Roger R. Scott Community Service Award
Catherine W. Hoopert Catherine W. Hoopert is this year’s recipient for the Roger R. Scott Community Service Award. Cathy has served as the chair of the Lawyer Referral Service Committee for seven years and in that time initiated and oversaw the transformation of LRS. TCBA has new, updated online processes for referrals that ensures participating attorneys are receiving equitable client calls from the system due to Catherine’s push for better technology. This system also allows TCBA to track all its referrals, whether they are attorney calls or calls to another different service provider. For the first time in LRS history, all calls from the community can be quantified for future grant applications. This shows the depths of which the TCBA Lawyer Referral Services reaches into the community and plays a huge roll in fulfilling the TCBA’s mission in keeping the legal system accessible. Cathy is a seasoned lawyer with a diverse legal and business background. A solo practitioner, formerly AVP of Tax Services and Senior Trust Tax Administrator for the wealth management group of a regional banking institution, she has been engaged in the legal and accounting professions for over thirty years, having received her law degree in 2001. With an undergraduate degree in accounting, two of Catherine’s practice areas are estate planning and tax law. She enjoys the accounting aspects of cases that frequently intersect with or cross over into the legal profession and has represented numerous clients in many informal and formal settings, including various courts, mediation, State Tax Commission and the Internal Revenue Service. Catherine received her Juris Doctorate, with highest honor, from the University of Tulsa College of Law. Included
in the numerous academic awards that she received are the CALI “Excellence for the Future” awards in five categories: Decedents’ Estates & Trusts; Federal Income Tax; Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders; Real Estate Transactions; and Legal Reasoning, Authorities & Writing. She also received the William H. Bell award for receiving the highest grade in Decedent’s Estates and Trusts, was named to the Who’s Who American Law Students for three consecutive years. She was on both the Faculty and Dean’s Honor Rolls, and a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Fraternity. Ms. Hoopert has professionally published a paper, used both in publication and for a seminar, entitled “Introduction to Tax-Exempt Organizations” and presented “Marshalling Assets” and “Handling Creditor Claims and Debt” for live seminar of Estate Administration from Start to Finish for lawyers’ continuing legal education.” Catherine’s commitment to her career and community are also shown by her past and present involvement in other local, state and national organizations. She maintains her CPA credentials, is a member of the American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Tulsa County Bar Association, Oklahoma Society of CPAs, and St. John’s Episcopal Church of Tulsa. She’s served with these, and other organizations in various capacities throughout her years of membership. She has received the Key Contributor award from the Public Service Company of Oklahoma and the Woman of the Year award from the Oil Capital Business & Professional Women’s Club. Thank you, Catherine, for your dedication and for helping TBCA live up to is mission. Tulsa Lawyer 19
