News

Flowers Davis Teams with East Texas Title Companies in Community Service

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TYLER, TX (August 1, 2022) ¬¬– On Saturday morning, Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam joined other area experts in community service at a panel discussion in Longview. The free panel discussion was tailored for the residents of South Longview, and covered topics such as property title, wills and trusts, life insurance, real estate acquisition and probate. Kellam specifically addressed how title and estate laws come into play when there is no will and advised the participants on the legal steps they need to take to transfer title into their name or sell.

Of his involvement on the panel, Kellam had this to say: “I was honored to participate in this event. ‘Information is knowledge and knowledge is power’ seemed to be a theme for the morning. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about how property passes at death and how to create a valid will. There were lots of questions about paying taxes on inherited property where there are multiple heirs and only one or a few keep up the taxes and maintenance. The misconception is that the ones who pay the taxes are the only ones who now own the property, but that’s not the case. Their stewardship actually helps all the other heirs, even those who are not contributing. Although this could be considered bad news, I was pleased to be able to clear this up for the audience. We need more of this type of grassroots community engagement; it’s an extremely effective way to make a positive impact on our East Texas communities and provides a great opportunity for exchange of ideas and information.”

Kellam learned about the event from Kelly Lewis, Client Relations Officer for East Texas Title Companies, which is owned by Celia Flowers, Senior Partner at Flowers Davis. While visiting Johnson Realty in Longview and hearing about the need for this community education, Lewis immediately thought of asking Kellam to participate. Lewis said, “Many East Texans don’t understand how Celia’s companies work together to serve the community. This is one example of how the title company works with the law firm to provide a valuable service to our neighbors. We don’t operate as silos; we coordinate all parties necessary to fulfill our clients’ needs.”

Joining Kellam as expert panelists were Estate Planning Attorney and Longview City Councilwoman Kristen Ishihara, State Farm Agent and former Longview City Councilwoman Kasha Williams and Johnson Realty Broker Cherika Johnson. The discussion was moderated by Kedarious Colbert, a community leader in Longview. The event was sponsored by Longview City Councilwoman Nona Snoddy.

Kellam is a frequent speaker in the Tyler area, having presented to various groups at UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College in addition to realtor groups. At Flowers Davis, he practices real estate law, banking law, corporate law, and advises on estate planning matters.

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.

About East Texas Title Companies
East Texas Title Companies is a Texas-owned and operated group of title companies serving over 60 Texas counties in East Texas and beyond. They have built their business on the belief that a Texas-based title company is the best choice for personal service and first-hand knowledge of Texans and Texas real estate. Owned and operated by Celia Flowers, Senior Partner at Flowers Davis, ETTC along with affiliates RecordsOnline and East Texas Tax & Land Services provide the full gamut real estate, property title, and legal services to Texans. To learn more, visit www.etextitle.com and www.recordsonline.com.

Celia Flowers Provides Continuing Legal Education to Colleagues

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TYLER, TX (June 30, 2022) ¬¬– Celia Flowers is one of 21 attorneys who will be lecturing at the Oil, Gas and Mineral Title Examination Course in Houston, Texas on June 30-July 1, 2022. Flowers will be presenting a paper she authored entitled “Examining the ‘Life’ of a Correction Instrument after Broadway Bank and Concho”.

Flowers’ paper focuses on two 2021 Texas Supreme Court decisions that allow retroactive changes to previously conveyed interests. The way these correction instruments can now be executed and recorded causes uncertainty and confusion about who holds record title, which in turn affects how title examiners conduct their work, how title opinions are rendered, how title insurance is issued, and a plethora of other problems. The unintended consequences of the Supreme Court decisions altered the Property Code in ways that have the potential to invite fraud, promote litigation, and undermine the stability of land title in Texas. Flowers goes on to explain what may happen in the 2023 legislative session to remedy the situation, and offers suggestions to title examiners on how to proceed in the interim.

The Oil, Gas and Mineral Title Examination Course is co-sponsored by the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Section of the State Bar of Texas. Participants who attend the full two days will receive 12.5 hours of CLE credit.

About the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
The Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law (OGERL) Section of the State Bar of Texas was established in 1938 as the “Natural Resources Section” and is the oldest section of the State Bar of Texas. The Section is one of the largest and most active in the State Bar, with more than 3,000 members. The Section is dedicated to promoting excellence in the practice of oil, gas and energy resources law by (1) monitoring legal developments, (2) providing education, (3) encouraging and facilitating practice in the area and (4) promoting ethics and professionalism; in each case coordinating as appropriate with similar professional organizations.

About Celia Flowers
Celia Flowers is quadruple-Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the areas of Oil & Gas Law, Residential Real Estate Law, Property Owners Association Law and Civil Trial Law. Board Certification is the highest, most public commitment to excellence in specific areas of the law. As of July 2019, 0.0086% of all active Texas attorneys are certified in four separate areas (nine out of 103,342), making this a most distinguished accomplishment. Celia has been honored many times with board memberships, leadership positions, and invitations to speak out on national or statewide issues before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Texas Department of Insurance, among others. Since 2011, she has been honored to serve on the Texas Title Examination Standards Board, which formulates, develops, comments on and amends title examination standards for the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section (REPTL) and for the Oil, Gas and Energy Resources Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. In addition, Celia’s clients and peers have ranked her at the highest level of professional excellence (5.0 out of 5.0 in each area of evaluation), earning her an AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale Hubbell since 2014. Thomson Reuters has honored her as a Texas Super Lawyer since 2020. Celia is a Fellow in the College of the State Bar of Texas, 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. She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation-only organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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.

Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam Lectures at Fathom Realty Agent Seminar

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TYLER, TX (May 23, 2022) ¬¬– Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam was the guest lecturer at Fathom Realty’s agent luncheon today. Approximately 50 realtors were in attendance at the lunch-and-learn, which was sponsored by Flowers Davis and held at the Greater Tyler Association of Realtors.

Kellam’s presentation was entitled “I See Dead People…On My Title Commitment”. He advised the realtors on where to look to see if heirs or descendants are owners of record on a property, what questions to ask regarding Wills and Probate, and how timelines and family history are important. He recommended they address these issues early in the process so closing won’t be delayed, and to also be patient, as sometimes curing title can take some time.

Kellam is a frequent speaker in the Tyler area, having presented to various groups at UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College in addition to realtor groups. At Flowers Davis, he practices real estate law, banking law, corporate law, and advises on estate planning matters.

Also speaking at the event was nationally renowned speaker Steve Black, who delivered a Social Media and Lead Generation Masterclass.

About Fathom Realty
Fathom Realty is a fast-growing, agent-owned, full-service brokerage, offering their agents some of the best commission splits in the industry. With a focus on servant-leadership, technology, training, and support, combined with providing their agents equity ownership in the company, Fathom has been recognized as one of the largest brokerages in the US by the Real Trends 500 Ranking. Learn more at www.FathomRealty.com.

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.

Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam Guest Lectures TJC Real Estate Students

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TYLER, TX (April 7, 2022) ¬¬– Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam was the guest lecturer last evening at a Real Estate Law of Contracts class, a part of TJC’s Real Estate Management curriculum. Kellam discussed various topics related to real estate including TREC contract provisions, common title issues, property owner’s associations, classifications of property (real, personal, fixtures), and offered general professional and career advice. Class participants are looking forward to lucrative careers in real estate, and they enthusiastically participated in the session.

Kellam, a 2008 graduate of UT Tyler, has a passion for mentoring students in his hometown. In addition to last evening’s lecture, he has twice participated as a panelist in the UT Tyler Career Success Conference. Both venues allow him to share his experiences and provide encouragement to young professionals who are taking initiative to find a rewarding career. In addition to practicing real estate law at Flowers Davis, Kellam advises clients in banking law, corporate law, and estate planning matters.

About TJC’s Real Estate Management Program
TJC’s certificate in Real Estate Management program began in Fall 2015. The one-year program offers a broad-based knowledge of core areas within the real estate field including real estate law, contracts, mathematics, finances as well as the basic principles of real estate. Successful graduates complete all course work required by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and are ready to take the licensing exam. To learn more about the program, visit www.tjc.edu/realestate.

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.

Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam Addresses UT Tyler Students

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TYLER, TX (November 4, 2021) ¬¬– Flowers Davis Attorney Corey Kellam was once again invited to join other speakers at the 2021 UT Tyler Career Success Conference, held today on the UT Tyler Campus. Speakers at the conference were paired with others with similarly themed messages so the students got a powerful one-two punch on topics of interest. Kellam’s presentation was entitled Carpe Diem (Seize the Day). He shared his insights on keeping one’s focus on the present and pursuing a vocation instead of a career. By emphasizing vocation, he encouraged students to consider their true calling, or contributions in life as a whole, and how their jobs or careers fit into that calling.

This is the second time Kellam, a 2008 graduate of UT Tyler, has given back to his alma mater by participating in the CSC. On being invited to speak, Kellam had this to say, “It is an honor to contribute to the development of our future leaders by participating in the Conference. I have so many great memories from my time at UT Tyler. It offered the perfect atmosphere for me to pursue academic excellence, compete as a collegiate athlete, build lasting friendships, and start my professional journey. Participating in the UTT Career Success Conference allows me to share my experiences and provide encouragement to young professionals who are taking initiative to find a rewarding career.”

About the UT Tyler Career Success Conference
The Career Success Conference is an event designed to allow business and industry leaders to share their experiences and wisdom with today’s students. More specifically, the conference is designed to help students build the personal and professional capacities necessary for career success. The Conference hosts speakers from a variety of industries, sharing their stories of career development and career success. With three interactive lecture sessions, current students have the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and learn how to build and develop core traits of career success. Visit https://csc.uttyler.edu/ for more information.

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.

Flowers Davis Partner Rob Knight Addresses East Texas Landmen

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TYLER, TX (September 16, 2021) ¬¬– Flowers Davis Partner Rob Knight was the keynote speaker for the East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen’s September luncheon at Willow Brook Country Club. Rob updated the crowd on the legal issues surrounding who needs to sign legal documents when death, divorce or various business entities are involved. The landmen in the audience often find themselves in situations where the person or entity who purchased land or minerals has experienced a change of status. When that happens, the landmen must know what steps to take to find the appropriate party/ies, and often must obtain additional documentation such as probate, divorce decrees, affidavits, or partnership agreements to support their decision. Knight also covered the laws governing powers of attorney, and co-tenancy and notary acknowledgements.

While his presentation was tailored to landmen buying oil and gas leases, these status changes affect many other types of transactions such as selling a property or business, establishing a partnership or joint venture, or distributing an estate. In his practice at Flowers Davis, Knight counsels clients on these matters and many more. He practices in the areas of Business & Commercial Litigation, Business Entity Formation, Eminent Domain | Condemnation, Estate Planning – Wills & Trusts, Oil & Gas Litigation, Oil & Gas Title Opinions, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Litigation, Transactions, Acquisitions & Development. He is the managing partner at Flowers Davis for the Oil and Gas Litigation, Appellate and Transactional Sections of the Firm.

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.

About ETAPL
The East Texas Association of Petroleum Landmen is a non-profit, professional organization founded in 1951 in Tyler, Texas for the purpose of promoting the Landman profession, arranging and coordinating social and educational events for members and contributing to social needs of the East Texas area. The ETAPL has approximately 700 active members located primarily in East Texas. Our members represent oil and gas businesses ranging from very large oil companies to the independent landman. Learn more at www.etapl.org.