Looper Reed & McGraw announced Jan. 23 that six of its attorneys received notification this month that they have been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS).
Joseph Nelson (pictured), a shareholder in the firm’s health-care section in Dallas, says he is board certified in health law by TBLS
Nelson, whose practice focuses on regulatory and transactional matters in the healthcare industry, says board certification is important when a lawyer represents doctors and others in the industry.
“It demonstrates that the lawyer has a comprehensive understanding of all the laws and regulations that affect all kinds of healthcare suppliers and providers,” Nelson says.
Nelson says he received his J.D. in 2004 from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and joined Looper Reed in 2008.
Ashley Johnston (pictured), an associate with Looper Reed’s Dallas office, says she also was notified this month of her board certification in health law by TBLS. She is in the firm’s health-care section.
Referring to the exam she had to take to earn board certification, Johnston says, “I was very pleased that I passed it.”
Johnston, whose practice focuses on health care and corporate transactional matters, says she represents providers ranging from individual physicians to hospital groups that have physician ownership. She says she started working at Looper Reed as a summer intern while still in law school and joined the firm as an associate after receiving her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2007.
Chris Harris (pictured), also an associate in Dallas, has been board certified in tax law.
Harris is a member of Looper Reed’s tax section and says he does “a great deal of transactional work with an emphasis on income tax planning.” He says he also handles tax matters in estate planning.
According to Harris, board certification distinguishes an individual from other people in the practice area. “To be certified in tax, you’ve got to have a broad understanding of tax law,” he says.
Harris says he received his J.D. in 2005 from St. Mary’s University School of Law and received the LL.M. in taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2006. He says he joined Looper Reed in 2009.
John Metzger (pictured), an associate with Looper Reed’s Houston office, says he received notification that he passed the exam and is board certified in oil, gas and mineral law by the TBLS.
“I spent quite a bit of time studying for it,” Metzger says.
Metzger says he is in Looper Reed’s oil and gas section and focuses his practice on natural resources law with an emphasis on transactional and title matters. He says he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1995 and joined Looper Reed in 2010.
Amy Allen (pictured), an associate with Looper Reed’s Houston office, says she is now board certified in family law by TBLS.
Allen, who is in the firm’s family law section, says that in her practice she deals with a variety of matters, including general divorce cases, pre- and post-marital agreements, modifications of court orders and enforcement actions. She says she also takes appointments as an amicus attorney in contested custody cases.
After graduating from the University of Houston Law Center in 2006, she joined the former firm of Myres, Dale & Associates, Allen says. She says she joined Looper Reed in summer 2008.
Jorge Gutierrez (pictured), a Looper Reed associate in Dallas, is now board certified in oil, gas and mineral law by TBLS.
— Mary Alice Robbins
Robbins is an Austin-based freelance writer and a former Texas Lawyer senior reporter.
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