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President's Column Recap: 2022 CLE Luncheons Article: Impact of a Financial Expert's Involvement in Discovery Process Upcoming Events LEAD News BCWB Lites Job and Volunteer Opportunities
PRESIDENT'S
In this issue:
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Spring is here! I have thoroughly enjoyed the “sunny and 75†weather days in the recent weeks and cannot wait to see the gorgeous bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush blooms in the coming weeks. It has also been wonderful seeing fellow BCWB members at our various in-person events in the first quarter. “Bloom where we are planted†has consistently been the motto of BCWB over the years. Since its inception in 1982, BCWB has identified various needs in our community. Almost three decades ago, BCWB members identified a community need for wills and estate planning on a pro bono basis, resulting in the creation of the BCWB Pro Bono Wills Clinic. Each month, BCWB members served 20+ members of the community by drafting wills and other ancillary documents. A subsequent partnership with the San Antonio Bar Foundation was established, transitioning the administration and coordination of the clinic under the umbrella of SABF’s Community Justice Program. As many of you know, SABF’s Community Justice Program transformed into the nonprofit stand-alone entity, San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA), in August 2019. SALSA continues to meet this community need identified by BCWB members by continuing the tradition of hosting monthly Pro Bono Wills Clinics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic transitioned to a remote format, but SALSA plans to return to the in-person format this summer. BCWB will continue to support SALSA in various pro bono clinic opportunities this year, so stay tuned for details on how you can help meet the needs of our community by serving as a volunteer notary, law student, or attorney. With the new “blooms†of 2022, I am thrilled to announce a pilot sponsorship opportunity for BCWB. USAA is BCWB’s 2022 Diversity Title Sponsor, supporting BCWB by providing a financial contribution and other resources focused on: (1) finding and retaining diverse talent in our community; (2) supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; and (3) improving the lives of women attorneys. I look forward to collaborating with USAA’s Chief Legal Office throughout this year as we navigate this inaugural sponsorship program! “Flowers don’t tell; they show.†– Stephanie Skeem
By Danielle Rushing
President's column
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" bloom where you are planted."
So far in 2022...
We were happy to be back in person for our January and March CLE Luncheons! Special thanks to our wonderful speakers, the Hon. Justice Lori I. Valenzuela, Aimee Vidaurri, Marie Bussey-Garza, and Hannah Hoke.
2022 CLE Luncheons
Understanding how a financial expert can support your case and when to bring them on is essential. Financial experts are skilled to work closely with litigation teams to identify and analyze financial documents for forensic and business valuation cases, and trace assets to maximize the community and separate estates in divorces. Don’t wait until after settlement negotiations have failed or just before the case goes to trial to obtain an expert. Attorneys who hire financial experts after the discovery phase often miss valuable opportunities to strengthen their case in ways that can impact the success of a case. Involving a financial expert early in the discovery phase can help elicit information that reinforces expert opinions and lends credibility to testimony related to divorce cases, business valuations, and damages calculations. Valuation professionals don’t value businesses using only financial statements and management forecasts. Additional information, conducting site visits and management interviews can help the expert gain a deeper understanding of the business, management, its industry, strengths and weaknesses, and the risks that may affect its future performance. The same holds true for understanding the history of business and investments as started and held in marriages. To understand the whole picture requires more than just looking at cash flow statements and marriage certificates. In litigation, experts can assist attorneys in crafting deposition questions, interrogatories and other discovery requests designed to dig deeper. An expert’s early, in-depth involvement can help provide insight into how a company achieved historical results, what’s expected to drive company performance, or how a business in the marital estate was funded. Whether valuing an asset or determining community and separate property in a divorce—or rebutting an opponent’s valuation or marital estate allocation—by participating in the discovery process, the expert can gather information and answer questions that support (or challenge) existing assumptions, generate new assumptions and lead to new avenues of discovery. Suppose you represent the petitioner in a divorce case. The petitioner seeks to retain his or her separate property and obtain their share of the community marital estate. The Texas Family Code requires that separate property must be proven by clear and convincing evidence. Financial experts have tracing resources and knowledge to identify the separate and community allocations. An expert can help develop a discovery strategy designed to obtain information that would illustrate how a certain piece of property is in fact the petitioner’s separate property. They can participate in the attorney’s request for additional documentation such as bank statements, trust documents, deeds, and additional third-party items that can aid in the tracing process and solidify the property as the petitioner’s separate. Involving highly experienced financial experts early in the litigation process helps elicit information that reinforces expert opinions and lends credibility to testimony. Attorneys can help shape the discovery process, and ultimately, the case outcome and results by hiring a litigation support team to enhance their efforts.
A Winning Strategy
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Angie Stone is a partner with ATKG and serves as its Litigation Support practice leader. Angie is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and received accreditation in business valuations (ABV). For further information on this topic, please contact Angie at astone@atkgcpa.com.
impact of a financial expert's involvement in discovery process
How Early Involvement Can Help
...and Before the Retreat--Read this Book!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Save the Date
The DEI Committee is proud to announce its Books + Belonging Book Club! We will be discussing our first book, We Are Not Like Them, by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza at the BCWB Retreat in May. The book involves a thought-provoking story about race, friendship, and forgiveness. Purchase your copy now and we look forward to discussing with you at the Retreat! Keep an eye on your inbox—more details will be provided soon.
April Around Town Lunch LEAD Virtual CLE Trivia Night May WLA Happy Hour June CLE Luncheon
Autumn Affair November 3, 6 p.m. The Witte Museum
Watch Your Inbox for Invitations to:
Congratulations to former BCWB Board Officer Amanda Crouch, who was recently promoted to partnership at Jackson Walker. Amanda's practice includes trial and appellate work in a variety of areas.
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Congratulations to Melanie Fry, a member at Dykema and former BCWB Director, for being selected as one of the San Antonio Business Journal's 40 Under 40 this year! Each year, SABJ selects 40 business and community leaders in San Antonio from diverse areas of practice.
Congratulations to BCWB Board Director Rashin Mazaheri, a founding member of Dreyer & Mazaheri Law Firm, who was nominated to be a Texas Super Lawyer for 2022! Rahin's practice is primarily focuses on family law and business litigation.
Congratulations to Charla Davies, Shareholder at Langley & Banack, who was recently appointed to a 3-year term on the Family Law Advisory Commission of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Among other things, she will advise on any updates necessary to the Specific Area Requirements for the Family Law Board Certification Exam and review applications for certification or re-certification.
Please join us in congratulating BCWB Board Director Christine Rudy on joining Lovorn & Ogle, PLLC, as an Associate Attorney working with fellow BCWB Board Officer Casey Lee. Christine is also training to become a family law mediator and cannot wait to start conducting mediations in Bexar and surrounding counties. Cheers, Christine!
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Please join us in welcoming Walker Colt Davis to our BCWB family! Congratulations to BCWB Board Director Jessica Glosson Davis and her husband Clay Davis for their little bundle of joy!
Congratulations to BCWB President, Danielle Rushing, who was recently promoted to Senior Attorney at Dykema. Danielle's practice primarily focuses on bankruptcy and restructuring.
Are you a BCWB member celebrating a recent accomplishment, or do you have a friend who is? Drop us a note at newsletter@bexarcountywomensbar.org
Welcome, Walker Colt Davis!
Congratulations to Neyma Figueroa, who was recently promoted to Senior Attorney at Dykema. Neyma's practice includes financial services litigation, first-party insurance defense and business contract and tort disputes.
Congratulations to former BCWB Board Director and current LEAD Steering Committee Member Alicia Grant, who was promoted to Senior Associate at Norton Rose Fulbright. Alicia's practice includes product liability actions, mass tort, and complex commercial litigation, including class actions and multi-district litigation.
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Please join us in congratulating Elizabeth Hartsell, who recently made the move to become an associate at Dykema. Elizabeth joins the commercial litigation group in San Antonio.
Please direct all questions, comments and submissions to: Newsletter@BexarCountyWomensBar.Org
The mission of the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation is twofold: to provide educational opportunities to its members; and to protect and strengthen local families by supporting legal and charitable programs.
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The San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA) has many volunteer opportunities available in the coming months. Check out their online calendar for dates that you can volunteer for the following programs: Small Estate Clinics: Help folks who are unable to afford a probate attorney prepare a Small Estate Affidavit or explore other probate paths that are suitable for their situation. Clinics are 2.5 hours. Veterans Legal Advice Clinics: Assist veterans with a variety of legal issues, including VA disability compensation increase/appeals, pension and survivor's benefit appeals, criminal record non-disclosure, military records corrections, bankruptcy, uncontested divorce or child support agreements, wills and guardianship, landlord/tenant issues, and more. Clinics are 3 hours. Alternatives to Guardianship Clinics: Provide Supported Decision Making Agreements and Powers of Attorney to young people with disabilities who are reaching the age of majority. This presents a less restrictive means of assistance that may alleviate the need for a later guardianship. Remote clinics are 2 hours.
volunteer Opportunities
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Edited by: Priscila Mosqueda
Dynamic and growing San Antonio litigation boutique seeks full-time associate to manage a variety of tasks in complex cases in state and federal courts. We seek individuals who want to handle a dynamic and challenging docket of cases requiring creative legal thinking for a range of individual and institutional clients. The ideal candidate will be able to identify and analyze complex, unique, and/or novel legal issues. Must be able to work independently and in a collaborative trial team. Required: JD from accredited law school; excellent research and writing skills; professional accountability. Preferred: trial experience; fluency in Spanish. Competitive salary and benefits. Bonuses may be available for attorneys graduating from judicial clerkships. Interested and qualified candidates should send their resumes and writing samples to: abattaglia@dslawpc.com.
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Job Opportunities