ArkBar News

Steven Abed David R. Bachman David Allen Bailey Judge Kristine G. Baker Steven King Benson Wes Bradford Judge Robin J. Carroll Bradley A. Chambless Emmett B. (Chip) Chiles IV Keith L. Chrestman Kim Flanery Coats Christy Tosh Crider Marcus M. Crider Susan K. Crowley Niki Trang Cung Judge Catherine Palmer Dean Darby Doan Jennifer Doan David “Randall” Drake Jane W. Duke Janelle Evyan Zina Hill Frazier Karey W. Gardner Andrew D. Gleason Melissa Glover Robert Gminski Tina R. Green M. Joseph Grider Laura D. Grimes Audra Katharine Hamilton Steve W. Haralson Sarah Harbour-Swander Jeffrey W. Hatfield Bradley F. Hathaway Rebecca D. Hattabaugh Kyle Heffley Wanda Brown Hiebert Anthony A. Hilliard Charles R. Hoskyn David A. Hughes Jonathan K. Johnson Todd Jones Jason B. Kelley Matthew R. King Jay W. Kutchka Lance Lee Judge Mark D. Leverett Todd P. Lewis Louis S. Lim Nga Mahfouz L. Randolph Mano Harvey “Jay” C. Martin, Jr. Marianne Elizabeth McBeth Virginia Y. Middleton Rodney P. Moore Lance Eric Newkirk Stephen B. Niswanger John Darren Owen Nealon M. Pomtree Scott D. Provencher Winonia Griffin Roberts Stacey D. Ryall Jack A. Sallee D. Scott Schrader Robert M. Sexton Clay E. Simpson James Harmon Smith III James H. Swindle Kathleen Talbott Bruce B. Tidwell Amy E. Tu Jennifer Horton Tucker Gray Allen Turner U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe Clement S. Walls III W. Brant Warrick Billy Bob Webb Dr. Evelyn E. (Jeannie) Winston Judge Elizabeth A. Wise Wendy S. Wood Scott Edward Wray Regina A. Young ArkBar's Fall Mid-Year Meeting

The Association held its Mid-Year Meeting virtually November 9-12, 2021. Thank you to the sponsors, volunteer speakers, planners and registrants who made the meeting a success! The meeting included four days of CLE seminars presented livestream by a professional production company, MP Productions, at the Bar Center.

Thank you to the Chair and Program Planners: Mid-Year Chair and Probate and Trust Law Planner: Lillian Dee Davenport; Appellate Law Track Planner: Chief Judge Brandon Harrison; Family Law Track Planner: BrookeAugusta Ware; Elder Law Track Planner: Maya Goree; Probate and Trust Law Planner: Ashley Phillips; Section of Taxation: Adam Reid.

Thank you to the Sponsors: Platinum Sponsor: BXS Insurance; Gold Sponsors: Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP and Simmons Private Wealth; Bronze Sponsors: ArkBar Sections: Elder Law, Probate and Trust Law, Section of Taxation, and Family Law. See the full agenda and list of speakers at www.arkbar.com/midyearmeeting. Watch for the courses available on CLE CENTRAL in the future. Mid-Year registrants will have access to the courses from December 1, 2021, through February 1, 2022.

Top photo: Mid-Year Chair Lillian Dee Davenport behind the scenes during the production. Bottom photo: local tax experts Chris Travis, Michelle Perez and Adam Reid.

Wright Lindsey Jennings partner Gordon S. Rather, Jr., has been honored with the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service in the Eastern District of Arkansas. Cynthia Nance, dean emerita and the Nathan G. Gordon Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law, has received the Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service in the Western District of Arkansas by the Eighth Circuit Bar Association. Dennis Zolper received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Arkansas State University Alumni Association. Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives recognized Kimberly B. Dale of Branch, Thompson, Warmath & Dale as Volunteer of the Year. Jamie Huffman Jones of Friday, Eldredge & Clark was recently presented with the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel Joseph R. Olshan Award. UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law recognized three distinguished alumni: Judge Joyce Williams Warren, Sherry Bartley with Mitchell Williams, and Price Gardner with the Friday Firm.

Wright Lindsey Jennings partner David L. Jones was elected a national director of the Defense Research Institute. Governor Asa Hutchinson has appointed Karen Whatley as Chief Legal Counsel for the Governor’s Office and Jordan Burgess as Director of Legislative and Agency Affairs. Jamie Huffman Jones of Friday, Eldredge & Clark has been appointed to serve as Chair on the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Model Jury Instructions – Civil. J. Cliff McKinney has been appointed a member of the Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Real Property Acts of the Uniform Law Commission (ULC). McKinney has also been appointed a Council Member of the Legislative Committee of the ULC. Southern Bancorp CEO Darrin Williams has been appointed by the White House to the 15-member board that advises the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Nathan Looney has been named to the National Alumni Board of Directors Class of 2024 by the Arkansas Alumni Association. The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers announced the election of John D. Coulter of McMath Woods P.A. as a new Fellow. ArkBar's new Appellate Law Section elected the following officers: Troy A. Price, Chair; Brett D. Watson, Vice-Chair; Secretary Gerry Schulze.

Lion Legal Services announced that Tara Pool is the firm’s newest partner. Taylor King Law announced that Leanna Hubbard, Ross King and Jacob White have joined the firm as associates. Quattlebaum, Grooms & Tull PLLC announced the return of the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, a former federal judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and the addition of John M. Jewell and Shelley Fleisch-Djurica to the law firm. The firm also welcomed four new associates to the law firm: Sharri Bell has joined the firm’s office in Springdale, and Byron T. Keaton, Laura L. O’Hara and Noah P. Watson have joined the office in Little Rock. Ashlea Brown has been promoted from associate corporate counsel to executive vice president and corporate counsel at Nabholz Construction of Conway, and Dana Nichols is the new associate corporate counsel. Mary Claire Hyatt is the new general counsel for the Fayetteville School District. Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C. announced the addition of three attorneys. Peyton Hildebrand has joined the law firm’s office in Rogers, while Savannah Johnston and Austin Reed have joined the office in Little Rock.

This spring, students will be back in the courtroom for the 2022 Arkansas High School Mock Trial Competition.* Regional competitions will be held in Fayetteville, Jonesboro, and Pine Bluff on February 12, 2022, and the state championship will be held in Little Rock on March 5, 2022.

“Participants and committee members are excited about the opportunity to return to an in-person competition this year,” said Adrienne Griffis, co-chair of the LawRelated Education Committee’s Mock Trial Subcommittee. “The competition offers a chance for attorneys across the state to have a positive impact on high school students by showcasing the inner workings of the legal system.” To that end, the Mock Trial Subcommittee seeks attorney volunteers to serve as scoring and presiding judges during the competition. No mock trial experience is necessary. Volunteer registration will be available here, beginning in January: www. arkbar.com/ARMockTrial. The Mock Trial Subcommittee appreciates your support! *Subject to change in the event of health and safety concerns that necessitate a virtual competition.

Mock Trial

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