Promotions
Congratulations to Tonya Ramsey (Dallas, Restructuring & Reorganization), Wendy Salinas (Dallas, Tax-EBEC), and Suzanne Reifman (Washington, Complex Commercial Litigation), who were recently promoted to partner as of January 1, 2010.
Welcome and Welcome Back!
Between November 2009 and January 2010, V&E will welcome 27 new female lawyers! The Washington, DC office will welcome a new class of lawyers consisting solely of six women.
Welcome to Jami de Lou, V&E’s new Attorney Initiatives Manager. Jami joins us from Lex Mundi where she was a Practice Group Manager in Houston. She graduated from the University of California in Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in History, and then continued her education at New York University where she received a Master of Arts in Speech and Interpersonal Communication. We are so happy to have Jami at V&E.
 Sarah Morgan has rejoined V&E in our Capital Markets practice group as an associate. She initially rejoined the firm in the Shanghai office; however, has now transferred to the Houston office. Sarah’s capital markets experience includes representation of both issuers and underwriters in initial public offerings as well as public and private offerings of equity and debt securities of oil and natural gas exploration, natural gas pipeline, and oilfield service companies.
Accolades
For the second year in a row, Working Mother Magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers have named Vinson & Elkins one of the “2009 Best Law Firms for Women,” citing the firm’s continued focus on work-life and women-friendly policies.
 In July, Catalyst, an organization devoted to building inclusive environments and expanding opportunities for women at work, appointed V&E Complex Commercial Litigation Partner Veronica Lewis to its Board of Advisors. The appointment to Catalyst’s Board of Advisors is limited to stand-out leaders who exhibit a passion for promoting inclusive environments from the most reputable businesses in the world.
Twelve V&E women partners — Marcia Backus (M&A/Private Equity), Judy Blissard (Tax-EBEC), Molly Cagle (Environmental), Carol Dinkins (Environmental), Karen Hirschman (Complex Commercial Litigation), Kathy Little (Complex Commercial Litigation), Dionne Lomax (Complex Commercial Litigation), Sharon Mattox (Environmental), Gwen Samora (Appellate), Karen Smith (Finance), Anita Wilson (Energy Regulatory), and Marie Yeates (Appellate), were recognized by Chambers USA 2009 as “leaders in their field.” Chambers & Partners publish the world’s leading directory of the legal profession and rank the world’s best lawyers and law firms based on in-depth, client-based research. The rankings clearly reflect the recognition for excellence our firm receives in a broad number of practice areas. Special congratulations to Carol Dinkins for the "Star Performer" recognition; these are exceedingly rare. Also, special congratulations to Kathy Little for her tier-one national recognition in international trade and export law.
 Environmental Law Counsel Kristie Tice was elected to the Council of the Houston Bar Association Environmental Law Section (ELS). The ELS offers monthly CLE presentations on subjects relevant to environmental regulation, conservation, and enforcement, both at the national and local level.
Kathy Lake (Energy Regulatory), Vanessa Griffith (Labor and Employment), and Robin Fredrickson (Mergers and Acquisitions) made their debut on the list of The Best Lawyers in America 2010®.
 For the third consecutive year, Minority Corporate Counsel Association has profiled minority rainmakers in their Diversity & the Bar publication. This year’s group of lawyers combines substantive legal skills with a marketability that allows them to grow their books of business. Chosen for their expertise in their practice arena, these leaders share personal experiences and pathways to success. V&E's Estate Planning and Tax Partner Yolanda Chavez Knull is included in the list of 14 distinguished individuals.
 Environmental Partner Carol Dinkins was appointed to the University of Houston Energy Advisory Board. She is the only woman, as well as the only lawyer, on the Board. The University of Houston Energy Advisory Board is comprised of CEOs and high-level executives of extremely well known energy and oil and gas companies, many of which are V&E clients.
|
The American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) recently selected Carol Dinkins President-elect. ACOEL is a professional association of lawyers distinguished by their experience and high standards in the practice of environmental law. Membership is by invitation and members are recognized by their peers as preeminent in their field. Carol was inducted into the College in 2008 and was elected President-elect on Friday, October 2, 2009, during ACOEL's annual meeting.
The Business Case
Lawyers from the Houston office Energy Regulatory group recently secured a major victory for firm client Enbridge Inc. in a general rate case brought before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by Stingray Pipeline Company, L.L.C., an Enbridge-operated joint venture. Stingray is an interstate gas pipeline that transports offshore production from the central Gulf of Mexico onshore to Louisiana. Stingray’s rate case, which was the first such proceeding for the company since its acquisition by Enbridge in 2004, involved significant policy issues associated with Stingray’s proposals to institute, for the first time in the pipeline’s history, a charge for free water introduced into its pipeline and an “Event Surcharge” to recover, as incurred, the costs of preparing for and repairing damage caused by major storms and other significant natural disasters. Stingray’s case, which was actively protested by shippers and opposed by the FERC Trial Staff, involved extensive filed testimony and exhibits, as well as substantial discovery, before serious settlement discussions began.
 
The efforts of the V&E team, led by Energy Regulatory Partner Kathy Lake and included Associates Sabina Dugal, and Elizabeth Kohlhausen, and former V&E Associate Daniel Sanborn, as well as Paralegal Tabitha Canada, resulted in a FERC-approved settlement that allows Stingray to initiate its unusual Event Surcharge and free water charge, as well as to increase its general rates by 50 percent.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
On October 14, 2009, Complex Commercial Litigation Partner David Woodcock and Associate Hilary Preston obtained a complete victory for a firm client — an investment advisory firm that manages several hedge funds. The claimant, a self-proclaimed "historic name on Wall Street," alleged that V&E’s client owed them a continuing stream of fees attributable to investors that the claimant allegedly introduced to V&E’s client. The claimant argued that because they continued to service the investors at issue, the fees were required to be paid to them in perpetuity under a Selling Agreement between V&E’s client and the claimant and that such on-going fees were customary in the industry. V&E succeeded in convincing the arbitrator that, as a matter of law, the claimant had no rights to compensation after V&E’s client terminated the Selling Agreement and that industry practice was irrelevant. The arbitrator denied the claimant's claims in their entirety.
 Hilary Preston argued the case during the hearing. John Wander (Partner, Complex Commercial Litigation), David Woodcock, and Hilary Preston continue to represent the client in a putative class action lawsuit pending in federal court in Miami, which alleges misconduct relating to an investment with Bernie Madoff.
In Print
 Complex Commercial Litigation Partner Karen Hirschman co-authored an article, “Trial Teams and the Power of Diversity,” which was published in the Spring 2009 issue of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Magazine. Karen also authored an article titled "An Authentic Voice Facilitates Connections With Jurors" in the September 28, 2009, issue of Texas Lawyer. The article highlights tips on being a successful trial lawyer.
Center Stage
Environmental Partner Carol Dinkins spoke at the 34th Annual Advanced ALI-ABA Course of Study at the University of Colorado School of Law in June.
In July, Environmental Counsel Kristie Tice gave a presentation to the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists on Environmental Considerations in the Acquisition and Operation of Oil and Gas Properties.
Partner Dusty Burke (Tax-EBEC) spoke on a panel at the American Conference Institute’s Defending and Managing ERISA Litigation conference. The conference took place on October 19-20, 2009, in New York City.
Miscellaneous
2009 was a big year for babies at V&E. From January 2009 to December 2009, 24 women lawyers have had babies. Additionally, 11 women lawyers have announced their pregnancies this year and will have babies in 2010. A big congratulations to new moms and mothers-to-be: Hiba Allam, Tricia Boutros, Elizabeth Brandon, Lesley Briones, Katie Burrus, Catherine Callahan, Amy Comer, Kathleen Connelly, Jenn Cooley, Amanda Dietrick, Kristen Foster, Tina French, Nicki Glauser, Ara Hardig, Andrea Harper, Nina Hess-Hsu, Meagan Horn, Regina Ibarra, Tahia Khan, Phillina Lai, Stephany Lin-Abney, Victoria Louie, Deana Moore, Victoria Ozimek, Leisa Peschel, Hilary Preston, Tonya Ramsey, Claire Roberts, Wendy Rodriguez, Avelyn Ross, Holly Rumbaugh, Sarah Stockley, Paulina Williams, Andi Yorio, and Emily Zuckerman.
Visit our website to learn more about V&E and our Women's Initiative.
|