the three trial lawyers in one of the largest trade secrets cases in Texas history, and she is known for her significant experience in trade secret disputes. Following graduation from law school, Cope served as a law clerk to Judge David W. McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She has been appointed by the Sixth Circuit to represent pro bono clients and successfully argued for habeas relief for a client in 2018 in the Sixth Circuit. Stephen Fitzgerald, litigation, Dallas, is a nationally known environmental lawyer who advises clients on a wide variety of environmental matters. He is frequently called upon to use his considerable in-house experience and technical background to provide practical guidance to clients navigating complex environmental issues. Fitzgerald provided onsite representation to clients that were the genesis of the Superfund program. John Kaercher, corporate, Austin, is a member of the firm's technology and energy M&A teams and represents clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures. Richard Ramirez, tax, Houston, handles all aspects of estate planning and estate administration for high-net-worth individuals, representation of fiduciaries and beneficiaries in estate and trust administration, and representation of charities. Ramirez was a 2015 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow. Brett Thompsen, intellectual property, Austin, works on a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patent post-grant trials, patent litigation and patent prosecution. He has experience in electrical engineering and analog/mixed-signal circuit design. He has argued at multiple inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. He has also been part of multiple patent infringement lawsuits relating to analog/mixed-signal circuitry, power-management technology and telecommunications. Thompsen served as a judicial clerk to Judge Timothy B. Dyk of the Federal Circuit. Prior to law school, he worked for seven years as an analog/mixed-signal circuit designer at Motorola and Texas Instruments. He was the lead design engineer on multiple projects at Texas Instruments and is an inventor on seven issued patents.

Attorney Joins Energy Practice at Houston Firm as Partner

Kirkland & Ellis announced Nov. 18 that corporate lawyer Debbie Yee has joined the firm's Houston office as a partner. Yee primarily advises public and private companies in the energy industry on strategic acquisitions and divestitures, as well as on capital-raising transactions and corporate governance matters. She joins Kirkland from Latham & Watkins, where she was a partner in the Houston office. Yee earned degrees from New York Law School and New York University. "Debbie is a rising star in the energy deal market and we are excited to have her join our thriving practice," said Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of Kirkland's global management executive committee, in a statement by the firm. "Her substantial experience with strategic M&A and capital markets matters will benefit our clients and further extend our market leading team in Texas."

Dallas Attorney Receives Professionalism Award

Frank Stevenson, a partner in Locke Lord's Dallas office and past president of both the State Bar of Texas and Dallas Bar Association (DBA), was honored with the 2019 Morris Harrell Professionalism Award, presented by the Dallas Bar Association and the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, during the DBA's Awards Luncheon held Nov. 15 at the Belo Mansion in Dallas. Stevenson, who has been with Locke Lord throughout his nearly 40-year legal career, is well known for his unwavering advocacy of pro bono services. He has been honored by legal-aid providers and received presidential citations from the State and Dallas bars. He has also founded and co-founded award-winning programs to mentor beginning lawyers, diversify the profession and expand legal access. Stevenson received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. from Amherst College. The Morris Harrell Professionalism Award, titled in memory of a widely revered former president of both the State Bar and the American Bar Association who also was a named partner of Locke Lord's legacy firm in Dallas, honors annually "the attorney who best exemplifies, by their conduct and character, truly professional traits who others seek to emulate and all in the bar admire," according to a statement by the DBA.

Real Estate Counsel Joins Dallas Firm

Jenn Cooley, a commercial real estate and business transactions attorney, has rejoined Vinson & Elkins as a counsel in the firm's Dallas office. Cooley's practice focuses on real estate and general business transactions, including commercial leasing and property acquisitions and dispositions. She has experience drafting, negotiating, reviewing, amending and interpreting complex commercial contracts, including leases, licenses, agreements and purchase contracts. Cooley started her legal career as an associate at the firm in 2005 and rose to counsel. She then joined Tekin & Associates, where she was a senior counsel responsible for all legal aspects of the development process for retail and multifamily projects, including site acquisition, funding, leasing and disposition. 

New Associate Joins Houston Firm

Richard Preston has joined Winstead PC as an association in the firm's Houston office. He is a member of Winstead's business litigation practice group and specializes in disputes involving eminent domain/condemnation. He previously served as an assistant attorney general in the Transportation Division of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. There, he condemned property for the development of various highway projects throughout the state of Texas. In addition to statutory condemnation, he has handled matters regarding inverse condemnation as well as sovereign immunity. Preston has also represented private property owners in condemnation disputes. He received his J.D. from University of Miami School of Law in 2013.