July 2008

1960s

John S. Campbell, Jr. ('61), a partner at Taylor Porter in Baton Rouge, was honored in “Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” for his work in Corporate/M&A law. 

1970s

Rick Plaeger ('77) is the senior vice president and general counsel of EOG Resources, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas. He is also the chief legal officer, chief compliance officer, and is responsible for the executive management of the Legal Department, Internal Audit Department, Compliance, and Government Relations.  He was chosen as a “Texas Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly Magazine and received the Magna Stella Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas General Counsel Forum in 2007.

1980s

William Joseph Cleveland ('81) is certified as a mediator by the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center at the University of Houston Law Center.  He is also certified as a mediator by the Transportation ADR Council, Inc. Joe is pleased to announced that he is now a grandfather.

Jane Taber ('82), a founding partner of Dallas’ Taber Estes Thorne & Carr, PLLC, has been selected to receive the “Best Series of Articles – Substantive Law” award from the State Bar of Texas.

Anne J. Crochet (’83), a partner with Taylor Porter in Baton Rouge, was honored in “Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” for her work in Environmental law. 

Harry J. “Skip” Philips, Jr. ('83), a partner with Taylor Porter in Baton Rouge, was honored in “Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” for his work in General Commercial Litigation. 

Quentin Urquhart ('84) has been elected to the International Association of Defense Counsel's Board of Directors.

Grace Bennett Gasaway ('85) will begin her third term as judge of the City Court of Hammond on January 1, 2009. She presently serves as secretary of the Louisiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

1990s

Barry J. Rozas ('92) was named a partner with LeBas Law Offices, PLC in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he practices in the area of maritime defense, general tort litigation, and workers compensation defense law. 

Jane Triche-Milazzo ('92) will become the first woman to serve as an elected judge of the 23rd Judicial District Court when she takes office in August.

Ivan M. Rodriguez ('93) is a partner with Chaffe McCall L.L.P. in Houston.

Maria M. Cobb ('94) is a managing partner with Rushing & Guice, P.L.L.C. in Biloxi, Mississippi. She was recently chosen by The Mississippi Business Journal as one of Mississippi's Top 50 Business Women for 2008.

Ed Giering ('94) has joined the Baton Rouge Area Foundation as General Counsel, effective August 11.

Mary C. Hester ('94), a partner with Taylor Porter in Baton Rouge, was published in the June 2008 issue of The Journal of Taxation. Her article was titled "Donor-advised funds: When are they the best choice for charitably minded clients?"

Jennifer Treadway Morris ('94) is a financial advisor with Smith Barney in Baton Rouge.

Melissa Herman ('95) and David Russo ('95) have opened their own bankruptcy practice in Georgia.

John and Ashley Bristow Witherspoon ('97) live in St. George, South Carolina, and practice together in their own firm with offices in St. George and Summerville, South Carolina. They have two children – Hannah Aislyn, 6, and Perrin Joseph, 5. 

2000s

Kelly T. Scalise ('00) has been named a shareholder in the New Orleans office of Liskow & Lewis, P.L.C.

Dan Stigall ('00) is a U.S. Army Judge Advocate (JAG) currently stationed in the Washington, D.C. area where he works as a special assistant U.S. Attorney. In addition to federal litigation, he continues to write and publish on issues pertaining to international law, comparative law, and the civil law system of Iraq.

Jeannette F. Mills ('02) is an associate with Irwin, Fritchie, Urquhart, & Moore, LLC in New Orleans. She recently participated in the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy held at Standford University.

Jennifer Welshons ('04) has been promoted to attorney, becoming an in-house counsel and member of the Legal Department of Oceaneering International, Inc. in Houston, Texas.

Josh Clayton ('06) has joined Ilios Resources in Shreveport, Louisiana.

John B. Edel ('06) has joined Kean Miller's Baton Rouge office as part of the Intellectual Property team.

The LSU Law Center community mourns the passing of the following alumni whose deaths were reported since the date of our last newsletter publication.

William E. Hall Jr. ('42)

William Joshua Levenson ('90)