Grapevine

McAfee & Taft received top marks in the 2022 edition of the exclusive Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and was the only Oklahoma law firm to receive the top Band 1 ranking in all nine major categories of legal practice — Corporate/Commercial, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Healthcare, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation, Real Estate, and Tax.

Additionally, for the fourth consecutive year, McAfee & Taft was the sole Oklahoma firm to earn a Band 1 ranking in the category of Litigation. In addition to firm honors, 38 McAfee & Taft attorneys – including four first-time honorees – were singled out for individual honors. Those named to the prestigious list for the very first time were Bonner J. Gonzalez (Tax), Zachary A.P. Oubre (Intellectual property), Terra Lord Parten (Healthcare) and J. Todd Woolery (Energy & Natural Resources). Returning honorees in the “Corporate/Commercial” category were W. Chris Coleman and Joshua D. Smith. Timothy J. Bomhoff was top-ranked in “Energy & Natural Resources,” and J. Derek Hardberger, Robert J. Joyce and Garry L. Keele, II were honored in “Environment.” Elizabeth Dalton, Michael E. Joseph, and Patricia Rogers were once again named in the “Healthcare” category. Returning honorees for “Intellectual Property” were Rachel Blue, Clifford C. Dougherty, III, Jessica John Bowman, John A. Kenney, Michael J. LaBrie and Anthony Rahhal. “Labor & Employment” honorees were Courtney Bru, Michael F. Lauderdale, Brandon P. Long, Charles S. Plumb, Tony G. Puckett, W. Kirk Turner and Nathan L. Whatley. Honorees for “Litigation: General Commercial” were Mary Quinn Cooper, William S. Leach and Drew

Robert L. Garbrecht, Lloyd T. Hardin, Jr., Myrna Latham, Joe C. Lewallen, Jr., Cole Marshall and Richard A. Riggs. T. Michael Blake and Matthew B. Hickey returned as top-ranked honorees in the corporate area of “Tax.”

Smakal Munn, P.C., is pleased to announce that Kyle M. Trice has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Kyle graduated cum laude from Oklahoma State University in December 2011 with a degree in Political Science. After several years of working for a Fortune 500 company, Kyle returned to academia and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa School of Law in December 2021. During law school, Kyle cofounded the Government and Military Law Society, and was an Executive Board Member of the Student Bar Association. Kyle is a member of the Oklahoma and Tulsa County Bar Associations. As a Tulsa native, Kyle enjoys the constantly growing music scene and all things outdoors. Smakal Munn, P.C., is a full-service law firm located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a focus on family and domestic, probate and estate planning matters.

celebrated its 50th anniversary in May. Founded by four University of Tulsa College of Law graduates, the firm opened its doors at 1640 S. Boston in Tulsa in May of 1974. Today, the firm has grown to include offices in Oklahoma City and Englewood, Colorado. The more than 80 attorneys at Riggs Abney provide broad-based legal counsel and representation in all aspects of the law. “We’ve followed a clear principle that has served us well for 50 years,” said Riggs Abney president Kristopher Koepsel. “We are passionate advocates for our clients and our communities. Whether through legal representation, serving in public office or improving our community, we thrive in the service of others.” Riggs Abney’s range of clients include Fortune 500 companies, national association, state agencies, privately-owned companies, and individuals. Its areas of

expertise include appellate law, banking & finance, civil litigation, estate planning, government law, healthcare, medical malpractice, energy law, tax law and workers compensation. Additionally, Riggs Abney is a LegalShield affiliate, representing individuals, families, small businesses and commercial drivers across Oklahoma and Colorado through an on-demand network of established attorneys. More than 80,000 LegalShield members depend on Riggs Abney for representation in all areas of the law. At the core of the firm’s ethos is the call to public service. Through the firm, attorneys and staff are involved in numerous charitable, service and civic organizations.

OPVEON Litigation Services, LLC, a fullservice national litigation support and consulting firm, announced June 13, 2022 that the parties have agreed to the terms under which OPVEON will acquire Litgistix, LLC, one of the largest document and data management companies in the region. April J. Ferguson, CEO of OPVEON: “Our strategic acquisition of Litgistix will create the largest and most wellrounded litigation support and consulting firm in the region. We are excited to bring the talents of the Litgistix team to our clients at OPVEON and to further serve the Litgistix client-base with an expanded array of service offerings that are unique to OPVEON. This powerhouse combination is a huge win for both our clients and employees.” OPVEON is a certified Women-Owned and Woman-Controlled Small Business (WOSB), a certified Woman Business Enterprise (WBE), a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and is TERO certified through the Cherokee Nation. OPVEON’s team has decades of combined legal experience and has worked on hundreds of trials throughout the United States. Their service offerings include trial technology, jury consulting, virtual and in-person mock trials and jury focus groups, paralegal services, court reporting and legal video, and demonstrative graphics. Litgistix has been in business in the Tulsa area since 1980. Over the years, Litgistix service offerings have expanded from copying, binding and offset printing to litigation support, electronic data discovery, scanning, tab manufacturing, sports and promotional graphics, and large format printing and framing. Litgistix is known for its industry knowledge, high quality, and quick turnaround on projects. The existing management team at Litgistix, including Brian Grossman, the current co-owner and CFO, will be joining OPVEON’s management team. Their involvement in the combined entity will ensure a smooth transition for both clients and employees. The remainder of the Litgistix employees, including the full account management and sales team, will be joining OPVEON as well.

The Tulsa Senior Black Sox need several players for the summer and fall seasons. Summer season games are played Monday and Wednesday evenings starting at 6:30 in Broken Arrow. Ages 59 to 70+ with basic softball skills. Team especially needs a short stop and outfielders, but all who wish to play are welcome. If you’ve played ball before, this a great chance to get outdoors, get some exercise, get a little friendly competition, have some fun, and meet new people. Don’t think you can’t do it. Lots of guys are out here after not playing for 20+ years and we all have a great time. C’mon out and play ball…..you’ll be glad you did. For details, contact Steve at snovicklaw@aol.com.

Hall Estill, has elected Stephen W. Ray as its new president and managing partner. Ray will be only the fifth managing partner in the firm’s 56-year history. Previous managing partner Mike Cooke is retiring after a successful 20 years at the firm’s helm. “Steve is an excellent lawyer and good friend,” said Cooke. “We have every confidence he is the right leader to continue Hall Estill’s legacy as a

top tier law firm. Steve has been in firm leadership in other roles for many years, as well as being actively involved in community and charitable work.” As president and managing partner, Ray is responsible for managing the dayto-day operations of the firm. Hall Estill is a full-service law firm with more than 150 lawyers and legal professionals. He will continue serving clients primarily in the business and tax sectors, specifically dealing in business organizations and transactions, commercial finance, health care, executive compensation and securities, as well as trust and estate work. Ray has been with the firm since 1992. Ray has been recognized as an “Oklahoma Super Lawyer” in business and corporate law and is listed in Best Lawyers in America in corporate governance law, corporate compliance law, mergers and acquisitions law, securities and capital markets law and securities regulation. He earned his law degree in 1982 from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Oklahoma in 1979. He also served for 10 years as corporate secretary for an NYSE-listed company and has expertise in governance and compliance issues.

Additional elections: In addition, Sarah Hansel and Steve Soulé have joined Hall Estill’s executive committee. Hansel focuses her areas of practice in the corporate and commercial and intellectual property sectors. Steve Soulé, serving for the second time on the executive committee, specializes in bankruptcy litigation and transactions, workouts, reorganizations, and creditor’s rights. He also handles general business and commercial transactions for clients. Sarah Miller, Moira Watson and Ken Williams have all been elected to Hall Estill’s board of directors. Miller joined Hall Estill's energy and natural resources practice group in 2017. Her current practice is focused on commercial contracting primarily in the energy industry. Moira Watson joined Hall Estill in 2016 and practices primarily in the banking and commercial finance area.

Ken Williams is a 40-year business defense attorney with expertise in environmental, municipal law, natural resources, real estate and renewable energy law.