ArkBar News

Ballots Due March 18, 2022 for ArkBar 2022 Elections

Ballots for positions on the Board of Trustees and office of President-Elect were distributed February 15, 2022. The deadline for filing was January 31, 2022. Members in District A 2-3 will each receive a ballot in conjunction with their ballot for President. In those districts, each Association member will have the ability to vote for the number of available seats (3 votes in A 2-3 & 9 votes in B). The top 3 vote recipients in District A 2-3 and the top 9 vote recipients in District B will be elected. Electronic ballots will be delivered from AssociationVoting.com. Be sure to add announcement@ associationvoting.com to your address book to prevent the email from going to your junk mail or being blocked by your spam filter. Paper ballots will be mailed to members who do not have an email address on file or who have opted out of electronic communications from the Association. For questions contact Michele Glasgow at mglasgow@arkbar.com or 501-801-5661.

Two Members Announce Their Candidacy for Association President

Kandice Bell and Margaret Dobson have announced their candidacies for President-Elect of the Arkansas Bar Association. Association members will receive ballots either electronically or by mail on February 15, 2022. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast in the election becomes the President-Elect Designee, and succeeds to the office of President-Elect at the conclusion of the 2022 Annual Meeting. Members are encouraged to vote and return their ballots by March 18, 2022.

I want to be your next Association president to continue our rich traditions while creating more spaces to learn, grow and lead. Over two decades as a licensed attorney, I realize that I am still learning what it takes for any of us to be great. My goal is to help lawyers and strengthen our Association. My leadership experience includes House of Delegates, Board of Governors, and Board of Trustees. I have been recognized by six Association presidents for the contributions I have made to make us a better organization. With your vote, I seek the position of President-Elect.

In this digital age, we need to continue to promote the personal connections that improve our profession. Individually we represent diverse clients, but as an association, we represent all our members. We must work together to serve our members, improve access to justice, and educate the public. I am a solo practitioner with service Kandice A. Bell Margaret Dobson to our Association in Sections, House of Delegates, Board of Trustees, and Executive Council. I have also held leadership positions in my local bar association, Rotary, Law School Committees, and various organizations. I ask for your vote to serve as President-Elect of your Arkansas Bar Association.

Board of Trustees Candidates

Below are the candidates for the Board of Trustee’s 20 open seats. Three open seats in District A 2-3 (Washington County) and nine open seats in District B (Pulaski County) will be decided by election. The remaining eight open seats received no opposition. Those eight candidates are: District A-1 (Benton Co) Geoff Hamby; District A-4 (Sebastian to Boone Co) Craig Cook; District C-5 (North Central AR) two seats Joe Denton and Tyler Henderson; District C-6 (Northeast AR) Paul Ford; District C-7 (Southeast AR) Taylor King; District C-8 (Southwest AR) two seats, Carol Dalby and Connie Grace.

There are four candidates seeking the three open seats in District A 2-3. In alphabetical order they are: Matthew Benson, Richard Elliott, Jason Hatfield and Michelle Jaskolski. There are 10 candidates seeking the nine open seats in District B. In alphabetical order they are: Tim Cullen, Jessica Virden Mallet, Chase Mangiapane, Skye Martin, Stefan McBride, Kathleen McDonald, Jeremy McNabb, Casey Carder Rockwell, George Wise and Edward Zellmer.

Ballots will be issued to members residing in those two districts for the election of these candidates. Voting will take place through Friday, March 18, when all ballots must be submitted. Thanks to each of these candidates for their willingness to serve and promote our Association.

Learn more about the candidates and elections at: https://www.arkbar.com/for-attorneys/governance-nav/elections

Oyez! Oyez!

APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS

The University of Arkansas School of Law announced that Alena Allen, associate dean for research and faculty development and professor of law, has been named interim dean of the School of Law effective Jan. 1, 2022. C. C. “Cliff” Gibson III of Gibson and Keith Law Firm in Monticello was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas System. Cale Block of Barber Law Firm PLLC has been appointed to the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Arkansas.

WORD ABOUT TOWN

Allen Dobson and Andrew Vines have joined together to form the law firm of Dobson & Vines, PLLC. Arkansas Access to Justice announced that Abby Brenneman joined the staff as the new Program Coordinator. Hall Booth Smith, P.C. announced that Baxter D. Drennon joined the firm as a partner in the Little Rock office. The firm also announced the opening of a new office in Rogers. Partner Jason B. Hendren will manage the new Rogers office. Of Counsel Ryan P. Blue is joining Hendren in the Rogers office. Christopher R. Heil has joined Taylor King Law of Little Rock. Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP announced that Katherine C. Campbell has been elected as partner within the firm. Sarah Ort has been promoted by Stone Bank to Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. Jonathan Warren has joined Stephens, Inc., as Compliance Counsel. James M. Graves has joined Crouch, Harwell, Fryar & Ferner, PLLC, in Springdale. The partners of Wright Lindsey Jennings announced that four attorneys have been elected into partnership: Jake Fair, Quinten Whiteside, Meredith Lowry and Jennifer Smith. Kutak Rock LLP has elected Pierce G. Hunter (Little Rock) and Scott E. Wray (Fayetteville) as new partners. The law firms of Wright Lindsey Jennings (WLJ) and Dover Dixon Horne PLLC (DDH) announced a strategic partnership effective January 1, 2022, that will unite the two firms under the WLJ umbrella.

ArkBar Welcomes New Staff Member

Janet K. Marshall joins the Association’s staff as the Membership Administrator. A native of Wynne, Arkansas, Janet is a graduate of Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She married fellow Baylor graduate and Texas native, Matt Marshall. They settled in Little Rock and raised two sons, Garrison and Reece. Janet began a career as a professional, nonprofit fundraiser and event planner in Little Rock in 1992. Prior to joining the staff at the Arkansas Bar Association, she was the Vice President of Development at The Methodist Foundation for Arkansas since 2001. Janet’s Janet Marshall community involvement activities include P.E.O. Arkansas State Chapter Secretary; member of P.E.O. Arkansas Chapter AL; and member Arkansas Chapter - Alpha Chi Omega Sorority Alumnae. Janet enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, reading, and taking beach trips. She is also learning how to play mahjong.

“We are excited to have Janet join our team,” Executive Director Karen K. Hutchins said. “Her extensive experience with nonprofits both as a professional and as a volunteer will be a great asset to the Association. Janet is looking forward to getting out and meeting with members to learn how we can add value to membership.” It is time to nominate deserving candidates for this year’s Arkansas Bar Foundation and Arkansas Bar Association Annual Joint Awards. The awards open for nomination are:

Deadline for submission of

Annual Award Nominations

Friday, March 18, 2022

• Outstanding Lawyer Award • Outstanding Lawyer-Citizen Award • C.E. Ransick Award of Excellence • James H. McKenzie Professionalism

Award • Equal Justice Distinguished Service

Award • Outstanding Jurist Award • Outstanding Local Bar Association

These awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting in June. You are encouraged to nominate Arkansas lawyers, judges and local bar associations who deserve recognition. Nomination forms may be submitted by any Association member or Foundation Fellow. Forms are available at https://bit.ly/3HrlTlo or you may submit a written letter of nomination to Ann Pyle at the Arkansas Bar Foundation at 2224 Cottondale Lane, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202. Please call Ann Pyle at 501-8015670 with any questions.

Submit your Oyez! news to ahubbard@arkbar.com. Look for the Oyez feature with photos in ArkBar's Monthly Electronic Member Newsletter. Visit arkbar.com /for-attorneys/publications/ member-newsletter.