Jillian Loh. Courtesy photo

New Associate Joins Dallas Office

Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli continued its growth trajectory in Dallas with the addition of associate Jillian Loh, who joins the firm's national real estate finance practice. Her practice focuses on the representation of financial institutions in the financing of multi-family properties, shopping centers, office buildings, condominiums, mixed-use projects and other types of real estate. Working closely with the attorneys in Polsinelli's real estate department, she reviews and negotiates contractual terms involved in real estate financing and commercial lending deals. Loh obtained a J.D. from Texas A&M University School of Law and earned induction into the National Order of Scribes. She previously completed her M.B.A. and her B.S. at The University of Texas at Dallas. Before attending law school, Loh gained first-hand knowledge of the real estate industry by starting and operating her own real estate management company for several years. Currently, she stays actively involved in the North Texas community as a member of the Dallas Bar Association, the Dallas Young Lawyers Association, the Dallas Asian American Bar Association and the Southwest Association of Bank Counsel. "The addition of Jillian to Polsinelli's dynamically growing Dallas team further deepens our bench of talented legal professionals," said Brian Bullard, managing partner of Polsinelli's Dallas office and co-chair of the firm's investment funds practice, in a statement by the firm. "Jillian's understanding of the Texas real estate market and her connections across the region will serve to enhance our office's ongoing engagement efforts in the business and civic community."

Houston Firm Welcomes 2 New Associates

Adams and Reese announced that Jeryn R.C. Roberts and Craig Valenta have joined the firm's Houston office as associates.

In her litigation practice, Roberts represents clients in employment, commercial litigation, oil and gas litigation, and personal injury matters. In the labor and employment realm, she drafts employment policies, termination agreements and employment agreements. She works proactively with organizations to help them anticipate and prevent common employment-related pitfalls. Prior to joining Adams and Reese, Roberts practiced law in Midland, Texas. Following law school, she served as a briefing attorney for the U.S. Magistrate Judge D. Gordon Bryant Jr. of the Northern District of Texas. She also served as an extern for Justice Eva Guzman of the Supreme Court of Texas. Roberts received her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2017, and her B.A. in music from Texas State University in 2014.

Valenta is a transactional attorney whose real estate practice focuses on helping clients navigate commercial and residential real estate transactions. He guides clients through every step of a transaction, including purchase and sale agreements, title examinations and landlord-tenant lease agreements. Valenta's corporate practice includes representing private business entities in corporate governance matters, providing guidance on issues including formation, mergers and acquisitions, reorganization and internal governance. Valenta received his J.D. from the South Texas College of Law in 2017, and his B.A. in government and political science in 2014 from the University of Texas at Austin.

Austin Lawyer Selected as SBOT Board Chair-Elect

John Charles "Charlie" Ginn has been selected chair-elect of the State Bar of Texas board of directors during the board's first virtual meeting held April 17. Ginn will take office in June and will serve as chair until June 2021. Ginn is a personal injury attorney at The McGraw Law Group in McKinney. He has served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors since 2018. He served on the board's Executive Committee from 2018 to 2020 and has been a board adviser to the Jury Service Committee and Laws Relating to Immigration and Nationality Committee of the SBOT, as well as the Animal Law Section and General Practice Section. Ginn is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, and is serving a term on the Texas Trial Lawyers Board of Advocates (2018 to 2021). In 2019, he was awarded the Reich Chandler Outstanding Advocate Award by the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Business Attorney Joins Houston Firm as Of Counsel

Warren Hoffman has joined Wilson Cribbs + Goren in Houston as of counsel. Hoffman is a business attorney and CPA with more than 40 years of experience in commercial transactions. His practice involves a wide range of corporate, venture capital, merger/acquisition transactions, entity structuring and financing arrangements with a focus on the acquisition, development and divestiture of complex commercial projects. Hoffman was previously with Clark Hill Strasburger in San Antonio.

Real Estate Attorney Joins Dallas Firm as Partner

Attorney Jared W. Hays has joined Bell Nunnally as a partner and member of its real estate practice area. He comes to the firm after two years managing and practicing at the Law Office of Jared W. Hays P.C., preceded by more than 10 years at Stutzman, Bromberg, Esserman & Plifka in Dallas. Hays represents clients in complex commercial real estate transactions throughout the United States and internationally, and has experience with deals involving data center and co-location properties, including purchases, sales, leases, co-location licenses, co-location services and carrier agreements.  Hays is a graduate of Texas Tech University (J.D., 2006; M.B.A., 2006) and Wake Forest University (B.S., 2002). "Joining Bell Nunnally allows me to provide comprehensive legal services to my clients, regardless of the nature or scope of the issues they are facing. I am excited to practice with a team that is as committed as I am to helping our clients succeed," said Hays, in a statement by the firm.

Dallas Office Welcomes Financial Services Litigation Partner

Polsinelli has expanded its financial services litigation capabilities across the nation, adding four new shareholders and one counsel, located in five of the firm's offices coast-to-coast. In Texas, Polsinelli added Marc D. Cabrera to the Dallas office as a shareholder and as a member of Polsinelli's national financial services litigation practice. Cabrera is an experienced litigator and focuses his practice on the representation of banks, lenders, servicers, investors and other financial institutions in a high-volume docket of complex business-related and financial services litigation. Cabrera's litigation experience ranges from claims for wrongful foreclosure, breach of contract, constitutional violations, torts and violations of unfair and deceptive acts, and practices statutes to assignment and securitization challenges, homeowner association foreclosures, national mortgage settlement and consent judgment violations and expiration of statute of limitations to foreclose allegations. He has experience in cases arising under various federal statutes and regulations, including TILA, RESPA, SCRA, FDCPA and FCRA. Cabrera is a fellows alumnus of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, a member of the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association and a barrister in the Patrick E. Higginbotham American Inn of Court. Cabrera received a B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in Dallas.