Porter & Hedges LLP - Our Firm

Porter & Hedges' lawyers, secretaries, paralegals administrative and support staff share a desire and commitment to be actively involved in the Houston community. Through financial commitments and active volunteerism we support various programs and organizations assisting those who can benefit most.

Porter & Hedges is especially proud of its continuing partnership with Communities in School, the leading national, community-based organization for helping kids succeed in school and prepare for life, and the Houston Independent School District's High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, a magnet school providing curriculum designed for careers in law enforcement and criminal justice. Through both programs, the firm has provided part-time employment opportunities to students while attending high school and college. In addition, the firm proudly employs three full-time employees and graduates of these programs, including an attorney, an accounting professional and a file clerk.

Some of the programs and organizations our lawyers and administrative staff assist include:

Porter & Hedges Demonstrates Commitment to Community Through Efforts of United Way

Once again, Porter & Hedges helped contribute to changing lives and helping families through its participation in the 2008 United Way of Greater Houston Community Campaign. Raising over $76.6 million, the 2008 campaign will have far-reaching impact throughout the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. Individual contributions combined with Porter & Hedges' matching firm donation helped play a role in the success of the campaign.

Porter & Hedges surpassed all prior years in its fundraising efforts for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica program. Over $11,000 was raised including a matching contribution from the firm. Participating in this year's WalkAmerica included chairman of the board of the March of Dimes Gene Nettles (partner - litigation), Jennifer Bass (bankruptcy legal secretary), Jody Dickinson (bankruptcy legal secretary), and Liz Winter (bankruptcy legal secretary).

Porter & Hedges Records File Clerk Receives Scholarship from Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

Vanessa Goussen, a records file clerk with Porter & Hedges, was recently elected to receive a 2007 Metropolitan Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Scholarship.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ awards 207 four-year, $12,000 Metropolitan Scholarships to outstanding students graduating from Houston-area public school districts in Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller Counties.

To be eligible, an applicant must meet criteria of citizenship, residence, academic standing, recommendation by his/her high school nominating committee, college/university enrollment plans, demonstration of leadership, character and economic need.

Porter & Hedges Attorneys Appointed to Leadership Positions in Several Civic Organizations

Porter & Hedges is pleased to announce the appointment of four lawyers to serve in leadership roles for various civic organizations that include: The Texas Chapter of the March of Dimes; the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc., and the 2007 Gala Committee of the Asian American Bar Association.

Gene Nettles, a partner in the litigation section of the Firm, has been elected as the Chairman of the Board for the Houston Division and a member of the Executive Committee of the Texas Chapter of the March of Dimes.

Jeff Elkin, a partner in the litigation section of the Firm, has been elected by the members of the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Houston, Inc., (the BBB of Houston) to serve as Chairman.

Joyce Kao Soliman, an associate in the banking & finance section of the Firm, has been appointed as the Co-Chair of the 2007 Gala Committee of the Asian American Bar Association.

Everone was invited to run and walk with the animals. Children participated in a costume contest. Overall, nearly 2,300 runners, walkers and volunteers showed up for the Texas Heart Institute's 2006 Great Pumpkin Fun Run held on October 28, 2006 at the Houston Zoo and Memorial Park. Porter & Hedges was a sponsor of this great community event. Participating in the event were Kevin Poli (corporate associate) and his wife, Mandy Diaz (trusts, estates and probate law clerk) and her son, and Vernita Runfedlt (real estate paralegal).

Porter & Hedges is proud to be one of the nation's Best Places to Work for Commuters an elite list which recognizes employers that are leaders in offering superior commuter benefits. Like the list of Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, Best Workplaces for Commuters is a mark of excellence for today's employers. We are pleased to have received this national designation from the U.S. EPA for doing our part in reducing traffic congestion and air pollution and improving the quality of life for our employees. To learn more about this designation, visit www.bwc.gov.

Porter & Hedges Joins Houston Bar Association's Equal Access to Justice Program

Porter & Hedges, along with several other major law firms have joined the Houston Bar Association's Equal Access to Justice Program. In doing so, the firm has made a 5-year commitment that indicates it will uphold a pledge to provide representation in a certain number of cases each year, based on the number of attorneys in the firm. The goal of the program is to provide pro bono representation in at least 1,250 cases through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program each year, and to increase that goal in each following year.

Ken Alexander named Scoutmaster of Houston Boy Scout Troop 55, one of the largest in the U.S. John Brentin serves as assistant Scoutmaster

Ken Alexander, a partner in the Houston law firm of Porter & Hedges, will become Scoutmaster in August of Houston Boy Scout Troop 55, one of the largest in the U.S. with a membership of over 200 scouts. The troop is chartered at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. John Brentin, also an attorney at Porter & Hedges, is a Senior Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop.

This summer, nineteen Troop 55 Scouts participated in four simultaneous treks through the Gates of the Arctic National Wilderness, 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska. the pristine wilderness is accessible only by float plane and entirely without campsites, trails or facilities of any kind. The Troop also sponsored expeditions to the Davis Mountains in west Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, and Ecuador. Next week the troop will host eleven Ecuadoran Scouts in Houston for three weeks of camping and cultural exchange.

On Saturday, May 20, 2006, Team Porter & Hedges participated in the Great Strides: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis walk, benefiting the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As team leader, Adam Pogach encouraged participants from the firm to solicit donations, including a generous match from Porter & Hedges, to fund continuing research to cure cystic fibrosis. Those who participated in this year's walk include:

The 2005 campaign of the United way of the Texas Gulf Coast was a tremendous success raising $67.6 million and an additional $7 million for hurricane relief efforts. Porter & Hedges individual contributions and the Firm's matching contribution significantly increased the overall donation from 2004. At the recent Law Firm Initiative Thank You Reception & Award Ceremony, Cindy White (secretary - energy) and Terry Karow (administrative assistant to the executive director) accepted an award on behalf of the Firm. Dan Hedges (litigation partner) coordinated the overall participation of Porter & Hedges along with subcommittee coordinators Jackie Moy (energy associate), Shannon Richards (litigation associate), Laura Deen (secretary - mass torts), Denise Scott (paralegal - litigation) and Delisa Smith (legal secretary)

For several years, the firm has participated in “WalkAmerica”, a major fundraiser for the March of Dimes, an organization that assists in the fight to prevent premature births. Gene Nettles, a partner in the litigation practice group, is an active participant in the charity event and a member of the board of directors. Also participating in this year's event are Jennifer Bass (legal secretary – bankruptcy), Liz Winter (legal secretary – bankruptcy), Deena Marsh (Office Services Manager), Brooke Pry (Human Resources Manager), Edgar Valenzuela (Office Services), Hazel Steward (Facilities Support), and Karen Candal (Receptionist).

In 2005, the Porter & Hedges team consisted of Gene Nettles, Jennifer Bass (legal secretary – bankruptcy), Cheryl Bordovsky (legal secretary – litigation), Hazel Steward (Facilities Support), Karen Candal (Receptionist)and Myris Brown (Paralegal).

Matthew Reynolds, an associate in the energy practice group and John Brentin, a partner in the trusts & estates practice group, were two of nearly 13,000 riders taking part in the BP MS-150 charity bike ride from Houston to Austin in April 2006. The two-day event, which benefits the Multiple Sclerosis Society, is projected to raise over $10 million for the National MS Society.

Porter & Hedges Charity Fishing Tournament benefits The Center Serving People with Mental Retardation

The second annual Porter & Hedges Charity Redfish Tournament was held from September 30 to October 2, 2005. This two-day event brought together attorneys and clients of the firm for guided fishing, golf and associated events all benefiting The Center Serving People with Mental Retardation. Jim Aycock, an associate in the litigation practice group, spearheaded this year's event.

Attorneys and staff make significant contribution to Hurricane Katrina Relief

The attorneys and staff of Porter & Hedges assisted in local hurricane relief efforts. The firm matched employee contributions directly to the Houston Chapter of the American Red Cross. Bill and Patty Porter's matching contribution was allocated to the charity reflecting the employees' charitable preference.

Additionally, several individuals and their families made voluntary donations of time, resources and energy serving in various capacities to numerous agencies throughout the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. The combination of all these efforts made a significant contribution to a worthy humanitarian effort.

Ransom elected as President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Awty International School

John Ransom, a partner in the tax section of Porter & Hedges, has been elected as President and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Awty International School. Awty is one of the largest private schools in Houston with approximately 1150 students.

Jeff Elkin, a partner in the litigation section of Porter & Hedges, has been re-elected to his third term as a councilman for the City of Southside Place. He was also re-elected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

Hedges serves as chair for committee reviewing U.S. District Judge candidates

Dan Hedges served as the committee chair that screened six candidates for the U.S. attorney position for the Southern District of Texas in addition to reviewing candidates to replace U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein, Jr. who is taking senior status with the court. The committee reported its recommendations to U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn in November 2005.