On July 22, 2022, Chris Wrampelmeier presented his paper “Family Law Primer for School Lawyers” at the 36^th Annual School Law Section Retreat in San Antonio, Texas. Chris is board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a frequent speaker on family law topics. Underwood school lawyers Fred Stormer, David Backus, and Ronnie Garcia attended the two-day retreat, which featured other continuing legal education as well as meetings of the School Law Section.

Attorneys from Underwood’s Fort Worth office were recently recognized as 2022 Top Attorneys by 360West Magazine. Top attorneys are selected from peer nominations by colleagues within the region. A recognition well deserved, congratulations!

Cara Kennemer-Construction 

Richard Schellhammer– Construction

Janet Bubert– Education

Mitchell Moses– Real Estate

Underwood Shareholder Slater Elza recently presented “Economic Development Partnerships” at the High Ground Annual Meeting in Amarillo, Texas.  The High Ground of Texas represents over 75 members in the West Texas Region with a focus on economic development in a 67 county area stretching from the Texas Panhandle to south of Midland/Odessa. 

Underwood Shareholder, Stephanie James presented “Liability Issues for Nursing Facilities During the Pandemic” at the Texas Health Care Association annual meeting held on September 27. THCA represents and supports professionals who focus on improving long term healthcare services.

Stephanie’s practice consists of a wide variety of civil litigation, healthcare, and employment matters. She represents clients in personal injury litigation, nonsubscriber litigation, healthcare litigation, commercial litigation, construction disputes, employment disputes, and general civil litigation.

Cara Kennemer has been elected to a three-year term on the Council of the State Bar’s Construction Law Section and the Board of the Construction Law Foundation of Texas.

Cara is chair of Underwood Law Firm’s Construction Section and is Board Certified in Construction Law. She assists Underwood’s clients in all aspects of the construction process on projects involving underground utilities, event venues, wastewater treatment facilities, residential developments and subdivisions, public facilities and paving, higher education buildings, and numerous other types of commercial and residential projects. She also negotiates design and construction contracts on a wide array of projects.

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 12 Underwood lawyers in several practice areas in the 2022 edition. Best Lawyers is a peer review in the legal profession, and a significant honor.  

Congratulations to the following Underwood Lawyers named Best Lawyers in America 2022:

Richard Schellhammer– Construction Law

Gavin Gadberry– Health Care Law, Long Term Care

Cara Kennemer– Construction Law, Litigation Construction

David Backus– Education Law

Alan Rhodes– Health Care Law

Ann Manning– Education Law

Fred Stormer– Education Law

Chris Wrampelmeier– Family Law

Kelly Utsinger– Insurance Law, Defense

Roger Cox– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Tom Morris– Commercial Litigation

James Wester– Technology Law

Chris Wrampelmeier is attending the Family Law Council meeting on Saturday, December 12, 2020. The Family Law Council is the governing body of the State Bar of Texas’s Family Law Section. Mr. Wrampelmeier currently serves as treasurer of the Council.

“Looking Toward the 87th Legislature” by Colby Nichols, TACS Governmental Relations, School Law

Underwood’s own, Colby Nichols recently wrote an article that was published in the TACS Today magazine. We are so proud of Colby! Read below for a teaser.

“What phrases make you cringe? ‘It is what is is,’ ‘just sayin,’ or how about ‘the new normal?’ Personally, that last phrase has become way too familiar. The truth is, we are faced with uncharted territory and practices developed to deal with this ‘new normal’ will be permanent, but what we are doing and what we must do, is anything but normal…”

To view the entire article, visit page 10 of the magazine!