< PreviousChris Lewis & Associates, P.C. Rosewood Court 2101 Cedar Springs Road, Suite 1900 Dallas, TX 75201 (214) 665-6930 www.LewisDefense.com PRACTICE AREAS Criminal Defense White-Collar Crimes EDUCATION Juris Doctor, Criminal Law Concentration, Baylor Law School, 1997 Bachelor of Arts, Government and Psychology, Evangel University, 1994 HONORS AND AWARDS AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell 10.0 Superb Rating, AVVO Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense: General Practice; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; and DUI/DWI Defense, 2019, 2020 Texas Super Lawyer, Criminal Defense, Texas Monthly, 2013- 2020 Best Lawyers in Dallas, Criminal Defense, D Magazine, 2009- 2019 The Million Dollar Advocates Forum The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Top Rated Lawyer, Criminal Defense, ALM, 2012-2013 Top Attorneys, Criminal Defense, Fort Worth, Texas Magazine, 2009, 2010 Rising Star, Criminal Defense, Texas Monthly, 2005, 2008- 2012 Best Lawyers in Dallas Under 40, Criminal Defense, D Magazine, 2004, 2006 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS State Bar of Texas American Bar Association American Association for Justice Federal Bar Association Baylor Law Alumni Association, Lifetime Member Texas Trial Lawyers’ Association Dallas Trial Lawyers’ Association National College of DUI Attorneys National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Association Dallas Bar Association Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation, Life Fellow Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Board of Directors, 2004-2006 DAYL Leadership Class Lewis, a former college football player, en- joys remaining involved in a variety of com- petitive sports. He currently plays on what he playfully describes as a “highly dominant Dad’s softball team” in Lakewood. Lewis has also spent the past several sea- sons coaching his son’s youth baseball teams and especially loves to see the growth the boys experience from season to season in their ability, confidence and sportsmanship. “I’ve always believed that team sports are a micro- cosm of life and a valuable platform to teach kids some of the most important lessons and principles that they will be able to use for the rest of their lives. And, I truly hope that I’m doing a good job of using that platform to teach those things.” Family, however, is his true passion. “That’s been a big challenge - to balance a successful professional practice where there are clients who constantly need me to be present and in- volved while also attempting to be present and involved at home with my family. I don’t know that I always do a great job with the balance, but that’s what I strive to do. I’ve discovered that being a good parent and being a good family man makes me a better lawyer. And, being a dedicated lawyer makes me a better man with my family. And that is your basic win/win scenario,” he says. At a Glance HA TLEY S TUDIO SWe have worked hard over the years to become a must-read local print and online publication nationwide. The inclusion of Attorney at Law Magazine on SimpleLegal’s list is an encouraging sign that we are on the right track. We’d like to thank our readers and advertisers for their continued support of our magazine. -Executive Publisher, Patty-Joan "PJ" Hines Visit AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com/Dallas for more news, insights and interviews. Subscribe to AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com/Subscribe for FREE to AALM/Dallas online magazine. Contact me at pjhines@attorneyatlawmagazine.com today to learn how you can become more involved. It’s no secret: for any organization, smart market- ing finds creative ways to deliver the right mes- sage to the right people in the right way. For law firms in particular, clear, cohesive marketing initiatives can significantly increase awareness and understanding of a firm’s practices and profession- als and expand their book of business. For current and potential clients, accurate, truthful, and trans- parent advertising communications can help them make more informed choices regarding their legal services providers. So why doesn’t this happen more often? In many states, the arcane state bar rules that continue to govern law firm communications act as barriers to all of these outcomes. Fear of noncompliance need- lessly restricts opportunities for law firms and — perhaps most egregiously — prevents vulnerable and underserved individuals and groups from gain- ing access to much-needed legal services. The solution lies in state-by-state adoption of the most up-to-date ABA Model Rules that govern how attorneys and their firms market and advertise their services. For several years, the Legal Marketing As- sociation (LMA) has supported the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL), which worked alongside the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility to shape and bring these updated rules to fruition. We are now encouraging you to contact your state bar delegate and express your opinion on adoption of these new guidelines. NEW RULES ACKNOWLEDGE NEW REALITIES New technologies, expanding social media, and targeted advertising have permanently changed modern communications. Advertisements that may once have had limited geographical reach can today be seen by almost anyone, anywhere in the world. Now more than ever, even the most sophisticated and savvy consumers depend on law firms to deliver outreach that is truthful, transparent and — most of all — informative. The new ABA Model Rules do just that. Nearly two years ago, the ABA passed new rules (7.1-7.3, formerly 7.1-7.5) that address marketing and advertising issues in today’s business climate. These updates include guidance for communicat- ing with clients or prospects across state lines, use of social media for marketing purposes, and how client results are publicized. Without question, the new rules ensure attorneys do not mislead or over- promise results to their clients. They also set param- eters around truthfulness in client communications and advertising. Most important, they recognize the new realities of today’s messaging platforms. CLEAR BENEFITS TO FIRMS, LAWYERS AND CLIENTS The new ABA rules give every law firm and lawyer an opportunity to showcase their offerings particu- larly in the face of increasing (in variety and com- plexity) communications channels. They promote consistency, reliability, and clarity from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and minimize confusion regarding the types of services they provide, how they provide them, and who can benefit. Today, for example, more firms and lawyers rely on social media and streaming video to share news and information about their cultures, practice offer- ings, and community-service activities. For poten- tial clients, social media is easy to access and moni- tor. However, the old rules simply cannot accom- modate the intricacies and nuances of this format, and self- or firm-created “standards” can lead to inconsistency, inaccuracy, or a lack of clarity across the legal industry. Whether a firm is exploring or actively using web- sites, blogs, professional directories, client alerts, ar- ticles written for news outlets and industry organiza- tions, and other platforms to reach potential clients, the new rules provide clear guidance and standards. And with the elimination of the once-requisite “At- torney Advertising” label — which can prevent or stifle communications that might otherwise provide greater access to legal services — firms can make connections with and better inform individuals and groups who in the past may have had limited aware- ness of the resources available to them. For the legal marketers in your firm, adoption of the new rules means communications can be more direct, consistent and cost-effective. Every firm will know – without question – what is permissible, what is not allowed, and what is standard operating procedure. Finally, the new rules recognize that the legal marketing landscape will continue to evolve along with ongoing technological, business, and econom- ic developments. Clarity and consistency do not equal calcification; instead, as new platforms are developed, law firms will have the necessary guid- ance to make effective decisions about tomorrow’s advertising practices. PLEASE ACT NOW Your help is needed to make needed change in your state. While legal advocacy groups such as APRL and the LMA can help explain and promote the benefits of adopting the new ABA Model Rules, individual lawyers and firm leaders can help to ad- vance the adoption of the rules by contacting their state bar delegates to voice their support. A simple phone call can go a long way. Once state adoption is complete, the rules will assist and protect everyone, including clients and lawyers alike. We urge you to contact your state bar delegate and express your opinion on adoption of Rules 7.1 – 7.3. KIM A. PERRET IS CMO OF JONES WALKER LLP AND THE CO-CHAIR OF THE LMA ETHICS & ADVERTISING WORKING GROUP. NANCY MYRLAND IS PRESIDENT OF MYRLAND MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE CO-CHAIR OF THE LEGAL MARKETING ASSOCIATION’S ETHICS & ADVERTIS- ING WORKING GROUP. SHE IS ALSO THE FORMER CO- CHAIR OF THE LMA’S SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA SIG. Su pp or t fo r N ew A BA M od el R ul es 7.1-7.3 C an S pu r Su cc es s B Y KIM A. PERRET AND NANC Y MYRLAND ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · DALLAS· VOL. 7 NO. 1 22Top 10 - Forbes Best Banks Western Alliance Bank specializes in banking for law firms and settlement administrators. We bring you years of expertise in supporting all phases of the settlement process from escrow through distribution with a single point of contact. Our committed team offers a highly personalized and transparent banking experience with a focus on exceptional service, honesty, integrity, flexibility and responsiveness. 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Settlement Services Group Western Alliance Bank (833) 854-2705 settlementservices@westernalliancebank.comNow that the year is in full swing, and the 2020 optical jokes are for the most part finished, it’s time to really consider how you want your practice to look like this year. I encourage my cli- ents to use the beginning of the year as an opportunity to assess their practice and implement a timeline for changes. Once you get into the routine of completing a yearly review, you have memorialized your changes as your practice continues to transform and evolve. I com- plete this process with my consulting clients as well as in my personal life, especially with finances. For law clients, I call this process REMAP — Receivables, Expenses, Marketing, Audits, People — and if you set aside some time to think about these functions, you may re-map your path to financial success. RECEIVABLES Almost without exception, my legal clients suffer as a result of a sig- nificant number of uncollected accounts on a monthly basis. When the procedures are not in place to manage client accounts each month, practices stand to lose tens of thousands of dollars each year. As one of the more complex and time-consuming tasks, and because high hour- ly rates can cover for lost revenue, solo and small firm owners are often complacent about collections and receivables. Those of us hard-wired from a business perspective shutter at the thought of the loss of control and therefore, the loss of revenue. I don’t like leaving money on the table, so accounts receivable management has always been a priority and favorite to fix for clients. It has been my experience that lawyers have a threshold of accep- tance for receivables far above what managers and consultants like to see, or would allow if they were solely in charge. The procedures to minimize your monthly need to collect from clients centers around a team approach. With my clients, I need the entire team to buy in so that the systems will not fail. Be honest as you evaluate your receiv- ables; you are only hurting your own bank account if you don’t face your shortcomings. You end up working harder for less money, which also doesn’t make long-term financial sense. EXPENSES Another of my personal favorite tasks within practice management is reducing expenses. Solos and small firms often do not spend enough time on “bottom line” issue. Along with increasing revenues, decreas- ing expenses is the other way to put more money in your pocket. Over the course of my career helping professional practices, the vast major- ity of my clients spent little to no time negotiating expenses on a yearly basis. This is unfortunate; just a little time reviewing and bidding out services can make a dramatic difference in your bottom line. The two expenses taking the lion’s share of total monthly expenses for solo and small firms are rent and people, to include payroll and benefits. While you may get one chance every 1-5 years to negotiate your lease, bidding out your healthcare and benefits should be done annually. The one way to mitigate ongoing increases in coverage is to find a trusted broker who will work with you to bid out your health- care coverage. This requires the ability to evaluate bids not only from cost, but from a coverage perspective, especially if you have employees with specific issues. The broker should sit down with you to review and analyze potential bids. Devoting time to this task could save you significant money each year which goes right back into your pocket. What’s the Vision for Your Law Practice? BY TRACY STEINER ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · DALLAS· VOL. 7 NO. 1 24MARKETING The internet has certainly changed the way practices view marketing, and for good cause. Recent studies have shown that upwards of 90% of consumers use Google to search for a lawyer. Additionally, where word of mouth was always the best referral source, now 88% of consum- ers say they trust online reviews for recommendations. Happy clients can certainly still be a great referral source, but if you aren’t putting your best foot forward on the web, you are missing the boat for attracting clients. Rebranding your logo or practice used to be cost pro- hibitive. Today, it is not only affordable, but recommend- ed. Making sure your website is user friendly must be a priority for solo and small practices that want to com- pete for clients with polished sites from the larger firms. Changing your logo, adding a tagline, updating your website and posting blogs are some of the ways to make yourself competitive in the technology rich environment of 2020. Almost 67% of consumers search for legal help on their phone. Have you checked to see if your site is mobile friendly? AUDITS Nobody wants to talk about the ugly truth; estimates are that up to 50% of professional practices have been, or cur- rently are, the victims of embez- zlement. Despite the importance of unscheduled internal audits, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners indicates that only 20% of businesses perform un- scheduled audits. For doctors and lawyers, especially solo and small firms, that number is significantly lower. In larger firms, there are several layers of controls; in solo and small firms, those measures typically don’t exist. I have personally seen fraud/ embezzlement in over a dozen practices. For as much as we want to believe the “It won’t happen to me” philosophy, your prepara- tion and diligence, combined with controls and random audits, is the only way to prevent you from be- coming a victim. I ask my lawyer clients if they would go to court unprepared, and of course the an- swer is always no. Similarly, you can’t review your business if you don’t have the knowledge of seeing “clean” financial records. Your ac- countant is not going to audit your books for fraud; it just isn’t part of the monthly close or tax process. Making sure you aren’t a victim is up to you, before it happens. PEOPLE Finally, reviewing staff on a yearly basis should be part of your REMAP strategy. This includes performance re- views, if you haven’t done them annually, salary and ben- efit reviews, utilization reviews (staffing numbers/tasks) and needs for the coming year. Managing people can be one of the more time-consuming tasks, when you include payroll and policies and procedures. We all know that people make or break our business, so devoting time to addressing your human resource needs will only improve your chances of financial success. You don’t have to have a large staff or even more than one to be assessing this information on a yearly basis. Devoting efforts to improving the business aspects of managing your practice through REMAP will get you on your way to reducing complaints and improving the bot- tom line. TRACY STEINER, MHSA, IS THE PRESIDENT OF T. SCOTT CONSUL- TANTS LLC. A CONSULTANT SINCE 1995, HE HAS BEEN ASSISTING MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND LAWYERS WITH THEIR VARIOUS PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ISSUES. VISIT WWW.TSCOTTCONSUL- TANTS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. THE NEXUS OF DIGITAL & TRADITIONAL EVIDENCE John D. Shirley, CFE Chief Investigator (817) 894-4424 (817) 894-4424 “We maximize the relevancy of ALL evidence, no matter the source”. Contact@Intrepid-Investigations.com www.intrepid-investigations.com • Fraud Investigations • Intellectual Property Investigations • Non-Compete Enforcement • asset tracing • Criminal Defense • 360o due dilligence• Digital Forensics • Surveillance / Undercover • Fraud Investigations • Intellectual Property Investigations • Non-Compete Enforcement • asset tracing • Criminal Defense • 360o due dilligence• Digital Forensics • Surveillance / Undercover TX Lic# A07356101 AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 25Beware: LinkedIn does have re- strictions on the amount of LinkedIn requests you can send within a short time period. If you really want LinkedIn to work for your law firm, it is important to also engage with your audience on LinkedIn. You can boost your engage- ment by: • Commenting on other people’s content or articles that they’ve been posted on LinkedIn. • Joining specific industry-related groups, posting your own content in articles there, and providing valuable advice and feedback to other members of the group. Furthermore, you can search for LinkedIn hashtags that will allow you to find articles and content that are relevant to your industry. If you find an article that you like, you can com- ment on it, like it or share it with your network. Start or Join a Group There are many legal industry groups on LinkedIn. You can choose to join local groups in your area or even join nationwide groups for the benefit of forming relationships with other attorneys nationwide that may lead to referrals or future partner- ships. Make sure you spend some time every week to work on your LinkedIn marketing and connections, and you will start seeing the benefits of build- ing a powerful network. DIMPLE DANG IS A LEGAL MARKETING SPECIALIST AND CONSULTANT WITH MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE LEGAL INDUSTRY. TO CONNECT WITH DIMPLE, EMAIL HER DIRECTLY AT DIM- PLE@DIGITALMEDIADIVA.COM OR SEND HER A MESSAGE ON LINKEDIN. You have probably heard the popu- lar saying “Your network equals your net worth.” This is quite ac- curate. To grow your business network, whether you are a solo practitioner or a large law firm, LinkedIn is one of the most powerful social media plat- forms. The key to building a powerful net- work on LinkedIn is to be strategic and selective about who you add into your network. You may not be aware of this, but LinkedIn allows you to up- date your settings in order to control who can connect with you directly on LinkedIn. You can update your settings on LinkedIn by going to the communi- cation tab and then click on Settings. You will then see an option for con- nection requests and you will have three options to pick from: • Everyone on LinkedIn (which is LinkedIn’s recommended sugges- tion). • Only people who know your email address or appear in your “import- ed contacts” list. • Only people who appear in your “imported contacts” list. Another interesting feature that LinkedIn has is that it allows you to grow your followers instead of your connections if you choose to do so. This option allows you to grow your number of followers without adding additional connections. You can make this change by going to your profile to the privacy setting and then scrolling down to where it says Blocking and Hiding, and select the make follow primary option and enable that button to Yes. Identify Specific People If you are part of a Chamber of Commerce or any other local net- working groups, you may want to search for people in your groups on LinkedIn and connect with them. You can do this by typing their name in the search box and requesting to con- nect with them. It is best to send ev- eryone a personalized message when requesting a connection. Not every- one is going to remember where they met you, so it is nice to send a per- sonal note. The Find Nearby Option Another great feature that you may not be aware of is the “find nearby op- tion.” If you are at a legal conference workshop or networking event, you can also turn on the LinkedIn Find Nearby option on your mobile device and it will enable you to see which LinkedIn users are within 100 feet of you. In order for this feature to work you must enable Bluetooth on your phone first. The one downside of this feature is that it does not allow you to send a personalized message. Therefore, I recommend taking a screenshot and sending a personalized invitation when you have access to your desktop. The Suggested Connections Option As you add new people to your net- work, LinkedIn will also suggest oth- er members that you may know. You have two ways to connect with these connections you can hit the Connect button, but the downside is that you will not be able to send a personal- ized message. The other option is you can click on their profile and request a connection to the other personal page, which will allow you to send a customized message. Build a Powerful Network for Your Law Firm Using Linkedin BY DIMPLE DANG ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · DALLAS· VOL. 7 NO. 1 26Criminal Defense Attorney Patrick J. McLain • Over 25 Years of Criminal Law Experience • Former Federal Prosecutor • Retired Marine Corps Military Service • Over 20 Years of Military Service • Martindale Hubbell AV Pre-Eminent • Texas Superlawyer • AVVO 10.0 Attorney 3316 Oak Grove Ave. Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75204 Phone: (214) 416-9100 patrick@patrickjmclain.com www.patrickjmclain.com www.mclainmilitarylawyer.com Criminal Defense Attorney Patrick J. McLain For generations of lawyers, James E. “Jim” Coleman Jr. of Dallas defined what it means to practice law with professionalism and integrity. In a ca- reer spanning more than six decades, he was a role model and mentor to countless attorneys, a trusted advisor to his clients, a gifted and successful trial lawyer, and a tireless advocate who upheld the legal profession’s highest standards. Jim Coleman passed away on Saturday, February 22, in Dallas. He was 96. Mr. Cole- man’s diligence on behalf of his cli- ents and his reverence for the law profession leave a lasting influence not only on Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P, the firm he founded in 1970, but also on those who knew him personally and pro- fessionally. For Mr. Coleman, being a lawyer was a calling, rather than about “winning and getting the big- gest fees.” That dedication to justice motivated him to continue a regular work schedule well into his 90s at the firm he founded. Veteran Dallas trial lawyers Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons have formed Lyons & Simmons, LLP, a trial firm focused on han- dling personal injury and wrongful death matters as well as complex business disputes in Texas and throughout the United States. Firm co-founders Mr. Lyons and Mr. Simmons have tried complex cases before judges, juries and arbi- trators involving life- altering personal inju- ries, wrongful death, and “bet-the-compa- ny” business disputes. Also joining Lyons & Simmons are attorneys Chris Carr and Stephen Higdon. Gregory Deans and Katherine Stepp, pre- viously of Deans & Ly- ons, have partnered to form Deans Stepp Law, a Dallas law firm focusing on litigating complex business and tort cases. Deans Stepp Law is proud to have Courtney Bowline join the firm as a part- ner. Deans Stepp Law will focus on commercial litigation, wrongful death, trucking liability, negligence, product liability, and banking litigation, representing cli- ents in Texas and nationwide. Amy Stewart Law is pleased to announce that Marisa O’Sullivan has been promoted to Principal. Marisa has a stellar track record of excellence in the firm’s insurance-litigation practice, unpar- alleled client service, and active en- gagement in both professional and service organizations. Klemchuk LLP, announces Part- ner Jim Chester has been named to the Advisory Board for “Venture College” at Texas A&M Universi- ty-Commerce. Jim Chester, a Partner at Klemchuk LLP, is a global technology and business attorney who represents in- novation-based companies regarding technology and software develop- ment and licensing, intellectual prop- erty protection and enforcement, and business transactions. Eli Burriss has joined Holland & Knight’s expanding healthcare practice, from McDermott Will & Emery. Mr. Burriss litigates complex com- mercial disputes throughout the Unit- ed States, serving as counsel to global clients in all aspects of litigation, with a particular emphasis on representing healthcare and managed care organi- zations in antitrust, ERISA, class ac- tions and other complex matters. Polsinelli announces the addition of Associ- ate Jillian Loh, who joins the firm’s national Real Estate Finance Practice. Loh’s practice focuses on the repre- sentation of financial institutions in the financing of multi-family proper- ties, shopping centers, office build- ings, condominiums, mixed-use proj- ects and other types of real estate. Jackson Walker is pleased to an- nounce 5 new partners in Dallas: Jo- SUBMIT PRESS RELEASES FOR NEXT MONTH’S TALK OF THE TOWN AT WWW.ATTORNEYATLAWMAGAZINE.COM/SUBMIT-TOT/ AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESS RELEASES EVENTS PROMOTIONS ACTIVITES HONORS RECOGNITIONS TALK TOWN of the James E. Coleman Chris Simmons Michael P. Lyons Gregory Deans Eliot “Eli” Burriss Jillian Loh Marisa O’Sullivan Jim Chester Katherine Stepp ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · DALLAS· VOL. 7 NO. 1 28seph Guajardo, Kelly Hodge, Natalie Kosydar, James McFall and David Schlottman. Joseph T. Guajardo is an experienced transactional lawyer who works closely with clients in a full range of corporate matters. Kelly S. Hodge’s real estate finance experience includes the negotiation, structuring, and documentation of construction; interim and permanent financing; and transactions involving Low-In- come Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). Natalie M. Kosydar is a transactional attorney specializing in complex mergers & acquisitions, joint ven- tures, corporate transactions, execu- tive employment and compensation arrangements, equity financing trans- actions, and corporate governance. James Carlos McFall focuses his prac- tice on media, sports, entertainment, and complex commercial litigation. David Schlottman is an adviser and litigator who focuses on complex cas- es involving employees, the work- place, and related business disputes. Jackson Walker is pleased to announce Michael L. Taten has been appointed as managing partner of the Dallas office. Mike focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions, joint ventures, executive employment and compensation ar- rangements, equity financing transac- tions, and corporate governance. Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Lane M. Webster has joined the firm’s Dallas office as an asso- ciate in the Litigation and Government Enforcement and Investigations practice groups. Mr. Webster focuses his practice on com- plex commercial litigation. He has ad- vocated for clients around the coun- try in multimillion-dollar matters in the technology, healthcare, sports and financial services sectors. Clouse Brown PLLC attorney Ca- mille Avant has earned her Certification in La- bor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – a designation that fewer than 700 at- torneys in Texas can claim. Ms. Avant’s practice includes defending clients before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She also represents and counsels employers and employees in all aspects of em- ployment law. Paul Genender, a Litigation partner at the international law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and the leader of Weil’s Litiga- tion practice in Dallas, has been appointed to a two-year term on the Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA) Foundation board of directors. Genender is a sea- soned trial lawyer with an established track record of courtroom experience representing plaintiffs, defendants, debtors and creditors. He represents clients in connection with a wide range of business disputes. The Weil team led by partner David Gail, along with client Greg Moundas, the executive vice president and gen- eral counsel at Aim- bridge Hospitality, earned 2019 M&A Deal of the Year recognition from The Texas Lawbook and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter (ACC-DFW) in the organizations’ an- nual DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, presented at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. Brian Bullard has been named Polsinel- li’s new managing part- ner of the firm’s Dallas office. succeeding Jon Henderson, who con- tinues his other signifi- cant firm leadership roles, as well as his active legal practice. His legal practice primarily centers on private equity and matters relating to the structuring, formation and manage- ment of private investment vehicles, including joint ventures; private eq- uity, hedge, co-investment, seeding and hybrid funds; special-purpose entities; operating companies; and managed accounts. Bell Nunnally has elected Nikki Hurst Gibson as its newest partner; she was previ- ously senior counsel. Gibson is a member of the firm’s Commercial Finance and Real Estate practices. She has extensive experience representing financial institutions and borrowers on commercial lending transactions; structuring, drafting and negotiating loan documentation for asset-based financing transactions, including ac- counts receivable, inventory and equipment secured loan transactions; senior and subordinated debt financ- ings; syndicated loans; securities as collateral; and real estate transactions. AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESS RELEASES EVENTS PROMOTIONS ACTIVITES HONORS RECOGNITIONS SUBMIT PRESS RELEASES FOR NEXT MONTH’S TALK OF THE TOWN AT WWW.ATTORNEYATLAWMAGAZINE.COM/SUBMIT-TOT/ Awards • Announcements • Press Releases • Promotions Events • Activities • Honors • Recognitions Michael L. Taten Camille Avant Brian Bullard Nikki Hurst Gibson Paul Genender David Gail Lane M. Webstern AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com 29Next >