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Dear Section Members,
The Bankruptcy Law Section is thrilled to present a free CLE webinar from noon to 1 p.m. CST on Wednesday, December 13, titled Holiday Lawyer Wellness: Tips for Practicing Law During the Holidays. Please use the Zoom link above using the passcode "Sidley24" to join the CLE.
Course Description:
Judge Michelle Larson joins Paul Jacobs and Michelle Fontenot with TLAP (“Texas Lawyers Assistance Program”) in a conversation about maintaining emotional wellness during the holiday season while juggling your professional and personal commitments.
Speakers:
The Honorable Michelle V. Larson was appointed to serve as a bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Texas – Dallas Division on July 7, 2020. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Larson was a resident practitioner in Dallas for 24 years. Immediately before her appointment, Judge Larson was an insolvency and restructuring partner with the law firm of Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P. She began her legal career with what is now Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and also practiced for several years with Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP and Forshey & Prostok, LLP. As a practitioner, Judge Larson had experience in all areas related to commercial bankruptcy and restructurings, including complex debtor’s and creditor’s representations, out-of-court restructurings, liquidations, secured finance, and commercial litigation. She worked on bankruptcy cases across the country in various industries, including real estate, telecommunications, health care, sports, banking, energy, and retail and was instrumentally involved in precedential bankruptcy appeals before courts of appeal throughout the country and the U.S. Supreme Court, including GWI PCS 1, Inc., NextWave Personal Communications Inc., and Texas Rangers Baseball Club.
Judge Larson is a member of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the John C. Ford American Inns of Court, as well as other local bar groups. She is a frequent contributor at conferences addressing a variety of bankruptcy issues. She has also successfully served as mediator for her bankruptcy colleagues in the Northern District of Texas.
Prior to her appointment, she spearheaded her prior firm’s Women’s Business Development Initiative and has been recognized for her pro bono efforts.
Judge Larson is originally from Houma, Louisiana and graduated as the valedictorian of Nicholls State University, summa cum laude, with a B.S. in Accounting and a minor in English. She is also a recipient of the Nicholls State Hall of Fame award. She received her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, magna cum laude, where she was a member of Law Review and Moot Court and was recognized for excellence in Constitutional Law and Business Organizations. Finally, prior to taking the bench, Judge Larson was a Certified Public Accountant, having received her license in Louisiana.
Paul S. Jacobs, JD currently is an attorney and professional with the Texas Lawyers Assistance Program (TLAP) where he helps connect judges, lawyers, and law students with the mental health and addiction resources they need. In addition, Paul speaks publicly to increase awareness and destigmatize mental health and substance use disorders. After graduating from the University of Houston Law Center (J.D., 1984), Paul practiced trial law, with an emphasis on medical malpractice for 35 years. Before law school, Paul graduated Arizona State University (ASU) with a bachelor of arts degree in 1981. He played college tennis and debated for ASU. Paul earned board certification in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and board certification in Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocates. He has been recognized by his peers for his legal accomplishments, including being named a Top Lawyer in Houston. Paul is committed to physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
Michelle Fontenot, JD, MEd attended college and graduate school at The University of Texas, where she received B.A.’s in History and Psychology and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. After working as a counselor in the Seattle area for over 15 years, she attended Seattle University’s School of Law where she graduated cum laude and earned her J.D. in 2009. Since graduating from law school, Michelle has worked as a lawyer in both nonprofit and private practice, primarily in family law. Michelle returned to the Austin area in 2019 and worked for the State Bar of Texas, first as the Grievance Referral Program Manager and currently as director for the Texas Lawyer’s Assistance Program. Michelle is passionate about combining both her law and counseling degrees in each of her job pursuits. Michelle is licensed in both Texas and Washington State.
We hope to see you in attendance.
Sincerely,
Sara Keith, Chair
Bankruptcy Law Section
State Bar of Texas
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