Thought Leadership / News
October 12, 2017 
 Press Releases
Gray Reed Welcomes Three Attorneys

Gray Reed is proud to announce the addition of three attorneys. Joining the Dallas office is Staff Attorney Paul Brown in the energy section and Associate Amber Carson in the corporate restructuring and bankruptcy section. Associate Vanessa Pierce joins the commercial litigation section in the Houston office.

Brown focuses his practice on energy law. He has extensive experience with title opinions, along with commercial real estate as it pertains to the acquisition and divestiture of commercial properties. Brown earned his B.A. in history and American Studies from The University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from University of Houston Law Center. 

Carson represents clients in civil litigation and all facets of bankruptcy, out-of-court restructurings, multi-jurisdictional insolvencies, creditors’ rights, and federal bankruptcy-related litigation matters. Carson received her B.B.A from the University of Massachusetts and her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. While in law school, she participated in the Hon. Conrad B. Duberstein Moot Court Competition, the National Moot Court Competition, Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society, and the Hon. John C. Ford American Inn of Court. Carson also externed for the Honorable Stacey G. C. Jernigan, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Texas and the Honorable Kerry P. FitzGerald, Justice on the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. Prior to joining Gray Reed, she served as judicial law clerk to the Honorable Harlin D. Hale, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Texas. 

Pierce assists clients in a variety of civil disputes involving labor, employment, and OSHA matters, commercial litigation, governmental and administrative law, maritime matters and insurance defense. She has considerable experience in pre-trial procedure and routinely performs research, drafts dispositive motions, engages in discovery, and argues hearings in court and before administrative agencies. Pierce earned her B.A., magna cum laude, in philosophy and advertising/public relations from Texas Christian University. She earned her J.D.,cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law. While in law school, she served as a judicial intern for multiple Texas district judges, as well as the Honorable Barbara Houser and the Honorable Marialyn Barnard. She also served as the NAFTA Reporter for the SMU International Law Review Association and has published notable work in the Law and Business Review of the Americas.

About Gray Reed & McGraw

Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 130 lawyers practicing in Dallas and Houston. Gray Reed & McGraw offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, intellectual property, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.