News

East Texas Business Owner Demonstrates Latest Closing Technology at National Meeting

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TYLER, TX (January 21, 2019) ¬¬– East Texas business owner and attorney Celia C. Flowers was one of three early adopters to present to the Large Agents Group of the American Land Title Association (ALTA) in Boca Raton this past week. Celia provided a video of a mock closing, demonstrating how her company, East Texas Title Companies, provides secure digital closings and remote online notary (RON) to her Texas clients. RON allows parties to close real estate transactions virtually any time from virtually anywhere in an encrypted and secure environment. Texas was one of the first seven states to approve RON, with 20 more states joining in 2018. Acceptance and implementation by title companies has been following legislation at a slower pace. Celia and her colleagues also discussed processes and lessons learned since implementing RON.

ALTA is the national trade association and voice of more than 6,000 title insurance agents, abstracters and underwriters. The Large Agents group of ALTA consists of the 35-40 largest title agents in the country, with representation across the nation. Celia C. Flowers is owner of East Texas Title Companies and Partner at Flowers Davis PLLC, both based in Tyler.

Rob Knight and Jordan Mullins Speak on Ethics at HAPL Seminar

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TYLER, TX (September 26, 2018) ¬¬– On September 19, 2018, Flowers Davis attorneys Rob Knight and Jordan Mullins spoke at the monthly luncheon for the Houston Association of Professional Landmen. The event was held at the Houston Petroleum Club and the topic was “Ethical Considerations: Trilogy of Working as Lawyers and Landmen for the Good of the Client.” The presentation discussed the codes of conduct governing both landmen and lawyers, the major ethical rules that both are bound by, and how landmen and lawyers can work together within the constructs of these rules to better serve their clients.

Participants with Registered Professional Landmen (RPL) and Certified Professional Landman (CPL) certifications received educational credits for the session.

Flowers Davis attorneys are available to speak to organizations on a variety of different topics. To inquire about availability or to schedule, please contact fdlaw@flowersdavis.com.

Flowers Davis Attorneys Expand Reach to Clients and Communities

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TYLER, TX (September 25, 2018) ­­– Two Flowers Davis attorneys have worked to expand the breadth and depth of their practices to better serve their clients.

This summer, Melanie S. Reyes was admitted to practice law in the State of New Mexico by the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners. Reyes, who has been licensed in Texas since 2003, and is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Oil, Gas and Energy Law, said: “Oil and gas fields do not develop according to county or state lines, and many clients need representation in both Texas and New Mexico. Obtaining my license in New Mexico was a natural expansion of my practice and provides our clients with seamless service across state lines.” Reyes has been with Flowers Davis PLLC since 2004.

This fall, Flowers Davis attorney Virginia D. “Ginger” Young was honored to be appointed to the Executive Board of the East Texas Chapter of Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON). She will simultaneously serve as Secretary of the Board, an elected position. JFON is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for immigrants and educates the public on immigration matters. Dalila Reynoso, Program Administrator for ET-JFON, said, “We are thrilled to have Ginger join our Board! She and (Flowers Davis attorney) Daniel C. Ross have been invaluable assets to the immigrant community, giving of themselves selflessly and on their own time. We wouldn’t be where we are without them!” Young has been with Flowers Davis PLLC since 2000 and in the Immigration Law Section since 2009.

Celia Flowers, partner and attorney at Flowers Davis PLLC, states “The above-and-beyond efforts made by both Melanie and Ginger to expand their practices with certification, licensure and embedding themselves in the community exemplifies Flowers Davis’ commitment and dedication to providing best in class representation to all our clients.”

The Texas Bar College Welcomes New Member Catherine Chesley Goodgion

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AUSTIN (May 1, 2017) – The Texas Bar College congratulates Flowers Davis PLLC Attorney Catherine Chesley Goodgion on her membership as a Fellow in the College of the State Bar of Texas. The Texas Bar College is an honorary society of lawyers who are among the best trained attorneys in Texas, having completed at least double the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) required by the State Bar of Texas.

Goodgion is a Patent Prosecutor, licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). To qualify as a Patent Prosecutor, an attorney must meet legal, scientific and technical qualifications and demonstrate a good moral character and reputation. In addition to earning a technical science degree and a law degree, they must apply for registration with the USPTO and pass a separate bar examination. Fewer than 1% of the attorneys in Smith County have met these requirements.

Goodgion also practices in the areas of Real Estate Transactions, Acquisitions & Development, Estate Planning, Document Preparation and Curative.

The Texas Bar College, the only organization in the United States formed for this purpose,  is an honorary society of lawyers, chartered by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1981, to recognize and encourage lawyers who maintain and enhance their professional skills and the quality of their service to the public by completing at least double the required hours of continuing legal education each year.  The College also sponsors or otherwise assists in educational activities of significant merit and widespread relevance and applicability to the legal profession.

The Texas Bar College
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Merianne Gaston, 512.427.1819 or 800.204.2222 x 1819

2017.05.01 Catherine Chesley Goodgion Texas Bar College Press Release

Flowers Davis PLLC Attorneys Melanie Reyes & Rob Knight Speak at the East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen (ETAPL) Spring Seminar

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TYLER, TX (April 30, 2017) ­­– Flowers Davis PLLC Attorneys Melanie Reyes and Rob Knight were presented to members of the East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen (ETAPL) at their annual Spring Seminar.

Reyes and Knight spoke on issues arising due to horizontal drilling, where case law is lagging behind field practices. Their lecture surveyed the current Texas Railroad Commission permitting processes and industry practices in calculating royalties for horizontal allocation wells. Their talk was based on a paper co-authored by Reyes and Flowers Davis PLLC Partner Celia Flowers.

Both Flowers and Reyes are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law. Flowers and Reyes serve the oil and gas industry in the areas of oil and gas title opinions and oil and gas litigation. Knight’s oil and gas practice focuses on oil and gas title opinions. ETAPL members received Continuing Education credits for attending the seminar.

About Flowers Davis PLLC

Flowers Davis is an East Texas based law firm whose attorneys represent individuals, businesses and public entities across the State of Texas and beyond in a broad range of legal matters. The Firm’s attorneys handle business transactions and litigation matters for clients ranging from local businesses to multinational corporations, with particular emphasis in oil and gas law, real estate law, defense of public entities and insurance defense. Flowers Davis attorneys hold licenses and certifications in varied areas of the law. Many have backgrounds in industry or public service, giving them a working knowledge of the issues their clients face. To learn more about Flowers Davis PLLC, visit www.flowersdavis.com.

2017.04.30 Reyes & Knight Speak at ETAPL Spring Seminar

Flowers Davis PLLC Attorneys Celia Flowers and Melanie Reyes Educate the East Texas Association of Lease and Title Analysts (ETX-ALTA)

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TYLER, TX (April 18, 2017) ­­– Flowers Davis PLLC Attorneys Celia Flowers and Melanie Reyes presented to a maximum-capacity crowd at the East Texas Association of Lease and Title Analysts at the ETX-ALTA Spring Seminar.

Flowers and Reyes first lecture covered mineral and royalty interests, educating the members on how to determine if an interest reserved or conveyed is either a mineral interest or royalty interest, and also if the percent reserved or conveyed is fixed or floating. This is a very important and often confusing topic in areas where oil and gas rights are leased and produced. Their talk was based on a paper drafted by St Mary’s University Professor Laura Burney.

Flowers and Reyes’ second and third lectures covered issues arising due to horizontal drilling, where case law is lagging behind field practices. The second lecture covered Surface Site Issues with Horizontal Wells. They discussed the issues that arise when a well bore is located on a surface tract not included in a producing unit, and they also covered pipeline easements.

The third and final lecture covered the legal issues of drilling horizontal allocation wells, from permitting with the Texas Railroad Commission through division and payment of royalties.

Both Flowers and Reyes are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Oil, Gas and Mineral Law. ETX-ALTA members received Continuing Education credits for attending the seminar.

About Flowers Davis PLLC

Flowers Davis is an East Texas based law firm whose attorneys represent individuals, businesses and public entities across the State of Texas and beyond in a broad range of legal matters. The Firm’s attorneys handle business transactions and litigation matters for clients ranging from local businesses to multinational corporations, with particular emphasis in oil and gas law, real estate law, defense of public entities and insurance defense. Flowers Davis attorneys hold licenses and certifications in varied areas of the law. Many have backgrounds in industry or public service, giving them a working knowledge of the issues their clients face. To learn more about Flowers Davis PLLC, visit www.flowersdavis.com.

2017.04.18 Flowers & Reyes Educate the East Texas Association of Lease and Title Analysts (ETX-ALTA)