The law firm of Hudson Cook LLP has opened a Fort Worth office, the first in Texas and the 13th office nationwide for the firm, which is based in Hanover, Maryland.
Partner Hurshell Brown and Curtis Linscott, of counsel, will anchor the office, along with associate Andrea Cottrell. Brown and Cottrell previously had their own firm of Brown & Cottrell PLLC. Linscott most recently worked at Cash America.
Brown began practicing law in the consumer finance industry in 2007 as an in-house attorney for Cash America. Most recently, he was a managing member of Brown & Cottrell, representing clients in the consumer financial services and FinTech industries, including installment lenders, retail installment lenders, payday lenders, pawnbrokers and service providers. Brown assists clients in complying with state and federal consumer financial laws and represents lenders and consumer finance companies with regulatory compliance, due diligence, and development of compliance-focused solutions to business operations for both storefront and online operations. He graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Law in 1997.
Linscott joined Cash America in 1995 as director, associate general counsel, and was lead counsel for the company and its subsidiaries in real estate acquisition, disposition and leasing transactions, construction matters, franchising, intellectual property and general corporate matters. Linscott was named general counsel in 2005 and appointed executive vice president in 2006. He obtained his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1990.
Cottrell began her legal career with Brackett & Ellis PC, where she worked in civil litigation and insurance defense. In 2010, she joined Cash America as director, corporate counsel. Cottrell graduated from Texas A&M University School of Law in 2007.
Hudson Cookâs office is at 500 Main St., Suite 310.
Box, with photo
American honors 4 employees
for promoting diversity, inclusion
American Airlines has recognized four team members with the 2017 Earl G. Graves Award for Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion.
The honorees are Marissa Horne, director, employee technology; Nisha Pasha, administrator, cargo sales; Flavia Turrini, reservations agent; and Danielle Piergallini, senior analyst, marketing,
Horne is the executive sponsor of the IT Senior Management Forum, an organization that helps the career development and mentorship of African-American professionals in information technology. She is a member of The Links, a national organization of women committed to community service. She also is passionate about the career fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). As a result, in 2012 she helped start a STEM Academy for Dallas-based middle- and high-school girls. Each month more than 50 students participate in activities that expose them to academic and career interests related to STEM.
More than 20 years ago Pasha helped strengthen Americanâs commitment to inclusion and diversity by helping start the Indian Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG). Every Friday Pasha comes to work in traditional Indian dress (weather permitting), and welcomes questions from colleagues about her attire, creating an open dialogue.
Through Turriniâs leadership at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in northwest England, employees there opened the first international EBRG chapter for American â Language Matters (a resource group that brings together employees with a passion for learning and appreciating languages, started the first international PRIDE chapter and approached the Professional Women in Aviation EBRG about starting a chapter at the airport.
Piergallini has served on the Diversity Advisory Council for the PRIDE EBRG for almost three years. Piergallini used the companyâs transgender medical benefits and became a great resource for other transgender employees across the company.
The award honors Earl G. Graves, a businessman, entrepreneur and former board member of previous American Airlines parent company AMR Corp.
HEALTH CARE
Alisa Lask has been named by Galderma as the company’s new vice president and general manager of the Aesthetic & Corrective Business Unit in the United States. She was previously vice president of marketing of the same business unit.
HONORS & AWARDS
Origin Bank has been named one of the Best Banks to Work For in 2017 by American Banker Magazine. The program was started in 2013 to identify, recognize and honor the best banks to work for in the nation. It is a project of American Banker and Best Companies Group. The full list is in the September issue of American Banker Magazine and is available online at AmericanBanker.com.
Winstead PC founder Pete Winstead and his wife, Tomi, received the 26th Annual Harvey Penick Award for âExcellence in the Game of Life,â presented at Caritas of Austinâs Words of Hope Dinner in September. The award, named for the late golf teacher, is given in recognition of community involvement, charitable works and outstanding citizenship by those whose good works inspire lasting change in Central Texas.
Lana Wolff, long-time Arlington City Council member and community leader, has received the Dream Builder Award from the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation and DAMC premier partner, Texas Trust Credit Union. Wolff was recognized for her work for economic revitalization, which was instrumental in the formation of Downtown Arlington Inc. She was the first executive director of the organization.
LAW
Doug Clayton has been named chairman, and Julie Bergkamp vice-chairman, of the Business, Tax and Estates section at Cantey Hanger LLP. Claytonâs practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, securities offerings, SEC compliance and other business transactions.
Bergkampâs focus is in tax and business planning for multinational and local clients, from Fortune 100 companies to closely held family organizations. Bergkamp also represents health professionals with business regulatory issues.
LOBBYING
The firm of Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid Partners, based in Washington, D.C., has named Julie Hershey Carr and Randi Reid as partners. Reid, from Weatherford, previously was legislative director for U.S. Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming). She also worked in the U.S. House for Rep. Michael Burgess ( R-Lewisville), Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee chairman, and in state government for Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
NONPROFITS
Rudy Oeftering is the new chairman of the board of trustees for Texans Can Academies. Oeftering has been active in public service for more than 20 years, including service on the board of directors for the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, as chairman of Best Southwest Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of the Desoto Chamber of Commerce. He also was chairman of the Texas Association of Business. Oeftering owns Oeftering Properties, a multi-tenant rental business.
SERVICES
Fort Worth-based Steamatic Inc. has named Stefan Figley as president of the restoration and cleaning services company. Most recently, Figley was chief operating officer of Jani-King International, a company with over 11,000 franchisees in 14 countries. Steamatic will mark 50 years of service in 2018.
TECHNOLOGY
David Collyer has joined ECi Software Solutions as senior vice president of global customer experience.
Send newsmakers to Robert Francis at rfrancis@bizpress.net.