JW Women Helping Health Care Clients Thrive

Transcription

1 Winter 2013 In This Issue JW Women Helping Health Care Clients Thrive Pipeline to ship Women Promoted to in 2013 Leading the Charge Retta Miller - Knowing What Matters Serving Our Community Latest Additions to Our Talent Pool Susan Halsey - President of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Chandler Rings the NYSE Opening Bell with Client CST Brands Jackson Walker Attorneys and Others Enjoyed a Recent UT Women Law Caucus Wine Tasting in Austin An Aviation Law Newsletter JW Women Helping Health Care Clients Thrive Health care has always been one of the most dynamic and challenging areas of law but perhaps at no time more than the present. Signed into law on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act has the potential to bring the most sweeping changes to U.S. health care in decades, and its effects will continue to be felt for many years to come. I think the biggest challenge facing health care providers today is staying on top of the ever-changing health care legislation, said Virginia Alverson Mimmack, a partner in the firm s Health Care practice group. The way health care is being provided and paid for is rapidly changing, and providers have to quickly adapt to these changes to stay in compliance all while trying to provide quality medical care. We assist our clients by making sure they understand the changes being made to health care delivery systems, health care reimbursement models, and the health care laws. We also assist them in proactively structuring their businesses and practices to survive and even thrive amidst these policy shifts. Fortunately for their clients, JW attorneys have the insight and experience to make sure clients stay ahead of the curve. The firm s robust Health Care practice includes several women partners who are leading the way in providing practical, strategic advice to clients in every aspect of the health care industry. We work to anticipate where the health care concepts are going and assist in developing strategies to prepare clients to be able to take advantage of future opportunities in the marketplace. The biggest challenge is positioning our health care entities to be ready to adapt to changes and define their future roles in health care, said JW partner Mary Emma Karam. The entire health care community is in a state of flux, and fear is pervasive in the industry. Entities in all sectors are afraid that they will fall behind and fail to adapt to the direction that the market ultimately goes. We work to anticipate where the health care concepts are going and assist in developing strategies to prepare clients to be able to take advantage of future opportunities in the marketplace. The shifting regulatory landscape for health care providers has implications for both the transactional and litigation side of the legal practice. A number of women partners in JW s Litigation group have developed expertise in representing health care clients in litigation and arbitration, as well as counseling their clients to help them avoid regulatory pitfalls. Changes at the state and federal level that apply to health care coverage have a significant impact on the types of litigation we see, said JW partner JoAnn Dalrymple. The changes related to health care reform have already started and will continue to have a substantial trickle-down effect on our clients. (Continued on page 2) Connect is published by the law firm of Jackson Walker L.L.P. More information regarding Jackson Walker may be found on the Internet at Jackson Walker L.L.P.

2 JW Women Helping Health Care Clients (cont.) Below are brief profiles of women partners in JW s Health Care and Litigation practices who are helping clients navigate this challenging legal landscape: Carla Cox is an experienced health care regulatory lawyer who represents many types of health care providers in state and federal health care regulatory and enforcement matters. She also has extensive litigation experience in both state and federal court. During her more than 30 years in practice, Carla has earned a reputation for helping her clients adapt and thrive in a challenging regulatory environment. JoAnn Dalrymple represents benefit plans, plan administrators and fiduciaries, employers and insurers in ERISA, Medicare and Medicaid, and other federal and state law benefit disputes in litigation and arbitration. Her litigation practice also involves defense representation in class action and complex litigation, arbitration of complex business disputes, and administrative law proceedings. She also counsels her insurance and benefit plan clients on contracting and compliance matters. Paula Denney represents employers, plan administrators, plan fiduciaries and insurers in ERISA, COBRA, Medicare, Medicaid, and HIPAA-related litigation and arbitrations, and provides practical advice regarding compliance with those statutes. She also advises clients on more general corporate compliance, risk management and employment-related issues and represents them in related administrative proceedings, arbitrations and lawsuits. Mary Emma Karam is a recognized authority in the field of health care/managed care law. Based on her expertise, she was appointed by the Texas Attorney General to serve a term as Special Outside Counsel to the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Texas for consultation in health care/managed care matters for the state ( ). For the past 25 years, Mary Emma has advised clients in health care and managed care contracting and counseled them in litigation matters involving emerging health care issues. Virginia Alverson Mimmack focuses her practice on providing legal services to the health care industry and has advised clients regarding Medicare and Medicaid coverage and reimbursement, corporate compliance and governance, managed care contracting, public law, physician employment issues, and special regulatory issues affecting health care providers and suppliers, including fraud and abuse. She has also assisted clients with transactions related to the purchase and sale of hospital facilities, physician practice groups, and the creation of joint ventures. Pipeline to ship Jackson Walker has received recognition this year for its commitment to supporting and promoting women attorneys. In April 2013, Jackson Walker received the Outstanding Firm Award from the Travis County Women Lawyers Association and Travis County Women Lawyers Foundation. The award is presented each year to a law firm or organization that demonstrates outstanding support for women and, in particular, is focused on the development and retention of women attorneys. In March 2013, Jackson Walker was recognized by The American Lawyer as a leader in promoting women to partnership. In its feature, Women Watch 2013: Gaining Ground, Jackson Walker was named one of only five out of 183 national law firms at which women constituted a majority of new partner classes. Of those five firms, Jackson Walker had the highest percentage with 63.6 percent. Also in March 2013, Texas Lawyer featured Jackson Walker partner Marisela Peña in its article, Wonder Women: New BigTex s on How They Chose Their Firms. In the story, Ms. Peña discusses her history at Jackson Walker, which began with a summer clerkship through the Houston Bar Association Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession program, and her sense of the support for women lawyers in the firm. 2

3 Women Promoted to in 2013 Monica Messick () - Monica Pace Messick focuses her practice primarily on energy lending transactions, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), business entity formation and governance, contract negotiations and general corporate work. Ms. Messick s finance practice consists of representation of regional and national banks and borrowers in lending transactions ranging in value from $250,000 to $80,000,000 and secured primarily by oil and gas properties. Ms. Messick received her B.B.A., summa cum laude, from Stetson University and her J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law. Sarah Mitchell () - Sarah Mitchell s practice consists of representing clients in employment litigation in federal and state courts and related proceedings. Her nonlitigation practice includes advising and counseling employers regarding legal compliance and risk management on a variety of employment and human resources issues. Ms. Mitchell received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Baylor University and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Texas Tech University, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. Crystal Parker (Houston) - Crystal J. Parker practices business and commercial litigation, with a focus on defamation, business disparagement, shareholder oppression claims, and breach of contract claims. She has represented clients as varied as a Fortune 100 technology company, famous media personalities, a local community newspaper, and a shareholder in a closely held corporation. Ms. Parker has represented clients in state court, federal courts, arbitration, on appeals and in mandamus proceedings, and before the EEOC. Ms. Parker received her B.A., cum laude, in English from Angelo State University and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center. Marisela Peña Gonzalez (Houston) - Marisela Gonzalez represents clients both public and private, profit and not for profit in a variety of corporate matters. A large part of her practice is devoted to assisting clients with joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and securities offerings, including underwritten offerings. Ms. Gonzalez also has experience in public company reporting requirements, corporate governance issues, entity formation and commercial contract negotiation. Ms. Gonzalez received her B.A. in Government and Mexican American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center. Stephanie Sparks () - Stephanie Sparks focuses on business and commercial litigation. She prosecutes and defends large and small businesses in both state and federal courts, and her experience includes trials as well as arbitration hearings. Ms. Sparks received her B.A. in the Plan II Honors Program, with honors, from the University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas, where she was a member of the University of Texas Friar Society. Elena Villaseñor Sullivan (San Antonio) - Elena Villaseñor Sullivan is a trial and appellate attorney and international trade attorney. In both practice areas, Ms. Sullivan serves as an advisor and counselor to clients seeking to prevent legal quandaries and a zealous advocate to clients who find themselves in the midst of litigation. Ms. Sullivan s international trade practice involves developing import, export, and FCPA compliance programs, and much more. Ms. Sullivan received her B.A. in International Studies, cum laude, from Boston College, and her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School. Erin Tuggle (Austin) - Erin Tuggle focuses her practice on estate planning and the administration of estates and trusts, with a particular emphasis on complex federal tax issues and the preservation of wealth through efficient transfer techniques. Ms. Tuggle is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Estate Planning and Probate Law. She received her B.S.B.A. in Accounting, summa cum laude, from the University of Arkansas and her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law. 3

4 Leading the Charge Susan Halsey Fort Worth Suzan Kedron Julia Mann San Antonio Susan Mead Retta Miller Jackson Walker s commitment to women goes well beyond recruiting and retention; our women attorneys play leadership roles at all levels of firm management, including serving on the management, compensation, and other committees, and as practice group leaders. In addition to promoting career advancement, Jackson Walker supports its women attorneys in their efforts to make an impact in the community. Here are just a few examples of JW women who are leading the way both in their respective areas of law and in the communities they serve: Retta Miller chairs the firm s Litigation section (its largest practice group) and is also a member of the firm s management and compensation committees. Retta is also a longtime community leader through organizations that help women reach their full potential. She has served as president of the Women s Foundation and was on the boards of the YWCA, the Family Place (a domestic violence shelter), and the affiliate of Komen for the Cure. Additionally, she served as President of the affiliate of Susan G. Komen. Julia Mann has recently stepped into the role of Litigation city leader for the San Antonio office. As a partner in the Litigation section of Jackson Walker, Julia represents a wide range of clients in civil litigation, arbitration and appeals, with a primary focus on commercial litigation matters. In addition to maintaining a robust practice, Julia serves on the Board of Directors of the Bexar County Women s Bar Association and was part of the Leadership San Antonio Class of Susan Mead and Suzan Kedron have long played leadership roles in the firm s Land Use & Municipal Law practice and through their work on some of the city s most important development projects, they are helping to shape the future of, as well. Spanning more than 30 years, Susan Mead s practice has earned her recognition as one of the top land use lawyers in the country. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the Urban Land Institute, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and as an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. She has been active in neighborhood preservation, redevelopment of cities, and art organizations for most of her career. In her legal practice, Suzan Kedron represents real estate developers, land owners and public entities in a variety of land use and real estate development issues. She also serves on the firm s Diversity committee. She is heavily involved with The Real Estate Council, having served on several committees and currently serving on the Leadership Council Steering Committee. Suzan is also on the Executive Committee Board of Directors for the Area Habitat for Humanity. Susan Halsey is managing partner of the firm s Fort Worth office. She also chairs the firm s substantial Real Estate practice (approximately 40 lawyers in six offices) and serves on the firm s management and compensation committees. In addition to managing her own practice, Susan recently took the reins as chair of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, becoming the second woman to serve in that role in the organization s 131-year history. 4

5 Retta Miller Knowing What Matters It s one thing to be a talented litigator. It takes a thorough knowledge of the law, a knack for strategic planning, and the ability to think on your feet. It s an altogether different matter to understand the big picture that surrounds litigation what it means, when to use it, and why it matters. Great litigators have a keen ability to stay one step ahead of the opposition. Great business lawyers understand that their clients business goals come first. By both definitions, Retta Miller is an attorney who gets it. From the small details to the big picture, from the courtroom to the boardroom, she understands that success comes down to one thing: knowing what matters. In trial or arbitration, that often means preparation: being ready for any possibility, planning a flexible strategy, and combing through every detail. That kind of preparation is especially crucial in complicated, bet-thecompany cases, such as the two-and-a-half month trial that Retta tried in federal court as part of a five-person trial team. The final victory in that case which was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the top 10 defense verdicts of the year was a reflection of the entire trial team s relentless preparation and attention to detail. As Retta says, By being the best prepared lawyer in the room, you can present the facts and law in the manner that best benefits your client. Litigation should not be an end itself, but rather a means of accomplishing a business goal. This can be especially true in arbitration, an arena in which Retta has significant experience. Arbitrations frequently involve limited discovery, which means the cross-examination is blind, she says. As a result, you have to continually anticipate your opponent s next move. That is particularly challenging. In terms of serving clients, knowing what matters often comes down to understanding the client s business. Having an overall view of the client s particular goals, needs, and circumstances helps lawyers like Retta understand how best to pursue litigation matters. Litigation should not be an end itself, but rather a means of accomplishing a business goal, Retta says. Whether that is protecting the client s assets, enforcing an agreement, minimizing a negative consequence, or pursuing some other goal by truly understanding your client s business and needs, you can respond to them more quickly and creatively. And then there s another level of what matters, one that goes beyond the practice of law. For Retta, that s her avid involvement in the community through organizations that help women and girls reach their full potential. She has served as president of the Women s Foundation and on the boards of the YWCA, the Family Place (a domestic violence shelter), and the affiliate of Komen for the Cure. She also served as the founding chair of the Women s Business Conference an event that is attended by approximately 2,000 women every year and on the board of the Women s Business Council Southwest. These activities have allowed me to meet many extraordinary people who share my passion for improving the lives of women in the community, Retta says. Flawlessly preparing for trial. Achieving the client s goals. Giving back to the community. For Retta Miller, these are the things that matter, and success means never losing sight of them. 5

6 Serving Our Community Jackson Walker supports women not only in their professional careers but also in their efforts to make an impact in the community. Over the years, JW women have found many different ways to give back through their participation in charitable activities and pro bono work. Here are just a few examples of JW women who are making a difference. I chaired the OneRun for Cancer Support Community North Texas (formerly Gilda s Club) on September 28, 2013 at Reverchon Park in. We raised over $200,000 in support of CSCNT s mission, which is to ensure that no one has to go through cancer alone and that all people affected by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. - Monica Blacker I volunteered with LIFT (the Literacy Institute for Texas) for over a year teaching literacy classes for two hours every week. It was a very significant time contribution but well worth the effort. - Sara Chellete While I have served on a number of nonprofit boards, the charitable work that has meant the most to me grew out of an Adopt-a-School program that the firm participated in many years ago. My assigned student, Joan, became homeless as a junior in high school when her mother was placed in a drug rehab program. I took Joan in, and she graduated from high school while living with me. Joan is now a mother with five children and has completed an associate s degree. When Joan again found herself homeless, I purchased a house for her and her children in a safe neighborhood with excellent schools. I am grateful that my career at Jackson Walker has given me the ability to make a significant difference in Joan s life. - Carla Cox I am a Trustee of Skidmore College, my alma mater in Saratoga Springs, NY, as well as a member of the Alumni Board and President s Council. I ve also taken on a six-year commitment as Co-Chair of the College s Capital Campaign with the goal of raising $220 million - $240 million. I estimate my time commitment to be hours a month consisting of conference calls and meetings in NYC and Saratoga, and traveling to meet fellow alums around the country. Our primary goal in raising money for the College is to build a new Center for Integrative Science and increase financial aid beyond the 46 percent of students who receive it now. It is a labor of love and truly gratifying, especially since I was a scholarship student myself. - Nancy Hamilton Giving back to the community through civic and charitable activities and pro bono work is very important to me. Most recently, I started and chaired a committee to support a school in Southeast that is 90 percent minority. Our goal is to provide much-needed resources to assist in educating the students, and I am pleased to say that in an area of the city with a significant dropout rate, students from this particular elementary school have a 100 percent high school graduation rate. I also serve as volunteer counsel to St. Joseph Residence, a home in Oak Cliff for the indigent elderly. I do volunteer legal work for Catholic Charities of and other Diocesan outreach programs; I am a member of Attorneys Serving the Community; and I have served on the host committee for St. Jude Children s Research Hospital s event. For the past few years, I have given over 200 hours in pro bono legal work and am a member of the Texas Bar Association Pro Bono College for 2012 and Mary Emma Karam I have served on the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for more than a decade and am a past Board President and current Executive Committee member. I m passionate about the work CASA does to serve the needs of children removed from their homes for abuse or neglect. CASA just announced a major grant and campaign to enable the agency to reach its goal of having a volunteer advocate assigned to each and every child in protective care. - Kathleen LaValle 6

7 Serving Our Community (cont.) I serve as a Board Member of Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (VLSCT), an organization dedicated to helping low-income individuals access the civil justice system by providing free legal advice and representation from volunteer attorneys. Based on its outstanding commitment to pro bono legal services in Travis County, Jackson Walker was recently honored with the VLSCT s Covington Award. - Marilyn Montano I am deeply involved with World Women Global Council (WWGC), a very diverse nonprofit that works to empower marginalized women and families around the world and locally. We are currently assisting WWGC s youth team - Youth Initiative for Women Leadership (YIWL) - with its efforts to raise funds for micro-loans to help women start small businesses to support themselves and their families. They are planning an event called Festival for Microfinance on February 1, Microfinance is something I have become passionate about - it is tested and powerful way to help women become selfsufficient, rather than a charitable handout. - Joan Sostek I have been taking pro bono cases through the Volunteer Attorney Program. I have primarily been taking divorce cases for women with children. I think this is a very grassroots way to give back to the community and to have a direct impact in helping women in need. - Katherine Staton I volunteer for Caritas, a nonprofit organization that serves the homeless, working poor, and documented refugees in Travis County. - Patty Tomasco I recently served as Chair of the Travis County Women Lawyers Foundation and will remain on the board as Past-Chair until July. We had a record-breaking year in terms of grant making and attendance at our April 26 fundraiser. I was also proud to see that Jackson Walker was named Outstanding Firm by the Travis County Women Lawyers Association (sister organization to the Foundation). I also serve as Treasurer and Board member of the Estate Planning Council of Central Texas. - Erin Tuggle I am on the National Board for Lambda Legal and I just finished a two-year term as Co-Chair for the Leadership Committee for Lambda Legal. I am also a board member for the WHO (Women Helping Others) Foundation. - Tracey Wallace Nancy Hamilton, Chip Babcock, and I recently received an award from the Texas Civil Rights Project for taking on a pro bono case for an internet publication called The Burnt Orange Report. Because of the significant amount of time I spent on the case, I also became a member of the Texas State Bar Pro Bono College. - Audra Welter 7

8 Latest Additions to Our Talent Pool Taelor Allen San Antonio Monica Blacker Angela Blevins Austin Amanda Crouch San Antonio Angeles Garcia Houston Jill Harris Anna Irion Houston Irma Jacobson Austin Danielle Mirabal Houston Paige Nobles Saba Syed Fort Worth Noelle Trifiro Austin 8

9 Susan Halsey - President of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Jackson Walker partner Susan Halsey, who is managing partner of the firm s Fort Worth office and the head of the firm s Real Estate practice group, was recently elected Chair of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. She is the second woman to serve as board chair in the Fort Worth Chamber s 131-year history. Susan was featured in news articles by several publications, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Business Press, and the Fort Worth ChamberLetter. In interviews, she discussed her longtime commitment to the Fort Worth community, which includes previous involvement with the Chamber and a founding leadership role with the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council. She also discussed the goals she hopes to accomplish during her tenure as chair, which include a focus on transportation issues and improving educational opportunities. Susan was also recently appointed to the board of directors of the North Texas Commission, a regional organization made up of public and private sector leaders, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations Congratulations to Susan, a true leader in our firm and in her community! 3 Stephanie Chandler Rings the NYSE Opening Bell with Client CST Brands Jackson Walker Stephanie Chandler accompanied her client CST Brands, Inc. to the New York Stock Exchange, where CST Brands Chairman, President and CEO Kim Bowers, along with members of the company s Board of Directors and leadership team, rang the opening bell on Dec. 3, Ms. Chandler has led Jackson Walker s team in its representation of CST Brands up to and through its successful spinoff from Valero Energy Corp. on May 1, Based in San Antonio, CST Brands is now the second largest publicly traded fuel and convenience merchandise retailer in North America. Its stock trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CST. Other members of the Jackson Walker team representing CST Brands include Steve Jacobs, Ann Leafstedt, Dan Chapman, Michael Laussade, Shari Mao, Nina Kang, and Andrew Solomon. Ms. Chandler s practice emphasizes securities transactions, reporting and compliance; mergers and acquisitions; technology licensing and commercialization, and general corporate work. She assists clients with Jackson Walker Stephanie Chandler joins CST Brands leadership team at the New York Stock Exchange. Photo credit: New York Stock Exchange both the formation of organizations, public and private offering of securities, governance issues and shareholder proxy contests, as well as Securities Act and Exchange Act compliance matters. Her track record of working with clients from the earliest stages of their development through significant liquidity events, typically in the role of outside general counsel managing the legal issues related to each growth stage, allows her to bring a uniquely broad-based perspective to the matters she handles. 9

10 Jackson Walker Attorneys and Others Enjoyed a Recent UT Women Law Caucus Wine Tasting in Austin Austin 100 Congress Avenue, Suite 1100 Austin, Texas (fax) 901 Main Street, Suite 6000, Texas (fax) Fort Worth 777 Main Street, Suite 2100 Fort Worth, Texas (fax) Houston 1401 McKinney Street, Suite 1900 Houston, Texas (fax) San Angelo 301 W. Beauregard Avenue, Suite 200 San Angelo, Texas (fax) San Antonio 112 E. Pecan Street, Suite 2400 San Antonio, Texas (fax) Texarkana 6002 Summerfield, Suite B Texarkana, Texas (fax)