Robert Ford, a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP (Photo: Courtesy Photo)

Attorney Joins Houston Firm's Litigation Practice as Partner 

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that Robert Ford has joined the firm's Houston office as a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. Ford represents plaintiffs and defendants and has handled all facets of trial as lead counsel in all manner of high-stakes civil matters. These include complex commercial litigation fiduciary disputes, business torts, personal injury suits, product liability claims, construction litigation, and legal malpractice actions. Licensed in Texas and Louisiana, Ford practices in state and federal courts throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast. He is a Fellow of the bar foundations of Texas, Houston and Louisiana; the Texas Bar College; and the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society of the Litigation Counsel of America. Prior to joining Bradley, he was a partner at Fogler, Brar, Ford, O'Neil & Gray LLP. Ford received his J.D. (with honors) from the University of Texas School of Law and his dual Bachelor of Arts (in philosophy and political science) from Loyola University New Orleans. 

 New Partner Elected in Dallas

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP announced that the firm has elected one new partner in the Dallas offices, effective January 1, 2020. Russell H. Falconer, in the firm's Litigation and Appellate practices, has extensive experience representing clients who operate in heavily regulated industries, including broker-dealers, airlines, electric utilities, investment firms, and pharmaceutical companies. He has played a substantial role in a wide range of high-stakes appeals, trials, and litigation. Falconer graduated in 2009 with highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, where he was the Grand Chancellor of his class and served as a member of the Texas Law Review. 

New Litigation Partner at Houston Firm

Pillsbury announced that it has promoted Tamara Bruno in the Litigation practice in Houston to partner, effective January 1, 2020. She advises policyholders in insurance recovery matters and is particularly active in cross-office matters involving directors and  officers and other professional liability insurance claims, as well as first- and third-party cyber insurance issues. She serves on the council for the Insurance Law Section of the Texas State Bar, on the board of the Houston Bar Association's Corporate Counsel Section and as a legal adviser to the Houston Chapter of the Risk and Insurance Management Society. 

Firm Elects New Partner in Houston

Shearman & Sterling has elected Ryan Bray to partnership, effective January 1, 2020. He is one of six counsel and two associates so recognized by the firm. Bray is a member of the firm's Tax practice in Houston, where he focuses on corporate and international tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, tax issues arising in connection with restructuring transactions and tax issues impacting emerging companies. He obtained his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and an LL.M. from the New York University School of Law. "I am delighted to welcome this group of outstanding lawyers to the firm's partnership. Their election recognizes their talent, versatility and unwavering dedication to our clients and the firm." said David Beveridge, Shearman & Sterling's Senior Partner, in a statement by the firm. 

New Partners, Counsel Elected

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has elected two new partners, effective January 1, 2020, in the firm's Texas offices (one each from Dallas and Houston). In addition, five of the firm's Texas-based attorneys (three from Dallas, two from Houston) have been elected as counsel, effective at the same time.

Vynessa M. Nemunaitis is an associate, elected partner effective Jan. 1, in Weil's Banking and Finance practice based in Dallas. She assists primarily on finance transactions, including acquisition financing, investment grade lending, leveraged lending and debt restructuring transactions. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Texas and in New York State. She received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School (2009) and her B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin (2006). 

Samuel Peca is an associate, elected partner effective January 1, 2020, in Weil's Corporate Department (Private Equity/M&A) and is based in Houston. He has extensive experience representing private equity firms, private and public companies, and management teams, primarily in energy and infrastructure related transactions. Peca has representing private equity firms in significant transactions a variety of other industries. Peca received his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin (2007) and his Juris Doctor from Washington University Law School in St. Louis (2011). He is admitted in the State of Texas.

Justin L.Constant's practice in Houston primarily focuses on patent litigation in a variety of areas including computer hardware and software (mobile and desktop), pharmaceuticals, business and finance methods and petrochemical processes. He received his B.S.E. from Cornell University (2006) and his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (2008). He is admitted to practice law in the Eastern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, the State of Texas and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Alex Farr is counsel in Weil's Tax Department and is based in Dallas. He  participates in the representation of firm clients with respect to the tax aspects of a wide range of corporate transactions. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Texas, He received his B.S. from Boston University (2008), his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law (magna cum laude, 2011), and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law (2012).

Melissa Hotze is counsel  with the firm's Patent Litigation practice in Houston. She has a background in electrical engineering and has represented clients nationwide in patent infringement cases involving a broad range of technologies, including computer software and hardware, networking, semiconductors, communication technologies, e-commerce, and oil and gas technologies. She is also involved in the firm's USPTO post-grant practice, including inter partes review and covered business method review proceedings. She received her B.A. and her B.S.E.E. from the University of Texas (2003) and her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin Law School ( 2006). 

Amanda Pennington Prugh is counsel in Weil's Litigation Department  in Dallas, where she focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, including claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices, unfair competition, misappropriation and theft of trade secrets, business fraud, and negligence in state, federal, and alternative dispute resolution tribunals. She received her J.D.  from the University of Oklahoma Law School (2012), and her B.A., with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin (2008). She is admitted to practice law in Eastern District of Texas, the Northern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, the State of Texas and the Western District of Texas.

Nathan White is counsel in Weil's Litigation Department in Dallas, where his practice focuses on various forms of complex commercial litigation, including antitrust, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, business fraud, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and False Claims Act matters in state, federal, and alternative dispute resolution tribunals. He earned his J.D. from Texas Tech Univ Law School (summa cum laude, 2012), and his B.S., magna cum laude, from Texas A&M University (2008). He is admitted to practice law in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, in the Southern District of Texas, the State of Texas, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and in the U.S. Supreme Court.