COLLIN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

GENERAL MEETING 

FEBRUARY 21, NOON

CENTER FOR AMERICAN & INTERNATIONAL LAW

(5201 Democracy Drive, Plano)

TOPIC: TEXAS BUSINESS COURT

SPEAKERS: JUDGE ANDREA BOURESSA, JUDGE JERRY BULLARD, JUDGE BRIAN STAGNER AND JUDGE BILL WHITEHILL

Judge Andrea Bouressa was appointed to the First Division of the Texas Business Court effective September 1, 2024. In the five years prior, she presided over civil cases in the 471st District Court in Collin County, where she also served a two-year term as Local Administrative District Judge. She is a member of the Collin County Bar Association, Curt B. Henderson American Inn of Court, Texas Bar College, and numerous other organizations, and has been recognized with the 2022 Rising Aggie Lawyer Award and the Collin County Women Lawyer’s Association’s 2023 Outstanding Jurist award. Judge Bouressa earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science in Sociology from the University of North Texas, and a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Jerry Bullard serves as Judge of the Texas Business Court, Eighth Division.   Prior to his appointment, Jerry was a shareholder and attorney with Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C.  He has over 30 years of experience in state and federal court litigation, including both trial and appellate law.  He is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, serves on the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Business Court Judges.  Jerry has also served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Texas Juvenile Justice Board and as a Section Representative on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors.  He is an active member of the State Bar of Texas and its Appellate, Litigation, and Legislative/Campaign Law Sections and the Tarrant County Bar Association.   Jerry received a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Baylor University and his law degree from The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Brian Stagner serves as Judge of the Texas Business Court, Eighth Division, based in Fort Worth, Texas. Before taking the bench, Brian enjoyed a 27-year career at Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, where he served as a partner and co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. During this time, he handled complex business litigation across more than 40 states, representing clients on both sides of the docket. His practice encompassed corporate governance disputes, unfair business practices, e-commerce, insurance coverage, taxation, consumer class actions, and intellectual property matters. In addition, Brian serves as an adjunct professor at Texas Christian University, where he teaches Business Law. He is a former Barrister with the American Inns of Court and a sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, as well as a Fellow of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation. Brian earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, graduating summa cum laude and as a member of the Order of the Coif. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Angelo State University. Brian has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® annually since 2010.

Bill Whitehill is an inaugural Judge of the Texas Business Court First Division, Dallas.  He came to the Court from Condon Tobin Sladek Thornton Nerenberg PLLC, where he was a member and led the firm’s Appellate Section. Before joining the Business Court, Bill served as a Justice on the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals, where he authored over 600 substantive opinions. Bill was an associate and partner at Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP, now known as Foley & Lardner, LLP for thirty-three years.  At Gardere, he handled commercial, antitrust, securities, intellectual property, and fiduciary trials and appeals. He is the Chair of the Dallas Bar Association Appellate Section and former Chair of the State Bar of Texas Antitrust and Business Litigation Section and the Dallas Bar Association Antitrust & Trade Regulation Section. He is an adjunct trial advocacy instructor at the Robert H. Dedman, SMU School of Law; a National Institute for Trial Advocacy Deposition Skills Instructor; and a frequent continuing legal education speaker at State Bar of Texas, Bar Association, and other events. He is a sustaining life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and fellow of the Dallas Bar Foundation. He is a homeless kitchen volunteer for Cornerstone Baptist Church and is a former co-teacher and mentor at Cornerstone Crossroads Academy. Bill received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor with honors from the SMU Dedman School of Law and an Order of the Coif member.

RSVP: CLICK ON THE REGISTRATION LINK BELOW

COST PER PERSON: 

Meal is Complimentary to Members (Membership must be current)

RSVP DEADLINE FOR A MEAL IS NOON, FEBRUARY 19 (Orders will not be accepted after the deadline). WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO RSVP FOR A MEAL ONLY IF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN ORDER TO HAVE AN ACCURATE HEAD COUNT FOR FOOD. Please note meals are ordered and paid in advance prior to the meeting.  In order to control bar costs (and use your bar dues wisely), if you are not able to attend after registration, please cancel by NOON,  FEBRUARY 19 to collincountybar@yahoo.com

NOTE:  SPECIAL MEAL REQUEST IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS MEETING.  YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH.

IMPORTANT NOTE: CCBA MEMBERS - THE CLE LINK WILL BE DISPLAYED ON THE RSVP CONFIRMATION RECEIPT IMMEDIATELY AFTER REGISTRATION. THERE WILL NOT BE A SIGN IN SHEET AT THE MEETING. SAVE THE LINK FOR THE DAY OF THE MEETING!

NOTE:

All general meetings, section meetings, and events hosted by CCBA will be open to CCBA Members and guests of CCBA Members only. CCBA meetings and section meetings are not open to the general public any longer. If a non-member would like to attend a meeting or event, the non-member has the option of becoming a CCBA Member or have a current CCBA member sponsor his or her attendance at a meeting or event. Non-members will be contacted for approved member sponsor name. You do not have to be a member of specific CCBA section to attend the meeting for that section, just a member of CCBA or a guest of a member of CCBA. This is to protect the members of our Bar Association.

NON-MEMBERS: Join the Collin County Bar Association (must join prior to registration to register as a member):

https://www.collincountybar.org/members/application