Newsmakers: Week of Feb. 10, 2020

Coats Rose, a transactional and litigation law firm focused on development, announces the promotions of two lawyers to director, S. Shannon Davis Hunter and F. Christopher Wootten, from the firm’s Houston and New Orleans office, respectively. Both Hunter and Wootten are in the firm’s affordable housing and community development practice, one of the largest legal practices in the country focused on the affordable housing industry. Hunter represents public housing authorities, housing developers (both for- and nonprofit), syndicators and investors with leveraging various products, including HOPE VI funds, low-income housing tax credits, private activity tax-exempt bonds, investment syndications and conventional loans, to finance their projects. Hunter joined the firm in 2012 after working at Arnold & Porter and Klein Hornig, both in the District of Columbia. She earned her Juris Doctor in 2006, cum laude, from Howard University School of Law, where she was a member of the Howard Law Journal, and a merit scholar (2004-2006). Hunter received her Bachelor of Science in 2003 from Texas A&M University.

Houston Firm Promotes New Shareholder

Derek C. Pershing was promoted to shareholder with the law firm of Wilson, Cribbs + Goren in Houston, effective Jan. 1. Pershing, who joined the firm after graduating from law school in 2013, assists clients with transactional matters involving the development, acquisition and disposition, leasing and financing of all types and classes of property. He received three board certifications from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization: in commercial real estate law, residential real estate law and farm and ranch real estate law. Pershing obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, summa cum laude, and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of St. Thomas, which awarded him both degrees in three years under what is usually a five-year program. He earned his doctor of jurisprudence, cum laude, from the South Texas College of Law Houston, where he currently serves as an adjunct professor teaching a real estate transactional skills course. Before attending college and law school, Pershing was a decorated combat medic in the U.S. Army from 2002-2006. During this period, he attended Army Airborne School, Army Air Assault School, obtained a private pilot license by the Federal Aviation Administration, and deployed to Afghanistan for over a year to provide emergency care to fellow soldiers, Afghan children and Afghan elders.

Dallas Firm Receives Honors From Trial Lawyers Group