October 2007
George Diaz-Arrastia participated in a panel discussion on handling legal disputes involving Latin America as part of the national convention of the Hispanic National Bar Association held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. George spoke on “Representing Latin American Clients in U.S. Courts and Coordinating the defense of U.S. Clients in Latin America.” Follow this link for a copy of George’s presentation. Other members of the panel were Eduardo L. Busó, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, GE Commercial Finance, Danbury, CN, Enrique Hernández Villegas, partner at Baker & McKenzie, Mexico City, Eric A. Tulla, partner at Rivera, Tulla & Ferrer, San Juan, PR, Prof. Luis Muñiz Argüelles, University of Puerto Rico School of Law, and Roberto Rendón, partner, Rendón, Guerrero y Muñoz Cuevas, Mexico City. [presentation attached].

October 2007
The Firm is a Gold Sponsor for the World Affairs Council of Houston Event “Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President,” with featured speaker Vincente Fox, former president of Mexico.
 

September 2007
The Firm supported the World Affairs Council of Houston event entitled, “Global Business Coalition:  Fighting Disease in Africa,” with featured speaker Richard Holbrooke, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and member of the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

September 2007
Andrew Schirrmeister spoke and presented a paper entitled “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Plaintiffs’ Efforts to Turn Product Stewardship Against Defendants” at an industry-sponsored toxic tort practice group meeting. A redacted version of Mr. Schirrmeister’s speech is attached.

September 2007
The firm has been active in its support of the Harris County judiciary. The firm has acted as underwriter for the campaigns of Judge Caroline Baker of the 151st District Court, Judge Grant Dorfman of the 129th District Court and Judge Martha Hill Jamison of the 164th District Court.

August 2007
Partner Mike Brem is presently in trial in Los Angeles in Tellez, et al. v. Dole Food Company, et al. and the case was the subject of an August 21, 2007 Wall Street Journal editorial.

August 2007
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Chevron and the Firm sponsored the World Affairs Council of Houston’s Event “Inside Nigeria,” with featured speaker Former Nigerian Minister of Finance, Nigozi Okonjo-Iweala. This Event was part of the Africa’s New Dawn 2007 Fall Speaker Series.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution, played a key role in Nigeria’s recent economic reforms during her tenure as Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs. She is credited with giving birth to a new era of transparency in the Ministry of Finance. Her efforts to fight corruption and to create job growth in Nigeria earned her international acclaim including TIME Magazine’s “Hero of the Year” in 2004.

August 2007
George Diaz-Arrastia and William Russell recently presented a speech in Mexico City to the Mexican Bar Association on international arbitration in Spanish titled: Aspectos Importantes de la ley de EE.UU. Sobre Arbitraje Internacional, presentación a La Barra Mexicana, Colegio de Abogados, México, D.F., 1 de Agosto de 2007.

July 2007
Will Russell was named by Chambers USA— America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in 2007 as one of the 52 “Leading Individuals” in the United States in international arbitration. From 2004 through 2006 Mr. Russell was named as one of eleven “Up-and-Coming” individuals in the world in international arbitration, only approximately three of which were from the U.S.

June 2007
Andrew Schirrmeister was elected Vice President of the World Affairs Council of Houston for 2007-2008. The World Affairs Council is brings world-class leaders and thinkers to Houston for the exchange of ideas in formats as diverse as luncheons, private dinners and corporate briefings, and is one of Houston’s most prestigious citizen forums. The Council presents all sides of current global issues, promotes better understanding of international relations and contributes to national and international policy debates.

June 2007
The firm has been active in its support of the Harris County judiciary. The firm has acted as underwriter for the campaigns of Judge Caroline Baker of the 151st District Court, Judge Grant Dorfman of the 129th District Court and Judge Martha Hill Jamison of the 164th District Court.

June 2007
According to Andrew Schirrmeister, plaintiffs’ lawyers specializing in toxic tort litigation are scrambling. On June 8, 2007, in Borg-Warner Corp. v. Flores, the Texas Supreme Court issued a significant opinion, which establishes a new “dose” requirement in asbestos litigation...more

June 2007
Will Russell was named by H Texas Magazine as one of "Houston's Top Lawyers" by the readers and Houston legal community.

June 2007
Michael L. Brem, Carolyn D. Roch, Laura F. Jones, and William W. Russell were named by Texas Monthly magazine as "Rising Stars" or "Super Lawyers" in the Texas legal community in 2007. Texas Monthly uses a statewide system of balloting, peer evaluation, and internal research to select less than 2.5% of all Texas lawyers as Rising Stars. In 2007, only seven lawyers in Texas were selected for the international category.

April 2007. Martindale Hubbell
William W. Russell was awarded an "AV" peer-review rating by Martindale Hubble for meeting the highest standards for professional capability and ethics. Martindale Hubbell explains “An AV rating is a significant accomplishment— a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.” For more information, see http://www.martindale.com/ratings_explanation
 

April 2007
The Firm is pleased to serve as a supporter of The Texas Supreme Court Historical Society.  The Society is a private non-profit organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of the history of the Supreme Court of Texas.  The Society conducts educational programs, supports historical research, publishes books, journals, and electronic materials, and collects antiques and artifacts related to the court’s history.  These activities increase the public’s awareness of the Court’s contributions to our nation’s rich constitutional heritage.
http://www.supremecourthistory.org/06_research/06.html

March 2007
The Firm is pleased to serve as a supporter of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is an aggregator of information, resources and a promoter of interests related to the Hispanic Community both locally and nationwide.  It is a catalyst for businesses and professionals to create and develop resources needed to build profitable and dynamic businesses.
www.houstonhispanicchamber.com

JANUARY 2007
The Firm is pleased to serve as a gold circle patron for the Minority Corporate Counsel Association.  The MCCA was founded in 1997 and advocates for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law department sand the law firms that serve them.  MCCA accomplishes its mission through the collection and dissemination of information bout diversity in the legal profession. 
http://www.mcca.com/