Class Notes 2025-2026

Class of 1976

Hon. Barbara M.G. Lynn joined Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Class of 1984

Steven Smith joined Thompson Coburn LLP as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Class of 1985

Charla Aldous being honored in the 2026 Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame.

Class of 1990

Alan Ratliff was appointed to the national board of Girls Inc. 

Class of 1992

Kenda Culpepper was elected as the 2025-2026 chair of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Class of 1995

Yolanda Brown named General Counsel, Secretary & Vice President of Sammons Corporation, and General Counsel and Key Officer for Sammons Enterprises.

Albert Lin was named chair of the Tax and Finance Practice Group of the American Health Lawyers Association for a three-year term.

Class of 1998

Shonn Brown recipient of the 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Award by the Dallas Bar Association.

Jarod T. Moss re-joined Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP as a partner in its Dallas office.

Class of 2000

J. Brian Williams appointed judge of the 503rd Judicial District Court in Rockwall County.

Class of 2001

Natalie Arbaugh joined King & Spalding as a litigation partner.

Rachael Jones joined McKool Smith as a principal in its Dallas office.

Class of 2002

Brandy Treadway joined Academy Sports + Outdoors as its executive vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary.

Class of 2003

Tammy Middleton will transition to The Broe Group to become Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for OmniTRAX and Broe Real Estate Group.

Mindy M. Riseden was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Class of 2004

Luke Alverson named finalist for the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for General Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department.

Class of 2005

Jonathan R. Childers will serve as President of the Dallas Bar Association in 2026.

Class of 2006

Rashee Raj appointed Administrative Law Judge at the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings.

R. Adam Swick joined Akerman LLP as a partner in Bankruptcy and Reorganization in the firm’s Austin office.

Class of 2009

Bradford Smith joined Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. as a shareholder in its Dallas office. 

Maitreya T. Tomlinson currently serving as the President of the Austin Bar Association and Chair Elect of the Austin Bar Foundation.

Honorable Taylor Wine was reappointed to the the Kansas Supreme Court, in the 4th Judicial District.

Class of 2011

Phil Kim joined Jackson Walker LLP as a partner in its Dallas office. 

Ashley Withers promoted to partner at Jackson Walker.

Class of 2013

Justin W. Allen joined Thompson Coburn LLP as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office.

Class of 2014

John J. Kappel joined Goranson Bain Ausley (GBA) as a partner in its Plano office.

Class of 2015

Hailey Curran joined MBL Title as a Commercial Closing Attorney.

Class of 2016

Rodeen Talebi elevated to principal at Fish & Richardson.

Class of 2017

Kelly E. Almeter joined Akerman LLP as a partner in Litigation at the firm’s Dallas office.

Evan Atkinson elected as a member in Dykema’s Austin office.

Jordan Byrne promoted to partner at Jackson Walker.

Ryan Holm promoted to partner at Jackson Walker.

Julie Singleton promoted to partner at Jackson Walker.

Class of 2018

Michael Fechner joined Lyons & Simmons, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office.

Patricio J. Gutiérrez, Dallas-based managing attorney of Gutierrez Law Group PLLC, has entered into an of counsel relationship with international law firm Ontier, expanding the firm’s reach into Texas.

Class of 2019

Gina Mills joins Dallas Plaintiffs Law Firm Hamilton Wingo as partner.

Class of 2020

Roslyn M. Warner was elected to Principal at Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.

Class of 2021

Katherin Frisbie joined Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP as a senior associate in its Houston office.

Class of 2022

Matthew Fosheim joined Kane Russell Coleman Logan as an associate in its Dallas office. 

Austin Gilleland joined Steptoe & Johnson PLLC as an associate in its Dallas office.

Class of 2024

Madeline Boche joined Cozen O’Connor as a litigation associate.

Allayna Ford joined Jackson Spencer Law, a Dallas firm that represents employees in workplace disputes.

Class of 2025

Ashton McCary joined Goranson Bain Ausley as an associate in its Dallas office.

Lauren Restino joined Goranson Bain Ausley as an associate in its Dallas office.