PastIn Person

2023 UT System Legal Conference

Name: 2023 UT System Legal Conference
Start: 2023-09-07
End: 2023-09-08
Location: The University of Texas System Building

by The University of Texas System

The 2023 UT System Legal Conference, organized by The University of Texas System, took place on September 21-22 at The University of Texas System Building in Austin. This annual event is designed to provide attorneys from UT System academic and healthcare institutions with informative and practical sessions on a wide range of legal topics relevant to their practice areas.

The conference covered a diverse array of subjects, including high-profile legal issues and day-to-day matters faced by higher education attorneys. Sessions addressed topics such as artificial intelligence and its legal implications for higher education, the changing landscape of federal practice, and updates on Texas Supreme Court decisions. Notable sessions included "Global Warming and Infectious Diseases: Are We Ready? Focus on Fungi" and "The Free Speech Implications of the Trump Indictments."

In addition to the substantive legal topics, the conference provided unique opportunities for attorneys across the UT System to strengthen relationships with colleagues. Attendees had the chance to engage in networking events and discussions, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas among legal professionals within the system.

The conference featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Daniel H. Sharphorn, Vice Chancellor and General Counsel of The University of Texas System; Omar A. Syed, Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Rice University; and The Honorable Randy Crane, Chief Judge of The United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division. Their expertise and insights contributed to the depth and breadth of the conference's offerings.

Speakers(38)

Allyson H. Kinzel

Senior Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Chief Regulatory Officer at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Allyson H. Kinzel is the Senior Vice President of Legal and Regulatory Affairs and serves as the Chief Regulatory Officer of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She leads Legal Services, Institutional Compliance, and Internal Audit, overseeing legal and regulatory matters affecting the institution. Since joining MD Anderson in 2008, Allyson has served in various roles, including deputy chief compliance officer and vice president and chief legal officer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from Trinity University and earned her law degree magna cum laude at Tulane Law School.

Benjamin Walton

Special Counsel, General Litigation Division at Texas Attorney General’s Office

Ben Walton joined the Office of the Attorney General in July 2017 and currently serves as Special Counsel in the General Litigation Division. He handles primarily employment litigation in state and federal court on behalf of numerous state agencies and universities. Ben graduated summa cum laude from Whitefield College with a B.A. in Christian Philosophy and attended Liberty University School of Law, where he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the law review and graduated summa cum laude. After appellate clerkships, he practiced in Austin, handling various litigation matters.

Blake Barlow

Associate Athletics Director for Risk Management and Compliance Services at UT Austin

Blake Barlow is the Associate Athletics Director for Risk Management and Compliance Services for Texas Athletics. With over sixteen years in athletics compliance and risk management, he manages the department’s compliance with NCAA, conference, and institutional rules and implements comprehensive education and risk management programs. Blake serves on the NCAA Committee for Legislative Relief and the National Association for Athletics Compliance Board of Directors. He holds an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Central Arkansas and a graduate degree in sport management from Texas.

Bob Bonner-Davis

Attorney and Chief Public Information Coordinator at UT Austin

Bob Bonner-Davis is an attorney and the Chief Public Information Coordinator at The University of Texas at Austin. He has been handling public information requests submitted to the university since December 2015 and currently leads the Open Records Department within the Office of the Vice President of Legal Affairs. Previously, Bob handled requests at the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of the Governor. He began his legal career as a drafting attorney in the Open Records Division at the Office of the Attorney General. Bob holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.S. in Mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin.

Bruce Porter

Chief Science Officer at SparkCognition

Bruce Porter is the Chief Science Officer at SparkCognition, leading the Applied Research Lab, which initiates new Artificial Intelligence products and solves complex problems for external customers. Before joining SparkCognition in 2020, Bruce was a Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Texas at Austin, where he focused on research and teaching in Artificial Intelligence. He served as Chair of the Department from 2009 through 2017. Bruce earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of California at Irvine.

Charles L. Babcock

Partner at Jackson Walker, L.L.P.

Charles “Chip” Babcock is a Texas-based trial and appellate lawyer who has tried over 100 cases to a jury and argued over 50 appeals. He handles all types of commercial trial work with particular experience in media and First Amendment litigation. Chip has represented individuals such as Jerry Jones, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, and Dr. Phil McGraw, as well as corporate clients including Fox News Network, CNN, Google, and CBS Television Studios. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Chip earned his A.B. from Brown University and his J.D. from Boston University School of Law.

Charles Marshall

Vice Chancellor and General Counsel at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Charles Marshall has served as the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel at UNC-Chapel Hill since 2019. His office has helped the institution navigate multiple public controversies spanning various legal and governance issues. Charles managed the Students for Fair Admissions litigation for UNC and has been instrumental in developing processes to provide guidance and compliance advice to campus officials. He began his career in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Department of Justice and on Capitol Hill before joining a private firm in North Carolina in 2003.

Daniel E. Gospin

Vice President, Legal Services, Chief Legal Officer at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dan Gospin is the Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He provides advice and counsel on legal matters affecting MD Anderson and oversees the Legal Services department, which includes General Business, Intellectual Property and Research, Litigation and Risk Management, and People, Education and Operations sections. Prior to MD Anderson, Dan practiced law for ten years as an associate and then partner in the national health care practice group at Epstein Becker & Green. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his law degree from Brooklyn Law School.

Daniel H. Sharphorn

Vice Chancellor & General Counsel at The University of Texas System

Dan Sharphorn is the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, providing legal advice to the Chancellor, Presidents, Executive Officers, and UT institutions and managing the Office of General Counsel. Before joining UT System, he served in the Vice President and General Counsel's office of the University of Michigan for 25 years, most recently as Associate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Dan earned his J.D., MSW, and MA (Sociology) from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Darren Gibson

Shareholder at Littler Mendelson P.C.

Darren Gibson is a zealous advocate and trusted advisor to private businesses and public sector employers. He defends clients in individual and class action cases, discrimination and retaliation claims, wage and hour collective actions, and noncompete litigation. Darren has a particular focus representing higher education, healthcare, and financial institutions and serves as co-chair of Littler’s Higher Education Industry Group. He is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Darren earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.S. from the University of Kentucky.

Dave Campbell

Shareholder at O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo

David Campbell is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He regularly appears before the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and other appellate courts, specializing in lawsuits and appeals involving governmental entities. David also advises and represents school districts on various legal issues. He graduated with honors from The University of Texas School of Law, where he served as an editor for The Review of Litigation. David is an adjunct professor at UT School of Law, teaching Appellate Advocacy and Legal Research and Writing.

Dona Cornell

Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel at University of Houston System

Dona Hamilton Cornell has been Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the University of Houston System and Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the University of Houston since 2002. She oversees legal services in areas including contracts, employment law, real estate, intellectual property, and compliance. Prior to this role, Dona served as Deputy Chief of the General Litigation Division for the Texas Attorney General's Office and was a partner in an Austin-based law firm. She earned her undergraduate and law degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis, M.D., Sc.D, Ph.D.

Leader, Center for Excellence in Mycology, Deputy Division Head of Research, Internal Medicine at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Dr. Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis is the Robert C. Hickey Chair in Clinical Care and Deputy Head of the Division of Internal Medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. He has authored over 670 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is considered a leading mycology expert worldwide. His research group is credited with many contributions to clinical, translational, and experimental mycology. Dr. Kontoyiannis is the leader of the European Confederation of Medical Mycology Diamond Excellence in Mycology Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center, the only US center to receive such designation.

Eric D. Bentley

Vice Chancellor and General Counsel at Texas Tech University System

Eric D. Bentley serves as Vice Chancellor and General Counsel for Texas Tech University System, overseeing an office of 25 employees, including 17 attorneys. He manages a wide variety of legal matters, including litigation, employment issues, health care compliance, and contracts. Prior to joining the TTU System, Bentley served as Senior Associate General Counsel at the University of Houston. He holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, a master’s degree in sports management from the United States Sports Academy, and a bachelor’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University.

Hailey Mullican

Vice President for Legal Affairs and Chief Legal Officer at UT Health Science Center San Antonio

As Vice President for Legal Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Hailey Mullican leads a team providing full-scope legal and strategic counsel for a large academic medical center. She is a graduate of Abilene Christian University and St. Mary’s School of Law. Hailey lives in San Antonio with her husband and their three sons.

Jason Bloom

President at Bloom Strategic Consulting, Inc.

Jason Bloom is a jury consultant and President of Bloom Strategic Consulting, Inc. With expertise in the psychology of jury decision-making, he provides clients with jury selection consultation, witness communications training, and mock jury studies. Jason has been a jury consultant since 1997, conducting over 300 mock jury studies and assisting with over 150 jury selections nationwide. He holds a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology and is based in Dallas, Texas.

Karen E. Adams

Chief Legal Officer at UT Rio Grande Valley

Karen E. Adams has served as the Chief Legal Officer for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley since April 2015. Before joining UTRGV, she worked for 18½ years in the Office of Legal Affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Karen also served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas, Texas, and began her legal career clerking in the General Litigation Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Plan II Honors Program and a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

Katherine A. Antwi

General Counsel, Secretary to the Board of Regents, and Chief Compliance Officer at Texas Woman's University System

Katherine Antwi is General Counsel, Secretary to the Board of Regents, and Chief Compliance Officer at Texas Woman’s University System, the nation's first woman-focused university system. She oversees a team providing legal advice and representation to help the system fulfill its mission and goals. Katherine joined the Texas Woman’s University System Office of General Counsel in 2019, having previously worked for the University of North Texas System, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas System, the Texas Commission on Human Rights, and the Texas Office of the Attorney General. She is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Gonzaga University School of Law.

Katherine Fearn

Attorney - General Legal Services at UT Southwestern Medical Center

Katie Fearn is an attorney on the General Legal Services team in the Office of Legal Affairs at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She provides legal advice in areas including employment, student affairs, torts, campus safety, and policy matters. Before joining UT Southwestern in 2019, Katie worked as an attorney-investigator at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, conducting investigations to assess compliance with various federal laws. She previously practiced labor and employment law at Littler Mendelson and served as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Katie received her J.D. from William & Mary Law School and her B.A. in English from Trinity University.

Kimberly Gdula

Deputy Chief, General Litigation Division at Texas Attorney General’s Office

Kimberly Gdula joined the Office of the Attorney General in November 2019 and serves as the Deputy Chief of the General Litigation Division. She handles state and federal employment matters for various state agencies and institutions and represents the State and its officials in constitutional matters. Kimberly graduated with highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Public Relations and attended Baylor Law School, graduating cum laude. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, she practiced business litigation and healthcare law at a large Texas firm in Austin.

Kristi Godden

Partner at O'Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo

Kristi Godden represents a broad range of public entities such as public schools, universities, and municipalities across Texas. Her practice areas include employment and labor law and litigation involving governmental entities. Kristi is admitted to practice throughout Texas and in all federal district courts in Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 2011 and began her career as an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, focusing on the confidentiality of governmental records under the Texas Public Information Act.

Lanora Pettit

Principal Deputy Solicitor General at Texas Attorney General’s Office

Lanora Pettit joined the Office of the Attorney General in July 2019 and serves as the Principal Deputy Solicitor General. She represents the State, its agencies, and officials in significant appeals in both state and federal court. Lanora graduated summa cum laude from the College of William and Mary with a B.A. in History and attended the University of Virginia School of Law, graduating summa cum laude. After clerking for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, she practiced complex commercial litigation in New York and Washington, D.C.

Lee Roy Calderon

Assistant General Counsel at UT System

Lee Roy Calderon joined the General Law Section of the Office of General Counsel at UT System in October 2015 as an Assistant General Counsel. He specializes in student conduct matters, Title IX, employment law, employee benefits, and policy matters. Lee Roy also serves as plan counsel for the UT System Office of Employee Benefits. He graduated with honors from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Government and Asian American Studies and received his J.D. from Baylor Law School. Prior to joining UT System, he worked in family law and criminal defense and served as in-house legal counsel for a national non-profit corporation.

Lisa Bennett

Associate Vice President for Legal Affairs at UT Austin

Lisa Bennett joined the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs at UT Austin in August 2022. Previously, she practiced appellate law as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Texas Attorney General’s Office for seven years, representing the State of Texas in appeals before various courts. Lisa also served as a judicial clerk for Judge William Lockhart Garwood on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and practiced at Baker Botts LLP in Austin. She received her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and her J.D. from NYU School of Law.

Marc Vockell

Associate General Counsel at UT System

Marc Vockell is responsible for intellectual property matters, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, sponsored research, clinical trials, technology commercialization, software licensing, confidentiality, and trade secrets at the UT System. He joined the UT System after 14 years at Dell Technologies, where he served as Vice President for Intellectual Property Litigation. Marc earned his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law, where he was Notes Editor of the Texas Law Review, and his bachelor's degree from Purdue University.

Maya Kobersy

Associate General Counsel at University of Michigan

Maya Kobersy’s primary practice areas include affirmative action and diversity, election law, privacy, research and research misconduct, University logo issues, and in-state tuition guidelines for students. She serves on several University committees and is an active member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, Maya worked in the Education Group of Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she was an Executive Editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Melinda J. Wetzel

Associate at Littler Mendelson P.C.

Melinda J. Wetzel is an active litigator in federal and state court, having argued before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and won two federal trials. She regularly defends clients in civil litigation involving claims under various employment laws. Melinda also represents clients in mediations and arbitrations and assists with personnel investigations and pre-litigation resolution. Previously, she served as an assistant attorney general in the General Litigation Division of the Office of Attorney General. Melinda received her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and her B.F.A. from Roosevelt University Chicago.

Meredith Mills

Managing Legal Officer at UT Health Science Center Houston

Meredith Mills is the Managing Legal Officer in the Office of Legal Affairs at UTHealth Houston. After graduating from UT Austin and Baylor Law School, she practiced at Fulbright & Jaworski and Mayor, Day, Caldwell, & Keeton in Houston. After eight years in-house in the private sector, Meredith joined UTHealth Houston in 2009. Her practice focuses on research and academic issues, including research integrity, conflict of interest, compliance, intellectual property, tech transfer, and faculty affairs.

Nelly R. Herrera

Vice Chancellor and General Counsel at The Texas State University System

Nelly R. Herrera has been with the Texas State University System Office of General Counsel since July 2011. She is a magna cum laude graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Prior to joining TSUS, Nelly worked with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, serving as Division Chief of the Tort Litigation Division. She is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law and received the 2009 Government Service Award from the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association.

Omar A. Syed

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Rice University

Omar A. Syed is Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Rice University. He joined Rice in 2022 after 15 years with The University of Texas System, where he last served as Associate Vice Chancellor and Deputy General Counsel. Omar earned his B.A. with special honors from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota. After law school, he served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota and an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis.

Ray Bonilla

General Counsel at The Texas A&M University System

Ray Bonilla serves as General Counsel of The Texas A&M University System, leading the Office of General Counsel in providing legal services to the system's 11 universities and eight state agencies. He regularly advises the Board of Regents, Chancellor, and other executives on a variety of legal matters. Prior to joining the A&M System, Ray was a partner in the law firm of Ray, Wood & Bonilla in Austin and served as General Counsel of the Texas Comptroller’s Office. He earned his J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law and a B.B.A. in Accounting with honors from The University of Texas at Austin.

Renaldo L. Stowers

Deputy General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer at University of North Texas System

Renaldo Stowers is Deputy General Counsel for the UNT System and Chief Compliance Officer for the UNT System Administration. Before joining the UNT System, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery officer and as both a senior criminal defense attorney and a chief prosecutor in the Judge Advocate General Corps. Renaldo received his B.A. in Political Science and Commission in the U.S. Army from the University of Texas at Arlington and his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.

Sean Flammer

Associate General Counsel at UT System

Sean Flammer specializes in Title IX, student affairs disputes, employment issues, constitutional litigation, and general litigation at the UT System Office of General Counsel. He graduated with High Honors from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law in 2007. After clerking for a federal appellate judge, Sean practiced trial and appellate litigation at a large firm in Austin and later at the Office of the Attorney General, representing universities and state agencies in complex litigation. He has tried cases in federal and state court and argued at courts of appeals. Sean is a former adjunct professor at UT Law and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in high-profile litigation.

Sheila Kadura

Associate General Counsel at UT System

Dr. Sheila Kadura is responsible for intellectual property matters involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, sponsored research, clinical trials, and technology commercialization and licensing at the UT System. She joined the UT System after four years at Dell Technologies, where she was a Senior Legal Director focusing on intellectual property litigation. Sheila earned a B.S. in biology from Texas State University, a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from Baylor College of Medicine, and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Stacey Napier, J.D.

Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations at UT System

Stacey Napier is the Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations at the University of Texas System. She serves as the primary liaison between the UT System Administration and the Texas Legislature on budget and policy issues affecting higher education and health care in Texas. Stacey began her career in state government working in the Texas House of Representatives and has held various roles, including Chief of the Intergovernmental Relations Division at the Office of the Attorney General and Executive Director of the Texas Department of Information Resources. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and a J.D. from the Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Stephen I. Vladek

Professor, Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at UT School of Law

Stephen I. Vladeck holds the Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic.” Stephen has argued over a dozen cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and various lower federal courts. He is CNN’s Supreme Court analyst and a co-author of leading national security law casebooks. Stephen received his J.D. from Yale Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude from Amherst College.

The Honorable Randy Crane

Chief Judge at United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division

Chief Judge Randy Crane has been a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas since 2002 and became Chief Judge in November 2022. He presides in the McAllen Division and has one of the largest criminal caseloads in the country. Chief Judge Crane received both his undergraduate and law degrees from The University of Texas. Prior to his judicial appointment, he practiced civil litigation at the law firm of Atlas & Hall for over fourteen years. He is an avid runner and fisherman.

Travis Bush

Head Football Coach at UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros

Travis Bush is the first head football coach in UTRGV history, appointed on December 12, 2022. With 14 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience and eight years in Texas high schools, he previously held positions at Houston, UTSA, Texas State, and TCU. Travis also worked for the Buffalo Bills in 2015 as an offensive assistant coach. He is the son of Bruce Bush, a renowned Texas high school football coach. Travis played collegiately at Texas State as a wide receiver and holds a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and a Master of Education Administration from TCU.

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