Lisa L. Pittman Of Counsel with Coats Rose. Courtesy photos

Houston Attorney Appointed to Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy on Drugs

Lisa Pittman, of counsel at Coats Rose. who focuses on medical marijuana, cannabis and hemp law, has been appointed as a Nonresident Fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy as a part of the Drug Policy Program. Pittman, who is based in Austin, serves as co-chair of the firm's Cannabis Business Law practice. In this two-year fellowship, Pittman will focus on legal issues regarding medical marijuana and the hemp industry. "Moved by the testimony of mothers with children with epilepsy in support of the Texas Compassionate Use Act, I began to learn more about cannabis as medicine in 2014, leading to my practicing law in this emerging industry, which included moving to Colorado for two years to learn the issues," said Pittman, in a statement by the firm. "I am deeply honored and privileged to have received this prestigious appointment five years later from one of the most respected Universities in the country, which demonstrates how far this movement has come," Pittman continued. "With the support of the Baker Institute, I will be able to continue my pursuit of cannabis policy reform in Texas, which will benefit our clients and all Texans." 

Pittman has 20 years' experience in litigating and trying disputes relating to labor and employment, breach of contract, commercial banking, fraud, fiduciary duty, construction defect and injury, deceptive trade practices, premises liability, professional liability, and products liability, as well as in complex commercial insurance coverage matters. She advises clients on the many challenges facing cannabis and hemp businesses, such as tax, banking, insurance, and regulatory compliance issues. Her efforts spurred the American Bar Association to form a Cannabis Law & Policy Task Force, on which she served as a founding Steering Committee member, and she also serves as the chair of publications and programming on the recently formed standing Cannabis Law and Policy Committee, for which she is chair-elect. After working in the 2019 legislative session toward the passage of a hemp law in Texas, in January 2020, Pittman was appointed to the Texas Department of Agriculture's Industrial Hemp Advisory Council.

Global Law Firm Names Two to Partner in Texas

The partners of global law firm K&L Gates have voted to elect the following lawyers as new partners of the firm, effective March 1.

Jonathan Vance is a new finance partner in the firm's Dallas office. He concentrates on the representation of agents and lenders in connection with syndicated and single lender asset-based lending and oil and gas transactions, and assists clients in connection with the analysis and preparation of derivatives documentation.

Edmundo de la Fuente has been named a partner in Houston, where he represents international energy clients on the development, construction, and financing of energy and infrastructure projects, and the trading of commodities, as well as on joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures. He also advises developers and investors on real estate acquisitions and dispositions, lease negotiations, easement and right of way negotiations, and project financing.

"We are excited about the firm's future with such an outstanding group of quality lawyers and people helping lead the charge," said Jim Segerdahl, K&L Gates' global managing partner, in a statement by the firm. "We are proud to have them as partners."

National Firm Elevates Attorney to Partner in Dallas Office

Fox Rothschild recently elevated Lee Szor to partner based in the firm's Dallas office. His practice centers on the resolution of complex commercial matters and employment disputes, including single plaintiff and class-action cases involving wage and hour issues and employee/independent contractor misclassification, as well as claims of discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, disability accommodation and wrongful termination.

Austin Elevates Attorney to Partner, the Youngest in Firm

Slack Davis Sanger, an international personal injury and aviation law firm, has promoted John R. Davis to partner. Based in the Austin office, Davis leads the firm's class-action and whistle-blower litigation practice areas, with a particular emphasis on consumer fraud, health-care fraud, antitrust, environmental and insurance matters. Davis is the youngest attorney to be elected partner in the firm's 27-year history.

"I am thrilled to be promoted to partner after only four years with the firm," said Davis in a statement. "My area of expertise coupled with the firm's outstanding reputation and track record has provided me an incredible opportunity to grow the class-action and whistleblower practice. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to contributing to the firm's continued success."

"John has established himself as a formidable litigator, handling high-profile class action and whistleblower matters," said managing partner Mike Slack, in a statement by the firm. "His relentless pursuit of justice for our clients make him deserving of this promotion, and we're excited to see him continue to grow the class-action and whistleblower practice at the firm."

Davis began his career as a judicial law clerk for two federal district court judges in the U.S. District Court. He earned his B.A. from Trinity College and his J.D. from Boston College Law School. Since joining the firm in 2016, Davis has spearheaded many notable cases, such as Grigson, et al. v. Farmers Group, Inc., where he played a leading role as court-appointed Class Counsel representing with co-counsel almost 800,000 auto insurance policyholders who were allegedly discriminated against by the company. The Court recently granted preliminary approval for a $52 million settlement for the class, one of the largest settlements of its kind for a single state and one based on a novel theory of liability.

Prior to joining Slack Davis Sanger, Davis focused his practice on pharmaceutical antitrust class actions, RICO class actions and environmental natural resource damages litigation at the New Orleans environmental and class-action boutique law firm, Kanner & Whiteley, L.L.C.

Fort Worth Partner Admitted to International Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel

Ryan Valdez, a partner with Cantey Hanger in Fort Worth, has been accepted as a member of the international Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. "I am honored and humbled to join such an esteemed professional trade association made up of peer-reviewed, premier defense and corporate counsel industry executives," Valdez said in a statement. "I look forward to honing my litigation and leadership skills through the FDCC's unparalleled programs, knowledge sharing and active collaboration among its membership." 

The Federation was founded during the 1930s as an international defense organization dedicated to the principles of knowledge, justice and fellowship. It is a professional trade association dedicated to leading the profession by, according to a statement, "advancing the principles of integrity, professionalism, fair civil justice, intellectual capital and fostering the trust and value of fellowship…to advance and sustain an equitable civil justice system now, and for future generations…" It is an "inspired community of vetted defense counsel (and) exceptional leaders." 

Valdez is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer representing Fortune 500 companies, locally-owned and regional businesses, and individuals in complex commercial disputes. His practice focuses on matters involving insurance coverage and bad faith, fraud, breach of contract, restrictive covenant enforcement, homeowners associations, employment practices and discrimination, products liability, and negligence. Valdez received his Bachelor's of Science (Advertising) from The University of Texas and his J.D. in 2002 from Tulane University School of Law.