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Legal Opinions Committee

This committee reviews law, legislation and opinion-practice literature affecting: (i) a lawyer's ability to render third-party opinions on business-related matters; and (ii) the scope and nature of those opinions. The Committee is currently working on a legal opinion report that will provide guidance on rendering third-party opinions under the Texas Business Organizations Code on corporate entities in Texas. An exposure draft of the report is expected to be completed in 2022.

Leadership

CHAIR

Gail Merel

Special Counsel
Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
Co-Chair

Frank Garcia

Of Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright
Co-Chair

Cliff Ernst

Partner
McGinnis Lockridge

Substantive Committees

Business Entities Committee
This committee monitors developments and issues relating to the formation and operation of partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations in Texas and directs the creation of annotated forms the Section provides relating to entities.

Committee Leadership

Cliff Ernst
CHAIR
Cliff Ernst
Partner
McGinnis Lockridge
Frank Ruttenberg
VICE CHAIR
Frank Ruttenberg
Partner
Haynes & Boone, LLP
Business Litigation Committee
This committee reviews case law, statutory law and legislation that affects the ability of plaintiffs and defendants to handle litigation or the ability of businesses to conduct operations in Texas.

Committee Leadership

Ryan Cunningham
CHAIR
Ryan Cunningham
Senior Associate
Troutman Pepper Locke, LLP
Business Organizations Code Committee
This committee organizes and drafts a substantive codification of the Texas business entities statutes.

Committee Leadership

Daryl B. Robertson
Business Technologies Committee
Mission Statement. The Business Technology Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Texas keeps business lawyers up-to-date on the latest technology trends, such as blockchain, cryptocurrencies, AI technologies such as GPT, chatbots, and other technology trends. We provide practical guidance and solutions to increase efficiency and productivity, to help members of the Section be well-informed about technology's impact on their business transactional practice and clients. Our goal is to empower the Business Technology Committee members to stay ahead in this ever-changing digital landscape, while also advocating for favorable regulations that support a competitive business environment in Texas.

Committee Leadership

Matthew Prater
Irene Kosturakis
VICE CHAIR
Irene Kosturakis
Area VP- Chief IP Counsel
BMC Software, Inc.
Commercial Code Committee
This committee monitors developments relating to the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC").

Committee Leadership

Pat Huttenbach
Mergers and Acquisitions Committee
This committee is geared toward professionals who are involved with corporate mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

Committee Leadership

Lindsey Reighard
Natasha Khan
VICE CHAIR
Natasha Khan
Partner
Baker Botts
Privacy, Data Security & eCommerce Committee
This committee informs section members about state and federal laws that pertain to privacy, cybersecurity, and electronic commerce.

Committee Leadership

Al Harrison
CHAIR
Al Harrison
Patent Attorney
Harrison Law Office, P.C.
Aaron Levine
VICE CHAIR
Aaron Levine
Shareholder
Polsinelli
Securities Law Committee
The SBOT Business Law Section Securities Committee seeks to collegially improve the practice of securities law in Texas and to support the adoption of suitable securities laws in Texas.

Committee Leadership

John Fahy
CHAIR
John Fahy
Partner
Whittaker, Chalk
George Lee
VICE CHAIR
George Lee
Partner
Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal

Administrative Committees

Journal / Practical Business Law Committee
This committee helps produce and publish the Texas Journal of Business Law as well as Practical Business Law, our new collection of recent practical writing about business Law subjects.

Committee Leadership

Robbin Phillips
CHAIR
Robbin Phillips
Membership Engagement Committee
The mission of this committee is to: Engage with rank and file members of the Section through surveys, focus groups and regional meetings; Determine what member benefits are most beneficial to members and work with the Content Initiatives, Website and CLE committees create those benefits; and Get the word out to members and potential members about the benefits and content available through membership.

Committee Leadership

Content Initiatives / Newsletter Committee
This committee initiates or gathers and organizes all content initiatives of the Section. It produces and distributes the periodic newsletter for the Section and works closely with the Website committee to create new digital content. The committee also works with Membership Engagement to get the word out about Section content.

Committee Leadership

Irene Kosturakis
CHAIR
Irene Kosturakis
Chief Intellectual Property Counsel
BMC Software Corporation
Miles Indest
VICE CHAIR
Miles Indest
Partner
McGuire Woods, LLP
Website Committee
The mission of the website committee is to: Ensure good search experience, quick response time and member profile experience; Upload Section content and maintain website as the repository of all Section content; Send out updates to followers or members of committees or the membership at large; and Investigate, develop and implement new ways to provide digital content to members.

Committee Leadership

Carol Mattick
Ron Chichester
VICE CHAIR
Ron Chichester
Principal
Ronald L. Chichester, PC
Featured Committee