News
October 2011
Conner & Winters Welcomes Two New Attorneys
Conner & Winters, LLP is proud to announce the addition of two new attorneys. Chris M. Warzecha is a new associate in the Tulsa office and Caleb N. McCoy has joined the firm’s Oklahoma City office as an associate. Read More
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September 2011
Henry Will Featured Speaker at Tulsa Estate Planning Forum
Conner & Winters partner Henry Will was the featured speaker at the September 13th meeting of the Tulsa Estate Planning Forum. His presentation to the group provided practical estate planning ideas for 2011 and 2012. Topics covered included achieving estate planning goals, outright gifts of cash and properties, dynasty trusts for multi-generations and testamentary planning. View presentation slides
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September 2011
Vic Albert Shares Expertise in THE OKLAHOMAN
Vic Albert, a partner at Conner & Winters, was featured in the September 8th edition of THE OKLAHOMAN. In the Business Q&A article, he provides important information to businesses about harassment in the workplace, including the need to go further than just having policies in place. Read the article
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September 2011
Danny Miller Appointed to Panel of Legal Experts
Conner & Winters partner Danny Miller has been tapped by the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations to serve on its Panel of Legal Experts. This appointment will utilize his expertise and experience in advising churches and other religious nonprofits on retirement and welfare benefit plan issues. Read more
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August 2011
Robin Fields featured in THE OKLAHOMAN’s Executive Q&A
Conner & Winters partner Robin Fields shared information about her diverse background in an Executive Q&A in THE OKLAHOMAN. She discussed her love of acting, the challenges of being a female oil and gas litigator, and her desire to mentor young attorneys. Read the complete article
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July 2011
Vic Albert Discusses Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities During Extreme Heat
In the July 22nd edition of THE JOURNAL RECORD, Conner & Winters partner Vic Albert shares his expertise in employee rights and employer responsibilities during extreme heat. The triple-digit temperatures experienced in many parts of the country this summer have resulted in difficult working conditions for many workers. Read complete article
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July 2011
Conner & Winters Welcomes Alan Wooten as Partner
Conner & Winters, LLP is proud to welcome G. Alan Wooten to the firm’s Northwest Arkansas office as a Partner. Wooten has more than 35 years of experience in civil litigation involving professional liability cases, employment discrimination, commercial disputes and first amendment cases. His clients have included medical professionals, hospitals, lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants and small businesses. Wooten has also handled complex commercial litigation suits for publicly held companies. He is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers. Read More
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June 2011
EMPLOYMENT ALERT: NLRB Proposes Union-Friendly Amendments to Election Rules
On June 22, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register. The Notice proposes significant amendments to existing rules and regulations governing the Board’s procedures in cases involving union representation elections. Read More
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June 2011
2011 Chambers USA Guide recognizes Conner & Winters
Conner & Winters received top recognition in the 2011 edition of the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The firm earned top rankings in the areas of corporate/commercial and labor and employment, and was also recognized in energy and natural resources. Individual Conner & Winters attorneys recognized are: Victor F. Albert (Labor & Employment), Gary L. Betow (Corporate/Commercial), Elise Dunitz Brennan (Corporate/Commercial: Healthcare), Teresa Meinders Burkett (Corporate/Commercial: Healthcare), David R. Cordell (Labor & Employment), Robert A. Curry (Corporate/Commercial), John R. Elrod (Litigation: General Commercial), Jared D. Giddens (Litigation: General Commercial), Lynnwood R. Moore, Jr. (Corporate/Commercial), J. Ronald Petrikin (Labor & Employment), R. Kevin Redwine (Energy & Natural Resources), and Stephen R. Ward (Native American Law). Researchers with London-based Chambers & Partners Publishing, publishers of the 2011 guide, conducted thousands of interviews of attorneys and clients throughout the United States to identify and rank the nation’s leading business lawyers. The final rankings are based on such factors as technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client.
May 2011
Conner & Winters is a Proud Sponsor of Home Run for the Homeless Celebrity Softball Game
Conner & Winters encourages everyone to support the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless by attending the 2011 Home Run for the Homeless celebrity softball game at ONEOK Field in Tulsa on Thursday, June 9th. The firm is proud to support this event. Tickets to the game are $5. Participating media celebrities include: Joe Kelley (KRMG), Phil and Brent (KMOD), Nina Valente (KRAV), Sunny Leigh (KVOO), Tom Gilbert (Tulsa World), Julie Chin (KJRH), Dan Bewley (KOTV), Frank Mitchell (KTUL) and Danny Cahill (Biggest Loser). For more information, contact the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless at 918-583-5588.
May 2011
Employers Favored in New Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Testing Law Amendment
On May 9, 2011, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin approved a bill that makes substantial changes to workplace drug and alcohol testing programs. The bill amends Oklahoma’s Standards for Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Act and is effective November 1, 2011. The amendment provides clarification for some types of testing and removes several requirements that are in the current Act. Read More
April 2011
Gary L. Betow Earns 2011 Leadership in Law Award
Gary Betow has been named a 2011 recipient of the Leadership in Law award. This award, sponsored by the JOURNAL RECORD, was created to honor legal professionals for their community efforts. Gary is a very active supporter of Youth Services of Tulsa and Tulsa Family & Children’s Services. Read More
April 2011
Anne B. Sublett Featured in May Issue of TULSA PEOPLE
Anne Sublett is featured in the May issue of TULSA PEOPLE in an article about her role in establishing Tulsa Lawyers for Children (TLC) and her passion for assisting area children in need. Read More
Spring 2011
Mark Dreyer Named Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation
Conner & Winters, LLP is proud to announce that Mark Dreyer has been named a Local Litigation Star in the fields of Commercial and Insurance litigation in the 2011 edition of Benchmark Litigation. Click here to read more.
May 18-20th
Douglas M. Selwyn to Present at ABA’s ERISA Basics In Chicago
This conference aims to provide a great cross-section of ERISA and its impact on employee benefits and tax law. Designed for in-house and union counsel, benefits specialists, private practitioners, litigators, consultants, and accountants, the focus is on comprehensive ERISA matters. Learn More
March 2011
Conner & Winters’ Northwest Arkansas Office Moves to New Location
Conner & Winters, LLP is pleased to announce the move of its Northwest Arkansas office to the brand new Park Centre Office building located at 4375 N. Vantage Drive in Fayetteville. The 8,695 square feet of office space on the northwest corner of Zion Road and Vantage Drive near Lake Fayetteville, will allow the firm to continue its growth as one of the largest law firms in the region. Read More
March 2011
P. Scott Hathaway to Present at Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Understanding the Issues on May 19th, 2011
Today’s economic struggles demand a thorough knowledge of contracts. Keep your risks to a minimum and your profits to a maximum. P. Scott Hathaway and the other presenters will help inform you about ways to minimize your risk of devastating financial loss in today’s uncertain economic climate. Click here for more information
March 2011
Conner & Winters Names Five New Partners
Conner & Winters, LLP has named five attorneys as partners at the firm. The new partners are: Elise Dunitz Brennan, Curtis C. Graves, Jed W. Isbell, Jerry D. Redmond, Jr. and John L. Williams. Read More
February 2011
Conner & Winters Welcomes New Attorneys
Conner & Winters, LLP has welcomed four new attorneys to the firm. In Tulsa, Elise Dunitz Brennan has joined as a partner and Ryan Scharnell has joined as an associate. In Oklahoma City, Heidi Nichols and Katie Hull have joined as associates. Read More
October 29, 2010
Three Conner & Winters Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers
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August 24, 2010
Conner & Winters Earns Top Rankings in Premiere Edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms”
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August 2010
33 Conner & Winters Attorneys named to Best Lawyers in America for 2011
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August 2010
Conner & Winters Summer 2010 Firm Announcement
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January 2, 2010
Conner & Winters Supports The American Red Cross Stocking Stuffer Program
For the third consecutive year, Conner & Winters participated in The American Red Cross Stocking Stuffer Program. Every member of the Oklahoma City office participated in a number of fundraising events, which took place over a 30-day period. Events included a Silent Lunch Box Auction, a chili/bean supper and a building-wide bake sale. “It has been our privilege, and we enjoy giving back to the community through our continued partnership with The American Red Cross Stocking Stuffer Program each year,” stated Conner & Winters’ partner Kiran Phansalkar.
The team dedicated approximately 150 non-work hours to the events and raised more than $1,000. They were able to stuff 275 stockings for underprivileged children and children affected by tragedy. The stockings included such items as: stuffed animals, pencils, erasers, stickers, holiday bell necklaces, play-doh and doh cutting sets, chocolate candy and candy canes.
To view pictures of the event, click here.
December 2009
Conner & Winters 2009 Firm Winter Announcement
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November 9, 2009
A Large Texas Pension Fund Received A Favorable Ruling From The United States District Court For The Southern District Of New York
On November 9, 2009, a large Texas pension fund received a favorable ruling from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in a case in which the pension fund lost substantial money when the fund’s fiduciary invested some of the fund’s assets in a Bernard Madoff “feeder fund”. Conner & Winters attorneys Doug Selwyn, Rich Love and Dallas Session have been battling since February 2009 to keep the pension fund’s claims against the fiduciary in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, but opposing counsel instituted declaratory relief proceedings in federal court in an effort to force an end to the arbitration. On November 9, 2009, Federal District Court Judge Thomas P. Griesa in the Southern District of New York ruled from the bench that the fiduciary’s claims for declaratory relief in federal court were to be dismissed and that the pension fund’s fiduciaries must arbitrate the entire dispute before the American Arbitration Association, as requested by the pension fund. Due to the efforts of Conner & Winters’ attorneys from three offices (Dallas, Houston and Tulsa), the pension fund’s claims can remain in arbitration, where proceedings should prove to be more expedient and less costly. The ruling allows the pension fund to avoid being consolidated with three massive securities fraud, class-action lawsuits.
October 13, 2009
Conner & Winters in Partnership with the Giddens Foundation Were Courage Sponsors at Oklahoma Outreach Foundation Benefit
Conner & Winters in partnership with the Giddens Foundation were Courage Sponsors at the “An Evening of Courage and Inspiration” dinner benefiting the Oklahoma Outreach Foundation. The Oklahoma Outreach Foundation was established in 2000 as a non-profit organization supporting treatment and recovery for Oklahoma teens experiencing chemical dependency on alcohol and other drugs. This organization offers adolescents and their families financial resources and support in their recovery. From treatment to aftercare to offering a sober high school alternative, Oklahoma Outreach Foundation works with families to provide solutions. The foundation is able to serve these families by providing financial aid to qualifying families for treatment, and/or scholarships to the sober high school. For more information, please visit www.okoutreachfoundation.org.