YLS In Brief November 2014

November 2014 - Volume 18

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in brief newsletter

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editor’s letter

Brooke Moore Editor-in-Chief

With the new bar year in full swing, I hope all YLSers have found a place to jump in and be involved. We have several talented young lawyers returning this year to contribute to our newsletter. I would like to thank all of the former editors and contributors for their hard work and to congratulate them for the first place award from the American Bar Association for YLS Outstanding Newsletter. This year we welcome back Arkansas Traveler Review husband and wife editor duo, Trey and Mary Cooper; What Judges Want Editor Megan Wooster; and Tasty Tips Editor Rashauna Norment. We also welcome Colleen Youngdahl to the editorial team as our new Tech Tips Editor!

In this issue we will introduce you to your YLS committee chairs. We also get to know Attorney Veteran Stacy Williams in our Veterans Spotlight, as

we celebrate our Veterans this month and give special thanks to our veteran colleagues. Michael Cantrell brings us an interview with Judge Morris Shepard “Buzz” Arnold providing some great practice tips for young lawyers while Rashauna Norment tempts our taste buds with a quick and easy Sautéed Shrimp recipe. Then Trey and Mary Cooper take us along on a unique dining experience at the Clinton Presidential Center.

In Brief is always eager to involve more young lawyers. Currently, we are looking to fill positions on our Editorial team. If you are looking to get plugged into YLS or the Bar Association I encourage you to consider joining us on the Editorial team or as a contributor. We are looking to fill the Flying Solo Editor. The YLS Communications Committee is also hoping to find volunteers to contribute monthly case law

updates for current legal issues.

Additionally, the Communications Committee is looking for contributors for a public video series that will consist of short informational videos to educate and assist the public with various legal issues. There are also opportunities to volunteer pro bono legal services and to assist with projects of other committees within YLS. If you are interested in serving in any of the aforementioned roles, have any further questions, or just need help getting plugged in to YLS, feel free to email me at k.brooke. moore@gmail.com. There are opportunities that fit everyone’s availability and interest. I encourage everyone to find a place to serve and grow in YLS!

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Content YLS News .5

11. fullfilling the mission Jessica Yarbrough

from the battlefield .7 to the courtroom

12. Arkansas Traveler Mary & Trey Cooper

Stacy Williams

Hats Off .7

13. Tasty Tips Rashauna Norment

What Judges Want .8 The Hon. Morris Sheppard Arnold Michael A. Cantrell

New Members .10

14. committee chairs

16.

biographical sketches

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Moore

Youngdahl

Wooster

Cooper

Norment

Cooper

See page 16 for biographical sketches.

Yls in brief

editors Editor-In-Chief Brooke Moore Tasty Tips Editor Rashauna Norment Arkansas Traveler Co-Editors Trey & Mary Cooper What Judges Want Editor Megan Wooster Tech Tips Editor Colleen Youngdahl Flying Solo Editor Vacant

YLS In Brief is published online quarterly by the Arkansas Bar Association.

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yls news arkbar young lawyers section

executive council

volunteer opportunity

2015 mock trial competition This year’s chair of ArkBar’s Mock Trial Committee, Jordan Tinsley, encourages YLS members to volunteer in this year’s competition.

“I have been involved in the Arkansas high school mock trial competition as either a participant, an attorney coach, or a member of the Mock Trial Committee for almost as long as I can remember,” Tinsely said. “I can’t think of a more valuable opportunity for young attorneys in Arkansas. Not only does volunteering for the mock trial competition allow you to positively influence high school students across the state, but it also provides you with uncanny insight into your own strengths and weaknesses as a litigator by forcing you to really think about what the students did well and what they needed to do better. If you’re looking for an opportunity to serve the community and educate young people while learning a ton about your own skills as a trial lawyer, look no further.”

The Mock Trial Competition will be held on March 6-7, 2015. For the second year, we will be hosting a two-day round robin tournament in Little Rock. There will be three preliminary rounds, a semi-final round between the top four teams, and a championship round between the top two teams.

We need over 100 attorneys and judges who are willing to serve as scoring judge or presiding judge in More. For more information on Mock Trial, visit: http:// ace.arkbar.com/ARMockTrial/Home

chair jessica s. yarbrough Chair-Elect Matthew L. Fryar Secretary/Treasurer charley E. Swann Immediate Past Chair J. cliff mckinney District A Reps. aubrey barr William M. Prettyman III District B Reps. caleb garcia Gregory J. Northen Stephanie A. Linam District C Reps.

Chase A. Carmichael Leslie J. Ligon Christopher Alan Riteenhouse

At Large Reps.

Amber Davis Tanner brooke moore U of A School of Law Rep.

tiffany nicole godwin UALR School of Law Rep.

nicholas williams

In Brief wins 1st place ABA YLD awards yls newsletter The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division awarded ArkBar’s In Brief newsletter with an award of achievement for outstanding activities and accomplishments during the 2013-2014 Bar Year. This is the second year in a row for this honor.

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From the battlefied to the courtroom by stacy williams I joined the Army in 2000, when I was 17-years old. For summer vacation, in between my junior and senior years of high school, I went to basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as a split-option Soldier. Even though I lived in a small town in north-central Arkansas my unit was in North Little Rock at Camp Robinson. I was not MOS qualified, but I attended battle assembly with the 489th Engineer Battalion.

After graduating valedictorian from my high school class, I returned to Fort Jackson to continue my advanced individual training as a paralegal specialist, 27D. After 14 weeks of Army training, I began my undergraduate education at a small community college, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, so I could continue to live with my parents. After my freshmen year, I transferred to the University of Central Arkansas, where I began my sophomore year. After the fall semester 2002, our country was at war and the combat engineer unit where I was a member was needed in theater. We were put on mobilization orders on February 10, 2003, and I successfully withdrew from classes at UCA. We were moved to Fort Hood, Texas to prepare for deployment on February 25, and after two months of training we left the country on Good Friday, April 18, 2003, and arrived in Kuwait on Easter Sunday the 20th. We remained in Kuwait for two months until our equipment arrived by boat. Then two companies convoyed to Balad, Iraq. As the only paralegal for the unit, I was flown by black hawk forward a few weeks later. We stayed in Balad until July of 2003, when we moved to Fallujah where we remained tasked forced under the 82d Airborne Division for the rest of our deployment. I was promoted from specialist to sergeant during this time. In March of 2004, as the Army prepared to hand Fallujah off to the Marines, we prepared for redeployment. We convoyed out of

thank you to those who have served On November 11 we celebrated our Veterans and recognized our Attorney Veteran colleagues for their service to our country and our profession. In this issue we salute Attorney Veteran Stacy Williams for her contributions and for sharing her journey from the battlefield to the courtroom. Stacy is a 2010 graduate of UALR Bowen School of Law and currently serves as Courtroom Deputy to Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe. Thank you Stacy and thanks to all of our Attorney Veteran colleagues!

Iraq in March of 2004, to clean our vehicles and wait for a flight out of the country. We flew out of Kuwait on April 15, 2004, 360 days after landing there the year before.

As anyone can imagine, a war zone at 20-21 years of age changes a person. My goals were more defined, and being three semesters behind, I was on a faster graduation track. I had worked with the law for a year and decided that was were my heart was. I changed my major to political science and started working toward law school. I graduated in December of 2005, exactly three semesters later than if I would have never deployed.

I had remained with the 489th Engineer Battalion throughout this entire time but had been promoted to staff sergeant and above the rank for the slot there. I transferred to the 22nd Legal Organization Detachment (LOD) and focused on my law degree always knowing that one day I would attempt to become a JAG officer. I

graduated from law school in May of 2010 and passed the February 2011 bar. January 11, 2014, I left for Direct Commission Course at Fort Benning, Georgia to begin my transformation into a JAG officer. After graduating from DCC on February 21st, I traveled to The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia. I graduated on May 8th.

Currently, I practice trial defense for the 22nd LOD.

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hATS OFF If you have information on YLS members who deserve a Hats Off or would like to submit ideas for articles, please contact the Editor of In Brief, Brooke Moore at k.brooke.moore@gmail.com.

Lauren Hamilton became partner at the law firm of Hilburn, Calhoon, Harper, Pruniski and Calhoun, Ltd. in North Little Rock.

Barrett and Sarah Baber welcomed their second child, a girl named Elliott Elizabeth Baber, on June 13, 2014.

She joins her 2.5 year old big brother Brooks.

Janice and Greg Northen welcomed their first child on June 11, 2014. His name is Clark James Northen.

Josh McFadden of Davis Law Firm in Fayetteville has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Whitney Matney received her license to practice law April 11, 2014. She has since joined forces with Bickett & Trentham Law Partners, LLP, who have

offices in Bentonville and Gravette, Arkansas. You can go to www.bmtlawfirm.com for information about her practice areas.

Georgia and Kurt Meredith welcomed Jonathan Bennett Meredith on July 25, weighing 9 lbs at 19.5 inches long. Big brother Carter and big sister Hollis think he hung the moon.

Bennett’s parents agree.

Jessica Yarbrough has been selected to participate as a Young Lawyers Division Fellow of the Labor & Employment Section of the American Bar Association.

Daniel Smith has announced the opening of his new law firm, Daniel H. Smith, PLLC. His office is in the Simmons Tower downtown located at 425 W. Capitol Avenue, Suite 237, Little Rock, AR 72201 and his office number is (501) 906-7000. After four years of practicing with another firm here in Little Rock he decided to start his own practice. He is currently a solo practitioner and his practice areas include estate planning, probate, taxation, commercial transactions, and corporate law. Smith graduated from the University of Florida with an LL.M. in Taxation in 2010; received a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bowen School of Law in 2009, and received a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from the University of Arkansas in 2006.

Megan E. Wooster, owner of M.W. Law, PLLC and YLS editor, married Michael C. Densberger on October 11, 2014.

Mary and Carl F. “Trey” Cooper, III welcomed their second child, Jackson G. “Jax” Cooper, into their family on August 29, 2014. Mary is an associate at Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, P.C., and Trey is an associate at Dover Dixon Horne, PLLC. Mary and Trey are also co-editors of the In Brief article “Arkansas Traveler.”

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What Judges Want The Honorable Morris Sheppard Arnold with michael a. cantrell

Morris Sheppard “Buzz� Arnold is a senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. A legal scholar, Arnold has authored several books and many articles on law and English legal history. Prior to his appointment to the federal bench, Arnold was a member of the law faculty at Cambridge University and taught, or was asked to teach, at seven of the top ten law schools in the United States. Arnold has been the recipient of many academic honors, including five honorary degrees.

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Q & A with the honorable morris sheppard arnold What common mistakes do you see young attorneys making?

Some young lawyers have a tendency to put all their eggs in one basket. They will rely on and argue a single point of law that is a loser to the exclusion of all other points. That can be disastrous.

What is the best thing a young attorney can do to prepare for oral argument?

A lawyer must know the record cold. Oral argument is the lawyer’s chance to teach the court. Don’t let it slip by. A judge will often have a question about what is in the record and it is never an excuse to say that you were not the trial lawyer. We scour records, of course, but you should never take the chance that the court might miss something that’s in there.

How can attorneys compose briefs most effectively?

I was fond of telling lawyers that the word “brief” is not just a term of art, it is also a descriptive term! Don’t pound things to fuzz. For instance, it is a waste of time citing a lot of cases on the test for summary judgment and discussing the principles that govern it. If we don’t know that, you’re in pretty bad shape already.

What one thing can an attorney do outside the courtroom to best guarantee success?

This is going to be a very boring answer, one worthy of Polonius, but it is the truth. Woody Allen said, correctly, that 90% of life is showing up. Put your feet on the floor early in the morning and get going. Answer your mail, return your phone calls, prepare assiduously. You can win cases, or concessions in a negotiation, simply by being better prepared than the other person. Never underestimate the value of hard work. This is what Holmes meant when he talked about faith in effort.

What formative experiences did you have as a young attorney that helped you become a better attorney?

Considerate and patient judges helped me get over a lot of rough spots. This gave me a considerable boost.

How has the legal profession changed for the better since you began practicing law? For the worse?

The law is much different from what it was when I started law school almost 50 years ago. In the federal courts, trials have all but disappeared and have been replaced by discovery and motion practice. So there is a lot more paper. As far as substantive law

is concerned, a federal court is no place for someone who has an aversion to section numbers and acronyms. The bureaucraticliberal state has swamped the private-ordering that was characteristic of the common law. I do not view any of these developments favorably.

You have served both as a trial court judge and as an appellate judge. What advice would you give to a trial lawyer who has a case before an appellate court?

I would advise a lawyer who is an appellant that he or she is in serious difficulty. In my court, appellants win only about 15% of the time and a criminal defendant almost never wins. A judge on my court was once asked at a lawyers’ conference how to win an appeal. He answered, “Win at trial!”

What are you up to now that you have retired from the bench?

I do a lot of speaking at law schools around the country, particularly at Federalist Society events, and I do more moot courts than I used to. I am also continuing to study and write about the history of colonial Arkansas.

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Congratulations to the new members admitted to the practice of law October 2014

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New forms already scheduled for release.

The ArkBar Docs library is now available. Attorneys gain access to over 180 legal documents for $199/year. These templates ask questions and automatically create customized documents based on the answers provided.

ArkBar Docs retains client information to make future documents easier and more efficient. When new forms are added, subscribers receive update notifications.

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Lauren Murphy Eldridge Preston Tull Eldridge Lauren Mary Ann Elenbaas Christopher Ayres Fasel Daniel Robert Feild William P. Feland Daniel DeMotte Ford Thomas J. Fosko J. Ryan Fowler Charles Wesley Fowler Claire Collins Frantz Katie Lee Freeman Matthew Gary Gallagher Susan Victoria Gammill Jerry D. Garner Trent Chancey Garner Tyler Clinton Ginn William Frank Godbold IV Evelyn Diane Gomez Tori B. Gordon Jay Wesley Gorman Riley A. Graber Amos James Gregory Carolyn Therese Harder Ashley Michelle Harris Justin Thomas Heimer Grayson Tyler Hinojosa Elizabeth A. Gooch Hollowell Blake Parker Hoyt Pierce Gray Hunter Jason Anthony Hutcheson Hannah Joy Jeppsen Kevin Nicholas Jones Joseph Samuel Joslin Matthew Kezhaya Linda R. Klama David Frederick Koehler Kevin William Lammers Mallory Elizabeth Langston Kathleen Nicole Lestage Brian Harry Light Jack Porter Lofton Howard Brett Manis Anthony James Marelle Matthew Marvel Mathis Mark Nathan Matney Zach Adam Mayo Heather Rooney McBride Mary Kathleen McCarroll Drew Michael Milner Ashley Caroline Mitchell

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fullfilling the mission by jessica s. yarbrough Originally published in the Fall 2014 issue of The Arkansas Lawyer magazine.

I am pleased to report that dedicated members of the Young Lawyers Section are fulfilling our mission of service to the community and the profession one step at a time.

Arkansas Young Lawyers have received national recognition in being featured in the September edition of The Affiliate, which is an international publication for all organizations affiliated with the American Bar Association. The ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Affiliate Network consists of over 300 young lawyer organizations from around the world. Thanks to all the hard work and dedication of Arkansas YLS members, the world now knows about the difference we are making. The article is available to American Bar Association members via the ABA website: http:// www.americanbar.org/publications/ the_affiliate/2014/september-october/affiliate_spotlight_arkansas_bar_ association_young_lawyers_section. html.

to Arkansas and/or Pulaski County, and others who have just reached the age of majority.

The Pro Bono Committee had all hands on deck in Jefferson County at an Expungement Clinic, held at the Jefferson County 6th Division Circuit Court on October 4, 2014, in which approximately 60 individuals were served.

YLS members continue to have a successful presence at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the new admittees. Each new lawyer was welcomed into the Association and received an electronic version of the New Admittee Survival Guide, which includes helpful information from Arkansas Bar membership benefits to tracking billable hours.

YLS members were honored to contribute to the success of Wills for Heroes, held on September 11, 2014, at the Bar Center. Not only were contributions made through time and presence, but also through sponsoring the insurance coverage for the event.

As some members extended a warm welcome to the newcomers, others assisted with the How to Practice Law in Arkansas Seminar, held on October 9-10, 2014. This year’s seminar incorporated more hands-on activities in which attendees were able to actively engage in solving hypothetical situations. Participants were able to attend one of two workshops (Slip & Fall or Handling a Divorce/Custody Case) and put their knowledge into practice to conclude the two-day event.

Hats off to the Citizenship Education committee co-chairs John Rainwater and Melissa Grisham who partnered with Cory Childs and the Harold Flowers Law Society for a voter registration drive at K-Mart on Rodney Parham in Little Rock. Those registered included individuals who had recently relocated

The Legal Procedure for Small Business Owners Workshop held at the University of Central Arkansas was a great success, thanks to YLS members Anthony McMullen, Joey Price, and Madeline Moore. The presenters covered information about the structure of lawsuits in the event that the company

is sued, and how business owners are able to circumvent litigation and labor and employment issues. In its debut, the Workshop welcomed 15 business owners and received rave reviews from those in attendance.

YLS is on the move and is flowing at a steady pace of fullfiling the mission of community enrichment and professional development. Stay tuned for the Minority Outreach Committee College Road Tours, and the Anti-Bullying Programs that are slated to launch in the spring. 

Citizenship Education Committee Co-Chair John Rainwater at the voter registration drive.

Pro-Bono Committee Co-Chair Joycelyn Bell at the Expungement Clinic.

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Yls in brief

arkansas traveler

by mary & trey cooper Forty-Two at the Clinton Presidential Center

Located in the Clinton Presidential Center, Forty-Two offers a unique lunch experience that every Arkansan should enjoy. The restaurant is below the Presidential Library and is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. The dining area is dimly lit with white table cloths and crystal stemware, and a view of the Arkansas River.

The menu offers a blend of the familiar with a fine dining twist.

Lunch at Forty-Two will not break the bank with selections ranging from $7.00 to $12.00.

Mary ordered the Delta Fish and Chips, which is described on the menu as, “Buttermilk fried catfish, hand-cut fries, lemon wedge, shaved red onion, and our pickled okra tartar sauce.

Served with our pickled pepper and spiced vegetable slaw, chow-chow, and a side of our house made pepper vinegar.” While it sounded fancy, it was your basic fish and chips. It did come out scalding, obviously fresh from the fryer. As for the tastiness, it was just okay – nothing special and not particularly flavorful. It was good but not great.

Although the fish and fries were not mind blowing, the atmosphere and location made up for the menu’s mediocrity.

I opted for the Arkansas Chicken Biscuit, which is described on the menu as, “Southern Fried Chicken Breast on our Honey & Herb Biscuit with Dijonaise and our

Sweet and Spicy Pickles,” and it is served with house made potato chips. The fried chicken breast was juicy and not too greasy, and the biscuit’s honey and herb taste complimented the chicken very nicely. Don’t let the term “biscuit” fool you though because it was more than I could eat. The house made potato chips were crispy and delicious.

Whether you are in downtown Little Rock for work or visiting the Clinton Presidential Library, FortyTwo is worth a try. The ambiance and super tight security will make you feel like you are lunching at a fancy restaurant without the usual fancy prices.

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Yls in brief

tasty tips

sauteed shrimp by rashauna norment Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15 – 20 minutes Ingredients 30 – 40 medium shrimp (or 20-30 large shrimp): thawed (if frozen), deveined, peeled, tails removed 1 tomato, chopped ¾ cup onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon jalapeno peppers, chopped (optional) 4 basil leaves, chopped Salt and pepper (according to taste preference) ¼ - ½ cup melted butter sauce 1 tablespoon olive oil Butter Sauce 1 cup butter 2 tablespoons milk 1/8 – ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ - ½ teaspoon pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon lemon juice

Directions To make the butter sauce, whip butter and milk together in a medium sized bowl. Add salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and lemon juice and mix well In a large skillet, add olive oil and melt ¼ cup butter sauce over medium high heat Season shrimp (remove tails) with salt and pepper Place shrimp into skillet, spacing evenly. Maintain medium high heat and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the underside of the shrimp is golden brown (timing may depend on the size of the shrimp) Once underside of shrimp is golden brown, flip shrimp over and add ¼ cup of melted butter sauce and cook for 5 – 10 minutes, or until golden brown While the second side of the shrimp is cooking, add tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers and basil leaves to skillet and sauté in the butter sauce Halfway through cooking the shrimp, stir all ingredients together Lower heat to a simmer for 1 – 2 minutes, then serve This dish can be served with mashed potatoes, pasta, or rice, and with steamed vegetables. It is easy to customize and personalize this dish!

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YLS 2014-15 Committee Chairs Join us in welcoming our committee chairs.

See page 16 for biographical sketches.

Citizenship Committee

Communications Committee

Disaster Relief Committee

John Rainwater & Melissa Grisham

Brooke Moore

Matt Fryar

Legal Education Committee

Minority Outreach Committee

Pro Bono Committee

Tory Lewis and Amber Davis-Tanner

Caleb Garcia

William Prettyman & Joceyln Bell

Recruitment & Social Committee Greg Northen, Chase Charmicael & Matt Fryar Bell

Charmicael

Garcia

Lewis

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Rainwater

Moore

Fryar

Tanner

Northen

Grisham

Prettyman

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biographical sketches of yls committee chairs and in Brief editors Joycelyn Bell is a staff attorney with Center for Arkansas Legal Services, where she is the primary attorney for bankruptcy matters. Bell began her public interest work on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. where she served as a staff assistant for a United States Senator from Arkansas assisting constituents with various issues. It was this work; however, that made her want to find a way to combine her two passions—public service and the law. Every day she is able to align her passion with the goal to improve the lives of low-income Arkansans by championing equal access to justice for all regardless of economic or social circumstances. Prior to joining the Center, she was a practicing attorney in Little Rock with extensive experience in Chapter 13 and 7 bankruptcies. Joycelyn graduated from Henderson State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Management; earned a Masters of Arts from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and her Juris Doctorate from William H. Bowen School of Law. While in law school, she was one of two recipients chosen nationally to receive the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Award. Joycelyn is admitted to the Arkansas Bar and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Arkansas. She is a member of the Debtor/Creditor Bar, Pulaski County Bar, Arkansas Bar Association, and American Bar Association. Bell is also an adjunct professor at the University for Phoenix, where she teaches business law.

Chase A. Carmichael is a native of El Dorado, Arkansas, where he currently resides and is an associate

in PPGMR’s El Dorado office. Chase’s practice is focused on appellate advocacy and trial litigation. He has represented insurance companies and their policyholders in both state and federal court. In addition to insurance defense he has represented clients before the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, and the Social Security Administration. He served for five years on the Board of Directors for El Dorado Habitat for Humanity, Inc. and currently volunteers on the Volunteer Management Committee for the Greater Arkansas Red Cross.

Chase served as President of the Union County Bar Association in 2012 and he currently serves as a district representative for the Young Lawyer Section of the Arkansas Bar Association. Chase graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 2008, where he served as a Note & Comment Editor for the Journal of Food Law & Policy. Prior to law school, he attended Ouachita Baptist University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History.

He was also active in OBU’s nationally recognized IPDA debate team, the student government, and the Carl Goodson Honor’s Program.

Mary G. Cooper, arkansas Traveler Review Co-Editor, is an associate at Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon, & Galchus, P.C. in Little Rock and practices labor and employment law and civil and business litigation.

Trey Cooper, arkansas Traveler Review Co-Editor, is an associate

at Dover Dixon Horne PLLC, in Little Rock, with a practice focused on general and commercial litigation. Trey is married to Mary G. Cooper, arkansas Traveler Review Co-Editor. Mary and Trey have practiced law since 2007 and have been married since 2010. They have two sons, Cross and Jackson.

Matthew L. Fryar, a native of Royal, Arkansas, is a partner with Cypert, Crouch, Clark & Harwell, P.L.L.C. and his primary areas of practice are civil litigation, creditors’ rights and collections, contract law, and property law. Matt obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Communications from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in 2006.

He then went on to attend the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville and graduated magna cum laude with a Juris Doctor Degree in 2009. Matt is a member of the American Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association, and the Washington County Bar Association.

Within the Arkansas Bar Association, he is currently the Chair Elect of the Young Lawyers Section, chairs the Editorial Board for Handbooks, is in his second term in the House of Delegates, and graduated from the 2013-2014 Leadership Academy. He also volunteers with the Washington County Teen Court program and the Lee Elementary Watch DOGS, is a member of the Springdale Rotary Club, and is on the boards of directors for the Springdale Public Library and Habitat for Humanity of Washington County, on which he serves as Treasurer. Matt was named to the NWA Business Journal Fast 15 and graduated from the 2010-2011 Springdale Chamber of Commerce

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ArkBar Handbooks are your shortcut to fast answers for your clients! Whether it is a substantive law question or a procedural issue, let ArkBar Handbooks be your guide. Learn from local leading lawyers in the following fields: Handling Appeals, Revocable Trusts, Probate, Domestic Relations, Bankruptcy, Real Estate Title Standards, Statute of Limitations, Debtor/Creditor, Workers Compensation, and Elder Law.” —Matthew L. Fryar Cypert, Crouch, Clark & Harwell, PLLC Co-Chair of the Editorial Board for Handbooks

For more information go to www.arkbar.com under the “For Attorneys” link or contact Michele Glasgow at 501-375-4606 or mglasgow@arkbar.com.

More handbooks coming soon!

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yls i n b r i e f Leadership Academy. Matt and his wife, Cori, reside in Springdale, Arkansas, with their daughters, Katie and Anna. Matt spends all of his free time with his family, can name all of the Disney princesses, is proficient at dressing Barbies, and loves watching his children grow and learn. Matt and Cori are members of First Baptist Church of Rogers. Cori is a fifth grade teacher at Lee Elementary in the Springdale School District.

Caleb Garcia serves as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Little Rock. He graduated with Honors from UALS Bowen School of Law and is licensed to practice in Arkansas and Texas. He is a recipient of the William H. Bowen School of Law Outstanding Public Service Award and serves as Hispanic National Bar Association DeputyRegion XII, House of Delegates Representative for District B, and Young Lawyers Section Executive Council District B Representative.

Melissa Grisham is an attorney at Hosto & Buchan, P.L.L.C. where she works in the Commercial Litigation Department practicing predominately Creditor-Debtor Law. She is a qualified Attorney Ad Litem and a volunteer at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arkansas. Melissa graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Leadership Studies. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. While in law school, she completed the Women, Children and Social Justice Clinic, where she studied domestic violence and the impacts it has on children. It was this work that allowed Melissa to identify her passion – helping victims of domestic violence get the support they deserve.

Melissa is admitted to the Arkansas Bar and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Arkansas. She is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Pro Bono Committee, Legal Education

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Committee, and has volunteered to head a new YLS Handbook on Domestic Violence.

Tory H. Lewis is an attorney with Friday, Eldredge & Clark LLP in Little Rock. Her practice focuses on business litigation and appellate advocacy.

A native of Alpena, Arkansas, Tory received her undergraduate degree in from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and her law school degree from Vanderbilt University, where she graduated first in her class. Tory has clerked for the Honorable J. Leon Holmes, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and the Honorable Lavenski R. Smith, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She is an avid runner and an involved member of The Summit Church in North Little Rock.

Brooke Moore is a native of Batesville, Arkansas and the owner of the Law Office of K. Brooke Moore, an Elder Law practice located in Sherwood focused primarily on Medicaid and

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yls i n b r i e f Veterans Benefits Law. She is a VAaccredited attorney serving on the Lawyers Assisting Military Personnel committee, Women in the Profession committee, and the YLS Pro Bono committee. Brooke is a 2005 graduate of UALR obtaining a BA in Political Science with a minor in Journalism and a 2010 graduate of UALR Bowen School of Law. Brooke graduated from the Arkansas Bar Association Leadership Academy in 2013 and is a member of the Leadership Academy Alumni committee, is serving her second term as an at-large member of the YLS Executive Council and as the Editor-In-Chief of the YLS In Brief newsletter, and is excited to be participating on the SRL Task Force Committee on Limited Scope Representation. Brooke lives in Sherwood with her husband, Captain Adam Moore, an active duty Army National Guardsman, and their three children: Parker, Brodie, and Kinlee.

She is an active volunteer in the North Little Rock School District and with 127, a group providing support

to foster and adoptive parents at Fellowship North church.

Rashauna Norment, Tasty Tips Editor, is a patent attorney with Rashauna Norment Law Firm, PLLC where she provides legal services to business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors concerning patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other business matters related to Intellectual Property. She can be reached at Rashauna@NormentLawFirm.com or 501-319-7875.

Gregory J. Northen is an Associate with Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, P.C. Greg’s practice areas include employment law, wage & hour law, labor law, civil and business litigation, and health care law. Greg attended Harding University, where he was a member of the Alpha Chi Honors Society and Pi Sigma Alpha, and graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Public Administration.

He was admitted to practice in 2011 after graduating cum laude from the

University of Arkansas School of Law, where he served as the for the Journal of Food Note & Comment Editor Law and Policy and as a representative to the American Bar Association National Moot Court Competition. He is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, serving on the personnel committee and as executive council representative for the Young Lawyers Section.

He is also a member of the Pulaski County Bar Association, American Health Law Association, Central Member of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Arkansas, Board of Directors for the Maumelle Chamber of Commerce, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Committee for the Future.

John M. Rainwater is an attorney with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, P.A. John’s practice areas include civil defense, social security disability, personal injury, and bankruptcy. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Arkansas and a 2009 graduate of UALR Bowen School of Law. He is also a member of the Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski

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yls i n b r i e f County Bar Association, and Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association. John is the Treasurer of the Pulaski County Debtor-Creditor Bar Association, a 2014 graduate of the Arkansas Bar Association Leadership Academy, and has been named among the top 100 Trial Lawyers.

Amber Davis-Tanner is a litigation attorney. She has represented clients in breach of contract, toxic tort, products liability, employment litigation, and Freedom of Information Act matters. She has handled appeals and argued in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She has been recognized as an Associate to Watch by Chambers USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and named a Future Star in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation. Amber attended the

University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law as a Bowen Scholar, receiving a full tuition academic scholarship. She graduated with high honors in 2011 as the top-ranked student in her law school class and served as Executive Editor of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review. She received the highest score on the Arkansas Bar Examination in the summer of 2011, the year she was licensed to practice law. Amber graduated magna cum laude from Hendrix College in 2005 where she received a Bachelor of Arts in History and became a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Arkansas Bar Association, Pulaski County Bar Association, Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers Defense Research Institute, William R. Overton Inn of Court, and Co-Chair of

the Girls of Promise Committee of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas.

Megan Wooster, What Judges Want Editor, is the owner of M.W. Law, PLLC, a domestic relations litigation firm, in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas. She can be contacted at (501) 3723700 or megan@mwlawpllc.com.

Colleen A. Youngdahl is a partner at Tinsley & Youngdahl, PLLC and her practice areas include FELA, Union and Labor Law, Criminal Defense, and Hispanic Legal Services. Colleen is most passionate about fighting for the rights of American workers, and representing the less-fortunate.

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