Gray Reed & McGraw is pleased to announce that Gray Reed attorneys Stephen Cooney, Elise Schuller Barajas and Katie English are now Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS).
Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law, Cooney is a transactional attorney focused on general corporate and real estate transactions. He assists businesses with day-to-day operating needs, negotiating and drafting business contracts, asset and stock sales, business governance issues and the formation of business entities. His real estate practice includes representing buyers and sellers in negotiating and preparing documents relating to the sale, purchase, lease and operation of commercial properties. He also advises clients regarding land use issues, deed restrictions and property owners association formation and operation. Cooney earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston and attended University of Texas for his undergraduate education.
Board Certified in Health Law, Schuller Barajas focuses primarily on healthcare business transactions and other healthcare compliance issues. Barajas represents a variety of healthcare providers in both Texas and Oklahoma, including acute care hospitals, joint venture hospitals, physicians, physician practices, dental practices, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Barajas earned her J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. During law school, she served as an intern for the Honorable Keith Rapp on the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals. She received her B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders summa cum laude from Oklahoma State University.
Recognized as a “Tier 1” practice by 2017 U.S. News and World Report/Best Lawyers (a Woodward/White company), Gray Reed’s healthcare practice now has a total of five Board Certified Health Law attorneys.
Board Certified in Oil, Gas & Mineral Law, English is an associate in Gray Reed’s energy section and her practice focuses on oil and gas title and transactional matters in Texas, North Dakota and Montana. She received her B.A. from the University of Texas and graduated with honors from University of Texas School of Law where she was a staff editor for the Texas Journal of Oil, Gas & Energy Law.
TBLS Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 22 specific areas of law. Board Certified attorneys must be licensed for at least five years, devote a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years, attend continuing education seminars, pass an evaluation by fellow lawyers and judges and pass a 6-hour written examination. Initial certification is valid for five years. To remain certified, attorneys and paralegals must apply for recertification every five years and meet substantial involvement, peer review and continuing legal education requirements for their specialty area.
“This program is important for the public and for attorneys in our state,” said David Dickson, chairman of the TBLS Board of Directors. “We’re focused on enhancing the quality of legal representation in an increasingly competitive marketplace. I’ve been involved with this program for more than 30 years and am continually impressed with TBLS members’ accomplishments.”
About Gray Reed
For more than 30 years, Gray Reed has been a full-service, Texas based law firm with more than 120 lawyers practicing in Dallas and Houston. Gray Reed 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.