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IN FOCUS

Excellence Exemplified Award

Our Houston colleagues Melanie McClenathen and Delisa Piercy were honored with the 2025 Excellence Exemplified Award. The award celebrates their exceptional excellence, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the firm.

Business Professional Shoutouts

Please join us in congratulating Tammy Scott on her promotion to Senior Learning & Development Specialist. Tammy’s dedication, expertise, and unwavering support have made a tremendous impact, especially through her hard work in helping our team with Emburse. Her commitment to empowering others and strengthening our process has made a real difference. We are fortunate to have her leadership and look forward to her continued contributions in this new role.

We are pleased to announce the promotion of Caitlin Walker to Office Manager in our Houston office. Following the retirement of the former Office Manager in December, Caitlin stepped into the role on an interim basis and quickly proved herself equal to the challenge. She has demonstrated strong leadership, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to both the firm and our people, ensuring seamless operations and a positive environment for everyone in the office. Please join us in congratulating Caitlin on this well-deserved promotion.

Woodward Award

Our Dallas colleague Alisha Jackson was honored with the 2026 Woodward Award. The award, named in memory of our late colleague Peter Woodward, celebrates Alisha’s exceptional excellence, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the firm.

Celebrating Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Chevazz Brown joined Jackson Walker’s Fast Takes podcast to discuss his journey from Thurgood Marshall School of Law to Jackson Walker. He reflects on how mentorship, community, and allyship shaped his path, highlighting the HBA’s MOLP program and a formative clerkship with Judge Ken Hoyt. Chevazz also explores his litigation practice, which focuses on real estate and partnership disputes, and offers a personal perspective on identity, his Army family upbringing, and the role of community in Black history and progress. Listen to the episode »

Celebrating Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, Kathy Silver joined Jackson Walker’s Fast Takes podcast to reflect on her journey from working as a legal secretary to becoming a partner, sharing how her early experiences shaped her perspective, work ethic, and practice. The episode also explores the firm’s women’s initiative and the value of community, support, and shared experience in advancing women in the legal profession. Listen to the episode »

Costco Birthday Surprise

Shannon Wright is a devoted Costco enthusiast, and her latest birthday celebration reflected that passion perfectly! To mark the occasion, she spent her special day at her favorite warehouse store, where several our Houston JW attorneys had secretly stationed themselves throughout the aisles. As Shannon made her way through the store, her colleagues surprised her at various turns, transforming an ordinary shopping trip into an unforgettable birthday experience.

Metaphoria Team Building

The B&I team recently launched Metaphoria in the Dallas and Houston offices, an interactive workshop exploring how meaning is made in the workplace. The session combined a research-based presentation with small-group gameplay, inviting participants to examine how language and perspective foster a culture of belonging. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with the program receiving top ratings out of five across the board for both engagement and experience. Here is what participants are saying:

• THANK YOU for introducing a fun way of learning the thought-process of others. This experience truly was AWESOME, and I will consider what I learned into personal and professional interactions with others!
• Usually participating in activities with people you do not normally associate with can be intimidating, but this activity was very engaging and fun!
• Getting to know colleagues better, this game makes it very easy to engage and connect in a fun way!
• While I have worked at several large, international law firms during my career, I have never experienced the level of fun while learning as I did today.

Culture Hack

On April 14, the Fort Worth office came together for the first “Culture Hack,” where teams participated in a fast-paced, hands-on session to generate practical solutions that strengthen JW’s culture of belonging.

Culture of Belonging

Earlier this year, the San Antonio office came together for “Vision and Vibes,” an inspiring afternoon dedicated to crafting 2026 vision boards and sharing ideas for the year ahead.

“Best Firms” Honors

Jackson Walker earned top honors in the Chambers Associate Satisfaction Surveys 2026, achieving Elite status in the “Best Firms for Culture” category and ranking as an Excellent Performer for “Best Firms for Pro Bono.” View our profile on Chambers Associate »

Humanizing Work Culture Leader

Volunteer Service Award

Jackson Walker is proud to announce that the firm will receive the 2025 Bronze Houston Food Bank Volunteer Service Award on April 30, 2026, in recognition of our firmwide commitment to community service. During our inaugural “6-1-1 Day of Service” in 2025, Jackson Walker employees dedicated more than 200 volunteer hours to the Houston Food Bank, helping facilitate the distribution of over 12,000 meals to individuals and families across the Houston community.

In Memoriam

We remember and honor our dear colleagues, Michael Wood of Houston and Emma Hackney of Dallas, whose contributions and friendship are deeply missed.

NEWS & NOTES

Elevating Attorneys to Partnership

In February 2026, Jackson Walker announced the election of 20 attorneys to the Firm’s partnership. “This new partner class has demonstrated exemplary leadership and made significant contributions to the growth of our practices and offices. Their election reflects sustained excellence in client service and a deep commitment to our firm’s values,” said Firmwide Managing Partner Wade Cooper. Read more »

Appointing Our New Practice Chairs

Congratulations to Mike Held on his appointment as the firmwide chair of the Bankruptcy practice and to Justin Shipley on his appointment as the firmwide chair of the Finance practice.

JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards

Joe Magliolo has been recognized as a “Top Author” for White-Collar Defense in the 2026 JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards. These awards honor authors and firms whose content was most widely read by C-suite executives, in-house counsel, media members, and other professionals across the JD Supra platform during 2025. Read more »

‘D CEO’ and ACG Attorney of the Year Award Finalist

Evan Malloy has been selected as a finalist for the 13th Annual Mergers & Acquisitions Awards. Evan was recognized in the Dealmakers of the Year category as a finalist for Attorney of the Year. Presented by D CEO in partnership with the Association for Corporate Growth–DFW, it honors the most impactful North Texas transactions and the deal professionals behind them. Finalists are selected for their leadership, sophistication, and contributions to the region’s most significant mergers, acquisitions, and strategic transactions. Read more »

Developing Leaders

Jackson Walker has selected three attorneys to participate in leadership training programs offered by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). Lindsey Moorhead will serve as a Fellow, while Anne Derrig and Cody Vaughn will participate as Pathfinders.

Recognizing Achievements

During the fourth quarter of 2025 through the first quarter of 2026, the Firm received the following recognitions:

• Jackson Walker has been shortlisted by Managing IP for the 2026 Americas Awards for Firm of the Year in the United States for Patent Disputes and Trademark Disputes. Additionally, partner Shannon Zmud Teicher has been shortlisted for the Trademark Litigator (South) award. Read more »
• Jackson Walker has been recognized in the 2025 edition of “Law360 Pulse Prestige Leaders,” earning a spot among the top 10 firms with 251-600 attorneys for desirability to attorneys and law students. Read more »

In addition, the following individuals received notable achievements:

• Georgina Buckley-Graham was recognized by Scene in SA as a 2026 Rising Star.
• Victoria Argeroplos has been admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.
• 74 Jackson Walker attorneys were selected to Thomson Reuters’ 2026 “Texas Super Lawyers” list and 56 attorneys as “Texas Rising Stars.” Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement. Read more »
• Matthew Cavenaugh, Wade Cooper, and Kristhy Peguero were recognized in Lawdragon‘s 500 Leading Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers list. Read more »
• Nathaniel St. Clair, II was recognized among the top 100 patent attorneys ranked in Patexia’s 2026 Patent Intelligence Report. Read more »
• Ali Abazari, Alisha Mehta Adams, Leonard Dougal, Meghan Griffiths, Lindsey Moorhead, Michael Nasi, Benjamin Rhem, Denise Rose, Daniel Vineyard, and Peter Wahl were recognized in Lawdragon‘s 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers list. Read more »
• Chip Babcock, Marc Fuller, Bob Latham, Emilio Nicolas, Nate St. Clair, Paul Watler, and Shannon Zmud Teicher were recognized in Lawdragon‘s 500 Leading Global Entertainment, Sports & Media Lawyers. Read more »
• Edwin Buffmire, Tré Fischer, and David Moran were recognized among Lawdragon‘s lists of the 500 Global Antitrust & Competition leading lawyers. Read more »
• Dallas attorneys Adrian Allen, Vienna Flores Anaya, Miguel Ortiz, and Elizabeth Pittman were included in D Magazine’s 2026 “Best Lawyers Under 40” list recognizing outstanding young attorneys in the North Texas area. Read more »
• EB5 Investors Magazine recognized Christian Triantaphyllis as one of the “Top 25 Immigration Attorneys” and Catharine Yen as one of the “Top 10 Rising Stars” in its Top EB-5 Professionals of 2025. Read more »

Achieving Results for Clients

Attorneys across various practices and backgrounds come together to serve the needs of our clients. From the pitch to the end result, our teams include an array of JW attorneys who are involved at every stage of the representation:

• Jackson Walker played a significant role in a definitive defense victory in the Winter Storm Uri multidistrict litigation (MDL), one of the largest and most complex mass‑tort proceedings ever brought in Texas. On March 27, 2026, the Texas Supreme Court denied all mandamus petitions challenging the First Court of Appeals’ conclusive decision, ordering dismissal of all remaining claims against the hundreds of power generators in the Winter Storm Uri MDL. The team included Tré Fischer, Julia Mann, Breck Harrison, Noah Galton, and Meghan Griffiths. Read more »
• Jackson Walker team led by Carlos Treviño represented Verzatec Group in its acquisition of Ultra Tech Extrusions of Tennessee, Inc., a manufacturer of extruded edge banding, T-molding, and custom profiles for the furniture industry. The team also included Jackie Staple, Jessica Palvino, Ronald Kerridge, Robert Soza, Jr., Luke Bohmfalk, and Claire Zurovec. Read more »
• Jackson Walker team led by Scott Weatherford and Connor Kidd represented Velocis in a contentious land use and development dispute with the City of Bee Cave, Texas, culminating in a favorable settlement and the profitable sale of the development to aerospace company CesiumAstro. The team also included Pamela Madere, Christopher Bradford, and Cade Satterfield. Read more »
• Brandon Durrett, Jesse Lotay, Art Cavazos, Roderick Faulk, Daniel Maldonado, Peyton Fulgium, and Jared DeFelice represented MCM Energy Partners in connection with its acquisition of upstream oil and natural gas assets in the Southern Delaware Basin from Battalion Oil Corporation. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented Third Coast Bank, as administrative agent and lead arranger, in connection with a senior secured credit facility for AccessParks. The JW team was led by Sarah Christian, Brooke Yarborough, and Chiara Natale. Read more »
• Natalie Kosydar, Madison Alexander, Mica Yinger, and Aaron Pinegar represented Handling Systems and Conveyors, Inc. (“HSC”) in its acquisition by HKW, a middle‑market private equity firm focused on growth companies. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented Trammell Crow Company in connection with the transformative, multi‑phase transit‑oriented development (TOD) at Mockingbird Station in Dallas, Texas. The team was co-led by Bryan Birkeland and Anabelle Copeland, with key contributions from Bill Dahlstrom, Victoria Morris, and Abby Wilkinson. Read more »
• Following coordinated litigation and trademark proceedings on behalf of Otiima Industries, S.A., Jackson Walker secured preliminary injunctive relief and guided the client to a favorable resolution that preserves Otiima’s U.S. trademark rights and market position. The team was led by Nathaniel St. Clair, II, Devanshi Somaya, Chandler Stephens, Sara Borrelli, and Ryan Bruck, with assistance from paralegal Greg McCormack. Read more »
• Kevin Jones, Aaron Pinegar, Peter Wahl, Adrian Allen, Mica Yinger, and Amanda Miller represented Prophet Equity in its sale of Derby Fabricating Solutions, a premier manufacturer of die-cut solutions. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented ELM Utility Services in connection with a strategic growth investment by Tiger Infrastructure Partners, a private equity firm focused on middle-market infrastructure companies. The team advising ELM was led by Kevin Jones and Edwin Buffmire. The team also included Michael Laussade, Ann Leafstedt, Shari Mao, Robert McCutchan, Adrian Allen, Sami Landon, Rachel Saunders, Peyton Fulgium, Will Farmer, Greta Cowart, Steve Day, David Schlottman, and Nathan Smithson. Read more »
• Jackson Walker’s cross-disciplinary team led by Richard Waggoner and Danny Nappier represented Westerman Ltd. in connection with the negotiation and execution of a Stock Purchase Agreement for the sale of J-W Energy Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary J-W Power Company to USA Compression Partners, LP for total consideration of approximately $860 million. The team also included Natalie Kosydar, Emily Leitch, Ann Leafstedt, Shari Mao, Sami Landon, Antonio Partida, Aaron Pinegar, Steve Moore, Sarah Pai, David Schlottman, Steve Day, Sara Borrelli, Jonathan Bull, Robert Soza, John Jackson, and Erik Allison. Read more »

COMMUNITY IMPACT

• Victoria Morris was selected to The Real Estate Council (TREC) Associate Leadership Council (ALC) Class of 2026. Read more »
• Brittani Rollen was named Chair of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation (TCBF) for 2026-2027. Read more »
• Allison Allman was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to a three-year term on the Professional Ethics Committee for the State Bar of Texas. Read more »
• Christopher Thompson was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC). Read more »
• Georgina Buckley-Graham was reappointed to the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association (BCWBA) for another two-year tenure.
• Kelly Cobb was elected as a Board Member to Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
• Jed Morrison was selected to join the Board of Directors of FAVHR, the Foundation for Advancing Veterans’ Health Research.

EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS

Harmony Gala

Jackson Walker was proud to sponsor the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas Hearts in Harmony Gala, held on February 11 at the Witte Museum. The firm was represented at the event by Amanda Crouch and Daniel Maldonado, who joined fellow attendees in supporting the Center’s vital mission of providing grief support services to children and families throughout the South Texas community.

Standing Ovation Luncheon

Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) held its Standing Ovation Luncheon on February 23, honoring HOLT Group for the organization’s meaningful and longstanding partnership with YOSA. Ann Leafstedt, Lauren Ciminello, Shari Mao, and Carolyn Mulvey represented Jackson Walker at the event, celebrating HOLT Group’s dedicated commitment to supporting the arts and youth music education in San Antonio.

RECA Luncheon

Jackson Walker proudly sponsored the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA) February Luncheon where over 250 attendees listened to an inspiring conversation on the new MD Anderson cancer center and the future of healthcare across Texas. Jackson Walker attendees included Lenora DuBose, Pam Madere, Michelle Moore Smith, Scott Smith, and Tim Taylor.

Law Week Fun Run

Noah Speck, Jackie Staple, Jalen Johnson, Victoria Argeroplos, Christian Ryholt, and Vytas Petrulis represented Jackson Walker at the Houston Bar Association’s Annual John J. Eikenburg Law Week Fun Run. The charitable event raises funds for Pursuit Center, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. Jackson Walker was proud to sponsor.

Titans for Change

Frederick Sultan attended the inaugural Titans for Change Gala during the ABA Midyear Meeting in San Antonio. The Gala was jointly presented by the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, the Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights and Responsibilities, and the Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline.

HYLA Supper Club

On January 21, the HYLA Supper Club hosted an intimate dinner at Kiran’s, featuring Priya Coffey as the evening’s distinguished guest. Over the course of an engaging round-table conversation, Priya shared candid insights into her career, personal experiences, and professional journey. The evening was made all the more memorable by a personal appearance from Chef Kiran herself, who greeted the guests. The event was organized by Ariel Perez.

Dallas Arts District

Victoria Morris and Suzan Kedron led Jackson Walker’s sponsorship of the Dallas Arts District Annual Community Breakfast, held on January 13 at the Meyerson Symphony Center. The event brought together community leaders, arts advocates, and local professionals to celebrate the vibrant cultural landscape of the Dallas Arts District.

Leadership Celebration

Fred Sultan was honored at the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association’s Leadership Celebration, recognizing his outstanding leadership, expertise, and dedication to promoting justice and equity for the diverse LGBTQ+ community through advocacy, education, and collaboration within the legal profession. Jackson Walker was a proud sponsor of the event, which saw a great turnout of JW colleagues celebrating Fred’s well-deserved recognition.

Boy Scouts of America

Jackson Walker was proud to serve as a sponsor of the Boy Scouts of America Longhorn Council’s 2025 Distinguished Citizen Award Luncheon. The luncheon honored Katie Farmer, President and Chief Executive Officer of BNSF Railway, for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the community. The event was chaired by Sanjay Chandra of Trinity Investors, a valued Jackson Walker client.

Guardian of the Human Spirit

Jackson Walker proudly sponsored the Holocaust Museum Houston Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon where more than 1,000 guests joined to honor Linda Lait Burger for her extraordinary leadership, vision, and lifelong commitment to dignity, memory, and justice. Jackson Walker attorneys in attendance included Lonnie Schooler, Sarah Patel Pacheco, Bruce Ruzinsky, Jonathan Judkowitz, and Brit Nelson.

Women’s POD

Julia Mann shared her leadership journey with the Association of Corporate Growth (ACG) Women’s POD group. Julia’s insights on resilience and growth were truly inspiring, and a great reminder of the impact strong leadership can have on our community.

Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy

Jackson Walker proudly sponsored the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS) Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy event honoring Alistair Dawson. The celebration brought together leaders from across the legal community to recognize Dawson’s outstanding career, his dedication to advancing the practice of law, and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of trial and appellate specialists.

Deck the Trees

Joel Glover, a member of the Alley Theatre’s Board of Directors, and his wife, Julie Stephenson, served as co-chairs of the Alley Theatre’s 19th Annual Deck the Trees celebration. The event culminated in festive tree-lighting ceremonies held at both the Alley Theatre and the George R. Brown Convention Center. Through the generous support of attendees and sponsors, the event raised more than $175,000 in funding for the Alley Theatre’s education initiatives, community engagement efforts, and artistic programming.

Thaakat Foundation

In October, the Thaakat Foundation hosted its annual basketball tournament, a marquee fundraising event that generated over $150,000 in contributions to support the organization’s ongoing mission. JW was proud to serve as a sponsor of this year’s tournament.

Thankful Dinner

Daniel Maldonado, Gigi Girling, and Peyton Fulgium represented Jackson Walker at the Family Services Association’s annual Thankful Dinner on November 18. The farm-to-table event celebrated community, family, and the spirit of giving back.

Community Campus Day

Jackson Walker is a proud sponsor of United to Learn’s Community Campus Day, a campus enhancement initiative that brings together volunteers, corporate sponsors, and Dallas ISD campus leaders to strengthen learning environments across the district. Through private funding and hands-on volunteer engagement, Community Campus Day partners directly with schools to design and implement projects that align with each campus’s unique goals and support the success of both students and educators.

JW2 Dallas Stanley Korshak

JW2 Dallas welcomed valued female clients and friends to the iconic Stanley Korshak for an elegant evening of style and sophistication. Guests were treated to champagne, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and a specially curated fashion showcase, setting the perfect tone for the holiday season.

Holiday Giving

The Jackson Walker Houston office demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the community through its Adopt-an-Angel campaign, collectively sponsoring 174 angels this holiday season. Through the generosity of attorneys and business professionals, the office ensured that each angel received gifts and essential items for the holiday.

The Jackson Walker San Antonio office proudly partnered with Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA) this holiday season, selecting the organization’s transitional housing program as the beneficiary of the office’s annual gift drive. Team members came together to purchase and donate an estimated $1,500 to $1,700 worth of gifts for the twelve young adults enrolled in RMYA’s transitional housing program.

These materials are made available by Jackson Walker for informational purposes only, do not constitute legal advice, and are not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel. The laws of other states and nations may be entirely different from what is described. Your use of these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Jackson Walker. The facts and results of each case will vary, and no particular result can be guaranteed.

© 2026 Jackson Walker