“In selecting attorneys for Super Lawyers, Law & Politics employs a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.  Five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers.”

“The selection process for Rising Stars is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process except that: 1) to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for ten years or less; 2) Candidates for Rising Stars do not go through step three above—peer evaluation by practice area. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.”

For more information on the Super Lawyers® selection process, click here (http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html)

RWCS congratulates its two newest associates - Mary Kate Walters and Ashley Streight - upon their passing the Oklahoma bar.  Their biographies and photos are in the process of being added to our web site. 

There is an excellent new litigation support software product on the market that saves law firms time and clients money.  It's called Breeze, and it allows law firm staff to scan, OCR, bates stamp, and otherwise process hard copy and electronic documents into load files for Summation, Concordance, or other litigation support database programs.  With Breeze, document processing jobs can be done in-house without having to send them out to a service bureau, which enables faster processing, especially with the myriad of small jobs that will arise during litigation including additional productions to opposing counsel.  RWCS has found Breeze to be very easy to use and the accuracy of its OCR function to be better than Adobe or other products.  The savings from Breeze can be passed on to clients, which is extremely important considering the increase in scope of electronic discovery.  The Breeze web site can be accessed at  http://www.breezelegalsolutions.com/.  The site has an innovative do-it-yourself and free trial feature that impressed us.  Our experience with Breeze is yet another example of how RWCS is constantly seeking to improve our ability to serve clients. 

• Brazil: groundwater investigation matter.
• Washington State (Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane): matters involving contaminated sediments, CERCLA/MTCA/RCRA sites, EPA/DOJ criminal investigation.
• Montana: industrial facility permitting matter.
• New Mexico: mining site.
• Colorado: industrial facility air pollution issues; wetlands (yes, even in high country.)
• Texas: matters involving air pollution, CERCLA sites, CAFOs, etc.
• Missouri: major industrial facility permitting matter involving water quality, land reclamation, endangered species, and air pollution issues.
• Louisiana: CERCLA site.
• Mississippi: toxic tort exposure and environmental insurance issues.
• Arkansas: CERCLA sites; water quality litigation.
• Alabama: air pollution enforcement.
• South Carolina: air pollution enforcement.
• Illinois: CERCLA site.
• Pennsylvania: CERCLA site.
• New Jersey: CERCLA site.
• Michigan: CERCLA site. 

And of course, investigations, depositions, negotiations, etc. in these and other cases have taken us to multiple far-flung locations in virtually all 50 states and Washington, DC.  Clients can count on RWCS to protect their interests anywhere, anytime.

Published in Oklahoma Super Lawyers 2008 — November 2008

On April 19, 1995, minutes after Timothy McVeigh walked away from a bomb-laden Ryder truck parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, the sunny spring morning went dark. Less than three weeks after what was then the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in American history, Patrick M. Ryan was sworn in as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Read the full article >

The activities of OLFC range from interviewing children that have been removed from their homes to temporary representation at show cause hearings to representation in parental termination cases.  Corey Neller, Chance Pearson, and Ivan London are all currently participating in OLFC.

For more information regarding OLFC, please call (405) 232-4453 or visit their website at www.oklahomalawyersforchildren.com.  

The FBA "Lunch with Judges" program takes place once a month on the third Thursday of the month at noon and the judges who speak during the program rotate among the judges of the Western District.  The program is conducted during the lunch hour and gives judges and attorneys an opportunity to get to know one another in a candid and relaxed atmosphere.

Judge Cauthron discussed topics ranging from the Western District's newly revised local rules to tips for drafting briefs.  Those members of RWCS in attendance included Phillip Whaley, Chance Pearson, Ivan London, and Seth Coldiron.

On February 25, 2009, Don Shandy of Ryan Whaley Coldiron Shandy and Don Whitney of Trinity Consultants presented a luncheon seminar in Oklahoma City explaining the recent changes to the Oklahoma Air Rules regarding Excess Emissions Reporting Requirements.

Mr. Shandy gave an informative presentation focused on the reasoning behind the rule change, and in particular explained how the new “Affirmative Defense” option will operate for excess emissions caused during Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM) events. Mr. Whitney explained how the new rule will encourage facilities to modify their air permits to include allowances for emissions during SSM events.

More than fifty people attended representing a diverse array of companies including Cardinal Engineering, Chesapeake Energy, DCP Midstream, J.M. Huber, ONEOK, American Airlines, ConocoPhillips, Grand River Dam Authority, Continental Carbon, OG&E, Tronox, Enercon Services, Holcim, WFEC, Jatco, Sinclair Tulsa Refining, United States Air Force, ATC Drivetrain, Oxbow Calcining, Autocraft Industries, Chaparral Energy, Pan Pacific Products, American Electric Products, and Tinker Air Force Base.

Subchapter 9 Update - Excess Emission Seminar, February 25, 2009