Ray Torgerson Joins Board of Directors for Native American Jump Start

Porter Hedges Partner Ray Torgerson has joined the Board of Directors for Native American Jump Start, a non-profit that provides opportunities of growth and success for Native American individuals and families through education and employment.

Ray has extensive first- and second-chair jury trial experience in both state and federal courts, as well as arbitration before various ADR bodies, on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. He has represented public and private corporations, partnerships, small companies, and foreign and domestic individuals across various industries.

Ray handles the full range of intellectual property disputes; disputes involving investors, operators, and services contractors in the upstream and midstream energy sectors; and commercial claims involving breach of contract and business torts such as fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. He has substantial experience in disputes involving partnerships and closely held corporations and has handled a wide array of cases involving real estate, environmental, securities, white collar, and construction matters. He also consults with businesses on technology matters, including licensing, cybersecurity, and data privacy.

In addition, Ray helps resolve American Indian law issues, having worked for tribes, businesses, organizations, and individual tribal members across the United States on a variety of topics, including sovereignty, jurisdiction, civil rights, natural resources, and economic development. He has also taught an American Indian law course at the University of Houston Law Center.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, Indian Law Section, the Native American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, Native American Law Section, and the Houston Bar Association. Ray also serves on the Board of Directors for the Norwegian American Chamber of Commerce.

Native American Jump Start is a U.S. registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in Wyoming that assists young native peoples in acquiring valuable life skills through internship opportunities across the U.S. With unemployment rates as high as 85% across many Native American reservations, Native American Jump Start bridges the gap by building relationships between native young peoples and employers who are helping to make a difference.

Visit nativeamericanjumpstart.org for more information.