Dallas Bar Association
HEADNOTES January 2014 Volume 39 Number 1
Scott M. McElhaney Inaugurated as DBA’s 105th President by Jared M. Slade
Scott M. McElhaney will be inaugurated as the 105th President of the Dallas Bar Association on January 11, 2014. Scott, who focuses his practice on labor and employment and commercial litigation as a partner at Jackson Walker L.L.P., brings superlative credentials and a record of service to his latest leadership position with the DBA, all of which inform his vision for his term. “Scott will be a great DBA President,” commented Sally Crawford, an attorney at Jones Day and Scott’s immediate predecessor as DBA’s President. “Not only is he exceptionally smart and thoughtful, but he brings a tremendous amount of DBA experience and institutional knowledge, having served in numerous capacities and as a Board member. He will be wonderful.” A Dallas native, Scott was introduced to the law early by his father, John McElhaney, a longtime litigation partner at Locke Lord. He worked as a messenger at the firm, which was then known as Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney & Neely, during one summer in high school. He credits the experience with confirming his interest in the law and educating him about the underground downtown tunnels. After graduating from St. Mark’s School of Texas, he attended Dartmouth College, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and received an A.B. degree, summa cum laude, in History. One summer found him at Thompson Knight as a paralegal, where he confirmed he still liked the law, before applying to law school. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School. His passion for civil rights manifested itself in multiple extracurricular activities—Scott served as Managing Editor of the Harvard Civil Rights – Civil Liberties Law Review and President of the Harvard Law School Civil Liberties Union. Scott elected to clerk before beginning private practice. He was a Law Clerk to the Honorable H. Barefoot Sanders, Jr., then the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He earned a second clerkship with the Honorable Irving Goldberg on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Those clerkships proved instrumental to Scott professionally and personally.
Scott M. McElhaney
Personally, his clerk network introduced him to his wife, Allison Walters, whose sister was one of the Sanders clerks who followed Scott. The couple fatefully met under Big Tex at a law clerk group outing to the State Fair. Today, Allison and Scott have two sons, both of whom attend St. Mark’s, like their father. Most weekends find Scott at a soccer field around town, watching his sons compete on the field. Both Christopher, 14, and Henry, 11, play soccer like their father did but also have diverse interests: Christopher enjoys photography and crosscountry while Henry sings in the school choir. It is unclear whether they will follow their father and grandfather into the courtroom; Scott is agnostic as to their future professions, so long as both are happy. Professionally, he was attracted to the firm Cohan, Simpson, Cowlishaw & Wulff, L.L.P., which featured numerous former Sanders and Goldberg clerks. Scott remained after that firm merged with Jackson Walker in 2001. W. Gary Fowler, Chair of Jackson Walker’s Dallas Labor and Employment Section, has worked with Scott since the merger. “Scott’s combination of knowing the law and applying it is what makes him a truly outstanding lawyer,” Mr. Fowler said, “He also brings great practical skills, a wonderful sense of humor, and love of the law to his work.” Today, Scott splits his practice almost equally between labor and employment, a field in which he is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and commercial litigation. His professional success has afforded him opportunities to continued on page 6
Focus Labor & Employment Law
Rafael Anchia to Receive 2014 MLK Justice Award mittee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. In the 83rd legislative session, he was appointed to the “He is courageous. His courage, patience, tenac- bi-national Border Legislative Conference. He ity and passion for justice brought this issue to the previously served as Vice-Chair of the Pensions, forefront. He opened doors and he opened eyes. His Investments and Financial Services Committee interest is public policy, not politics. He truly believes and on the prestigious Sunset Advisory Commishe was elected to serve the people of the State of sion. Having lived the American Dream that Texas, and to improve the lives of all Texans, regardinspired his parents to move to the United States, less of party affiliation.” - Cory Session, Timothy Cole’s brother and Representative Anchia has a genuine passion for Policy Director at The Innocence Project of Texas, helping people and true empathy for their strugon the role of Rafael Anchia in the passage of the gles and aspirations. During his service in the legislature, he has worked tirelessly on legislation to Tim Cole Act. protect civil rights, improve public safety, protect On January 20, 2014, the Dallas Bar Asso- our environment and improve health coverage ciation will honor Texas State Representative for women and children. When asked about his Rafael Anchia as the 2014 recipient of the Mar- most satisfying accomplishment, Representative tin Luther King, Jr. Justice Award. The award, Anchia responded without hesitation: “The Tim given annually, recognizes attorneys who embody Cole Act.” Working with The Innocence Project, Representative Anchia sponsored the values and principles of the life House Bill 1736, resulting in legisand legacy of Dr. King: justice, comlation that increases the amount of passion and service. compensation paid by the State of The son of Mexican and SpanTexas and provides other benefits ish immigrants, who taught him to individuals found to have been the value of education, hard work wrongfully imprisoned. and commitment, Representative “I have witnessed the significant Anchia was inspired early in life difference this recognition and payto become a lawyer and enter pubment has made in the lives of dozlic service when he participated ens of innocent men and women in a public school “court observer and their families,” said Represenprogram, which provided his first tative Anchia. “I have stayed in exposure to the justice system.” contact with many of these indiHe applied that inspiration toward viduals and have noted a direct and earning a full scholarship to attend tangible impact. I have seen them Southern Methodist University, Rafael Anchia not only get back on their feet, but where he graduated with honors. He received another scholarship to attend Tulane also thrive. I am proud to have played a part in University where he earned his law degree. At seeing justice served.” Prominent Dallas criminal attorney and PresTulane, he served as a volunteer advocate for ident of the Board of Directors at The Innocence immigrant detainees denied legal counsel, and Project of Texas, Gary Udashen, said: “The Tim worked on legislation monitoring nursing home conditions which later became law. It is not sur- Cole Act put Texas ahead of the rest of the counprising, then, that in his practice as an attor- try on this issue, and Representative Anchia has ney with the international law firm Haynes and been a leader and supporter in this area.” Representative Anchia has received numerBoone, where Representative Anchia specializes in public and corporate finance, public service ous community awards, including the American Jewish Committee’s Institute of Human has remained a constant and dual focus. Representative Anchia began his public ser- Relations Award, Texas Lawyer’s Extraordinary vice locally as a member of the Board of Trust- Minority in Texas Law and LULAC’s National ees for the Dallas Independent School District. “Man of the Year.” He has also received legislative honors too Twice elected to the Board, his efforts helped win public approval of a $1.37 billion bond pack- numerous to list—from Texas Monthly’s Top age that provided thousands of children with Freshman and Ten Best Legislators to Hispanic improved classrooms and learning environments. Business’ 50 Most Influential U.S. Hispanics in On a national level, he served as Chairman of 2012. The Representative was also appointed by the Board of the National Association of Latino Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Elected and Appointed Officials Educational the Democratic National Committee as an atFund, a leading national non- profit and non- large member in August 2013. The Dallas Bar Association is honored to prespartisan organization that facilitates full Latino participation in the American political process ent Representative Anchia with this prestigious award for his service to the Dallas community and from citizenship to public service. In November 2004, Rafael Anchia was the State of Texas. Please join us in thanking and elected to the Texas House of Representatives. honoring him at the Martin Luther King, Jr. JusHis district, House District 103, serves a west- tice Award luncheon at noon at the Belo Manern corridor of Dallas County, including parts sion. Members of the DBA and the community are of North Oak Cliff, West Dallas, La Bajada, Los invited to attend. To make reservations, contact Altos, Love Field, North Park and portions of Biri Avina at bavina@dallasbar.org. A plated lunch HN the cities of Irving, Farmers Branch and Car- will be served at a cost of $12.76. rollton. He currently Chairs the International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs Commit- Dawn Fowler is co-chair of the Publications Committee and is a partner tee within the legislature and is an appointee of at Keane, Fowler & Donohue where she specializes in family law and is an President Obama to the federal Advisory Com- advanced credentialed mediator. She can be reached at dfowler@kfd-law.com. by Dawn Fowler
Inside 7
Connatser Family Law Donates $15,000 to DVAP
11 Strategies for Recognizing and Avoiding Workplace Violence 13 Handcuffed: Laws Limit Employers’ Use of Background Reports
DBA MEMBER REMINDER: All 2014 2nd Notice DBA DUES STATEMENTS were mailed in mid-December. Renew online or by mail TODAY in order to continue receiving all your member benefits.
Thank you for your support of the Dallas Bar Association!