Jared Pace passes the Bar and becomes Firm's newest attorney.
Jared Pace is a proud native Texan, born in Denison and raised in Wichita Falls. After clerking with SettlePou for several semesters during law school, Mr. Pace joined the Firm in August as a full-time associate. The Firm welcomed him as a member of its Creditor's Rights section where he specializes in loan workouts and restructuring, lender liability, bankruptcy, litigation, and lending.
Michael S. Byrd speaks on "Legal & Accounting 101: Preparing for Private Practice" at 2011 Grand Rounds at UT Southwestern Medical School.
Michael S. Byrd spoke in Dallas, Texas to UT Southwestern residents at Grand Rounds in 2011. Mr. Byrd spoke to residents and fellows on business and contracting issues that doctors will face upon entering private practice.
Michael S. Byrd speaks on "Maximizing the Worth of Your Practice" at the 2011 Annual Meeting for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Boston, Massachusetts.
Michael S. Byrd spoke at the 2011 Annual Meeting for The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ("ASAPS") in Boston Massachusetts. Mr. Byrd spoke to an international audience of plastic surgeons on legal strategies to extract the maximum value from a medical practice.
Michael S. Byrd speaks on "Asset Protection Planning and Litigation Risk" at The 2011 Annual Meeting for the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons in San Antonio, Texas.
Michael S. Byrd spoke at the 2011 Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas for the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons ("TSPS"). Mr. Byrd spoke to Texas plastic surgeons on the litigation risks faced in the business of medicine as well as tips for asset protection planning.
Dallas Morning News Names SettlePou as One of the Top 100 Places to Work for the 3rd Year in a Row.
For the 3rd year in a row, SettlePou has been named by the Dallas Morning News as one of the Top 100 Places to Work in the metroplex. Recognition is based solely on employee feedback in 6 areas: direction, execution, career, managers, conditions, and pay and benefits. 1,149 companies were invited to participate in the 2011 Top 100 Places to Work and 62,459 employees throughout the metroplex received surveys. SettlePou is 12th among the top small companies, up from 30th in 2010. More importantly, SettlePou is 1 of 24 companies that have made this list 3 years in a row. SettlePou is only 1 of 2 law firms to be recognized the past 3 years.
Allen Smith and Michael Byrd selected to 2011 Texas Super Lawyers
J. Allen Smith and Michael S. Byrd are featured in the October edition of Texas Monthly magazine as 2011 Super Lawyers in Texas. This is the 5th year for Mr. Smith to receive this honor as part of a select group of attorneys in the state based on a rigorous multi-step evaluation process that incorporates peer recognition and professional achievement. Mr. Smith is the Chairman of the Commercial Litigation section of the firm and has 27 years of trial practice experience. Mr. Smith has been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the area of civil trial practice for 19 years.
Mr. Byrd is being recognized for the first time as a Super Lawyer after being recognized as a Texas Rising Star for the past 2 years. Mr. Byrd is the Chairman of the Business Counsel Services section of the firm. Mr. Byrd uses his background in litigation to advice businesses in multiple sectors. Mr. Byrd and his group in particular represent physicians, dentists, and other providers across the country in business and healthcare issues.
Cliff Wade to speak at Advance Collection Strategies seminar.
The Advance Collection Strategies seminar is scheduled for November 3rd, and Mr. Wade is presenting his articles on two topics including a Case Law Update and Differences Between Commercial and Consumer Collections.
Cliff Wade recently spoke on a panel discussion at the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law with Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan and other DFW bankruptcy lawyers.
The panel discussion, which was directed to law students with interest in a career as a bankruptcy lawyer, was organized by the DFW Area Young Bankruptcy Lawyers Association and included five bankruptcy lawyers with various careers in bankruptcy including the judiciary, a U.S. Trustee with the Attorney General’s Office, debtor’s lawyer, and a creditor’s lawyer (Mr. Wade). The event was well attended by the law students, who were energized by the lively discussion between the panel members’ past and current work experiences and career insight in light of the current economic environment.
David M. O’Dens successfully defends Top Texas jury verdict.
On August 31, 2011, David M. O’Dens, Chair of SettlePou’s Creditor’s Rights Division successfully defended, in the Dallas Court of Appeals, a Top Texas Verdict of 2009. In June 2009, Mr. O’Dens obtained a jury verdict in favor of Wachovia Small Business Capital in the amount of $546,288.00 which was recognized by Texas Lawyer as one of the top Texas jury verdicts for contract cases in 2009. Wachovia Small Business Capital v. Daniel E. Manley, et al. (Cause No. DC-07-03746-D). The Wachovia case involved a suit on an SBA promissory note and for judicial foreclosure of the collateral securing the promissory note. The Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment rejecting all of the judgment debtors’ arguments on appeal. A copy of the opinion can be found at http://www.5thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/files/05/recent/091228F.PDF.
Mr. O’Dens also secured a Top Texas Verdict in 2010 in Graham Mortgage Corp. v. Goff Development, Ltd. (Cause No. DC-08-15405-A). The Graham Mortgage case was the No. 1 jury verdict in real estate transactions cases in 2010. The final judgment entered in the case awarded Graham Mortgage principal and interest through the date of judgment in the total amount of $2,636,796.50, plus $40,524.50 in attorneys’ fees for prosecuting the claim, for a total award of $2,677,321.00.
J. Allen Smith makes presentation to Dallas Bar Association Real Estate Section
J. Allen Smith presented "Eminent Domain 101 for Real Estate Lawyers" to the Dallas Bar Association Real Estate Section. The presentation was in the Belo Mansion and covered Texas Condemnation law and recent changes by the Texas legislature to this area of law going into effect September 2011.
Texas Minority Counsel Conference
SettlePou is a sponsor of the upcoming 19th Annual Texas Minority Counsel Conference being held in Austin, Texas on September 7-9, 2011. The Texas Minority Counsel Conference has become the premier client development, networking and CLE event for minority and women attorneys in Texas.
Bradford Adatto speaks at the North Texas Paralegal Group Association on "National Health Care Reform"
Bradford Adatto spoke in Dallas, TX at the North Texas Paralegal Group Association monthly meeting on "National Health Care Reform" on May 12, 2011. The presentation covered the passage of the law, the constitutionality challenges and breakdown of the law over the next several years.
Katherine L. Killingsworth has been elected as the Secretary of the State Bar of Texas Animal Law Section.
The Animal Law Section of the State Bar of Texas promotes and assists its attorney members in the study and understanding of the laws, regulations, and court decisions dealing with legal issues involving animals.
J. Allen Smith makes presentation on National webinar
J. Allen Smith presented a webinar on Taxes for the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. Mr. Smith spoke on his recently published article in the Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration regarding the topic of Ad Valorem taxes to a national audience consisting of OAAA members.
Marsha L. Dekan has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Real Property Section of the Dallas Bar Association
Cliff A. Wade is participant on panel speaking to first year law students at the SMU Dedman School of Law for Legal Interviewing 101 Program
At the request of the Office of Career Services for SMU Dedman School of Law, Cliff A. Wade participated on a February panel discussion to share and teach legal interviewing skills to first year SMU law students.
Michael S. Byrd speaks on “Business and Contracting Strategies for Entering Private Practice” at the 2011 Senior Residents Conference for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Michael S. Byrd spoke at the 2011 Senior Residents Conference in Nashville, Tennessee for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (“ASPS”). Mr. Byrd spoke to senior plastic surgery residents on the various business and contracting issues that the doctors will face upon entering private practice.
J. Allen Smith is featured in Managing Partner Roundtable in the Texas Lawyer.
J Allen Smith is featured in the December 27, 2010 Texas Lawyer as a participant in a managing partner roundtable consisting of managing partners from various size Texas law firms. The article addresses the state of the legal industry in Texas and is on the front page of the issue. To see a copy of the article, please click here.
J. Allen Smith is published in the Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration.
The Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration Is a joint publication of the International Association of Assessing Officers and the International Property Tax Institute. This journal publishes scholarly and practical article on assessment administration, tax policy and appraisal on a national basis. SettlePou’s Allen Smith has co-authored the article A National Review of Uniformity in Ad Valorem Tax Valuation of Billboard Property published in the fall issue. (pp. 61-70 of Volume 7, Issue 3). Mr. Smith joined Walter Allen, managing director of Integra Realty resources in its Memphis Tennessee office in the preparation of this article which is circulated to more than 7,800 readers and placed in libraries across the country.
