The Sidebar

March 2018

We have a lot of good news to share! Read more…

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March 2018

On Saturday, March 3, more than 270 Texas Tech Law alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends gathered for the 14th Annual Scholarship Gala at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center. Read more…

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March 2018

Texas Tech Law hosted its annual Diversity Week to celebrate the importance of diversity from March 5-7, 2018. Faculty, staff, and students gathered throughout the week to hear from great speakers presenting on a variety of topics dealing with diversity in the legal profession. Read more…

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March 2018

3Ls Davinder Jassal, Kristen Gavigan, and Rachel Holland-Hadjis, won the regional rounds of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition in Boston this month. The win extends Texas Tech Law School’s streak to ten straight years of ABA NAAC regional victories—the longest of any school in the country. The team will now move on to the national rounds of the tournament in April in Washington, D.C.

The competition also saw a total of four Texas Tech Law advocates receive top-ten speaker awards. Of nearly 70 students, 2L Stephen Grant was named the region’s Best Advocate, Kristen ranked fourth, 3L Ryley Bennett ranked fifth, and 2L Michael Collier ranked eighth.

A big thank you to co-coaches Larry Doss (’99), Drew Robertson (’15), and Kristen Vander-Plas (’16) and good luck to Davinder, Kristen, and Rachel at nationals!

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March 2018

The Estate Planning & Community Property Law Journal members, led by Executive Symposium Editor Taylor Smith and Editor-in-Chief Michael Bell, worked diligently with the entire EPJ staff to put together this year’s seminar held on Friday, March 2, 2018.

Prominent and nationally recognized estate planning practitioners and professors from across the United States spoke on innovative topics such as the basics of grantor trusts, successfully scripting settlor’s intent, and the intersection of technology and ethics. The program also included updates on current legislative and judicial trends. In addition, four Tech Law students discussed their EPJ Comments.

Over 125 individuals attended the seminar including not only attorneys, academics, and students but also judges, personal financial planners, bank officers, CPAs, and other estate planning professionals. Participants received 6.50 Texas CLE and CPE hours, including 1.50 ethics hours.

The EPJ is already planning next year’s seminar so please mark your calendars for March 1, 2019.

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March 2018

Christian Legal Society held a Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Hunt at Maxey Park. Over 25 law students came out and enjoyed grilled hot dogs, chips, and sodas before combing over a few acres of land for Easter eggs. The 500 Easter eggs were filled with candy and a motivational quote. More than 100 of the eggs had special markings on the outside that corresponded to cash prizes and gift cards. Students left the event with confetti in their hair and smiles on their faces!

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March 2018

Wayne Christian, Commissioner for the Texas Railroad Commission, discussed “The Importance of Oil & Gas Regulations on the State, National and Global Levels” at the March Energy Law Lecture Series.

Christian was elected to join the Railroad Commission of Texas in November 2016. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1973. After gaining valuable experience in business, banking and real estate, Christian opened Wayne Christian Financial in 1987 and has been named a three-time AIG top advisor.

In 1996, Christian was elected to the Texas House of Representatives where he served as vice-chairman of regulated industries and as a multi-term member of the Energy Resource Committee. On these committees, he had direct oversight of the Railroad Commission and accumulated a strong record of standing for free markets and against burdensome regulations.

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March 2018

Ryan Damiano has been promoted to director and made a shareholder after having been with McDonald Sanders as an associate since 2014. Damiano’s practice focuses on both transactional and litigation matters and he represents clients in a variety of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, construction and development, debt financing, and leasing.

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March 2018

James Farren, who will retire this year after serving as Randall County’s criminal district attorney since 1995, has been selected to receive the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award from Amarillo College.

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March 2018

The Honorable Kevin C. Hart has retired after 18 years in Lubbock’s foster care court.

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March 2018

Ben Major, with The Lanier Law Firm, earned selection to the 2018 Texas Rising Stars list of top young lawyers in Texas. Major is being recognized for his work in appellate law. His clients include companies, cities and individuals. He represents financial institutions in commercial collection and lender liability cases, individuals in probate and personal injury lawsuits, and municipalities in Section 1983 litigation. He also assists various corporate clients in commercial, personal injury and employment matters.

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March 2018

Tekla O. Mann was elected as Kemp Smith LLP’s newest partner in the Trial Department. Mann’s primary area of practice is medical malpractice along with insurance defense, products liability, premises liability and consumer litigation.

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March 2018

Tasha Taylor, with Houston trial and appellate firm Wright Close & Barger, LLP, earned selection to the 2018 list of Texas Rising Stars, which honors the top young attorneys in the state. Taylor handles matters involving insurance coverage and a variety of civil litigation. This is her third consecutive year on the Rising Stars list.

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March 2018

Jonathan Wilkerson, with The Lanier Law Firm, earned selection to the 2018 Texas Rising Stars list of top young lawyers in Texas. Wilkerson is being honored for his business litigation practice, which includes representation of clients in all phases of business and real estate litigation. His practice also involves fact-gathering and support in governmental investigations, as well as due diligence in mergers and acquisitions, and discovery, pre-trial, trial, and post-trial support in several patent litigation matters.

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March 2018

Warren Paul New died Tuesday, March 6, 2018. New was instrumental in the establishment of Texas Tech University School of Law. He presented a resolution backing the creation of a law school at Texas Tech at a State Bar of Texas Board of Directors meeting in 1963. He also served as a founding director of the Texas Tech Law School Foundation from 1967 to 1992.

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