Jackson Walker partners Julia Mann, Scott Rose, and Rick Garza spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) South/Central Texas Chapter on April 1, 2015, in San Antonio. During their presentation, titled “Opportunities and Obstacles in the Wake of Falling Oil Prices,” Julia, Scott and Rick shared strategies and tips to help companies prepare for the possible positive and negative effects of falling oil prices, with a specific focus on litigation, bankruptcy and workforce reduction.

The ACC South/Central Texas Chapter is the leading source of continuing legal education, legal and business ethics awareness, pro bono activities, and networking opportunities for in-house counsel in San Antonio and South Texas. Its members are provided the regular opportunity to network with their counterparts via educational seminars, panel discussions, and social events.

Julia Mann is a partner and chair of the Litigation Section of the San Antonio Office of Jackson Walker. She represents a wide range of clients in civil litigation, arbitration and appeals. Her primary focus is on oil and gas litigation, commercial litigation and e-Discovery. Her practice encompasses contractual disputes, professional liability claims, royalty disputes, and business torts such as fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and creditors’ rights. Julia’s practice involves handling cases in federal and state trial courts, the Texas Court of Appeals, Texas Supreme Court, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as alternative dispute resolution forums such as AAA and NASD arbitrations and mediations.

Scott Rose is the managing partner of the San Antonio office of Jackson Walker and is a member of the firm’s Bankruptcy Practice Group. For more than 30 years, he has served as attorney and counselor to national lending, finance and investment institutions on all aspects of commercial business transactions. Known for his practical yet creative approach to matters, Scott’s involvement often leads to consensual resolution of multi-party business disputes. His experience includes numerous complex corporate, partnership, and individual bankruptcy reorganization proceedings, as well as out-of-court restructurings involving numerous secured creditors and competing claimants.

Rick Garza is a partner and leads the Labor and Employment group of the San Antonio office of Jackson Walker. His practice consists of representing management exclusively in labor and employment matters including claims and disputes involving the Civil Rights Act, National Labor Relations Act proceedings, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act; OFCCP matters, Workers’ Compensation – Non-subscriber issues, Wage & Hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is extensively involved in the advising of clients in day-to-day personnel issues. Rick has also lectured extensively to human resource groups, as well as corporations, regarding the legalities of personnel actions and how to avoid legal problems from personnel decisions.