In a case of first impression in Texas, the Texas Eighth District Court of Appeals affirmed a summary judgment in favor of one of the firm’s bank clients. The client bank was represented by shareholder Jennifer Owen, who defended the bank against a claim of conversion after the bank paid a check which a payee claimed was jointly payable. The Court held that where the names of two payees on a check were separated by a virgule (“/”), the check was payable in the alternative, and the bank did not convert the check by paying the check to the first named payee.

4/25/2008
Congratulations to Kristen and Stuart!

Stuart Lautin and Kristen Cook assisted Dallas-area physicians in the sale of their medical building, near Presbyterian Hospital in north Dallas. This was a lengthy undertaking involving four different purchasing groups over a term of one year.

3/1/2008
******* NEWS FLASH *******
Higier Allen & Lautin has moved to a new location

After 16 years at The Madison, we have moved to Liberty Plaza in Addison (Liberty Plaza II, the north building) – we have much more space! Our phone and fax numbers and email addresses remain the same.

1/10/2008
Ron Foxman publishes article in Texas Lawyer

Ron Foxman’s article titled “Tough Times for FLPs” was recently published in the December 24, 2007 issues of Texas Lawyer, in the Trusts and Estates section. Congratulations Ron, on an excellent article discussing the implications of recent rulings in estate-tax cases, on the transfer of property to a family limited partnership (FLP).

1/10/2008
Stuart Lautin and Kristen Cook will present Commercial Leases, Commercial Contracts and Ethics courses for NTCAR
http://www.ntcar.org/calendar/mcecalendar2006.htm

After a successful Legal and Ethics update seminar in December 2007, Stuart Lautin and Kristen Cook will continue to teach Leases, Contracts and Ethics courses for the North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS®, throughout 2008. The classes are scheduled as follows: April 24-25, 2008 - Insight into Lease Contracts and MCE Ethics; June 26-27, 2008 - Insight into Commercial Contracts and MCE Ethics; August 28-29, 2008 - Insight into Lease Contracts and MCE Ethics; and December 16-17, 2008 - Insight into Commercial Contracts and MCE Ethics. For more information, please visit the link above.

11/26/2007
Stuart Lautin and Kristen Cook to present a Legal Update & Ethics Course
http://www.ntcar.org/MCE%20Classes/2007/December/Contracts%20Course.pdf

Stuart Lautin and Kristen Cook have been invited by the North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS® to present a legal and ethics update course to commercial brokers and agents. The course will satisfy 15 total MCE credit hours, including 6 hours of Legal. The course will be held on a continuing basis with the first one beginning December 13-14, 2007 in Dallas. While the first course will focus primarily on commercial contracts of purchase and sale, future presentations will be expanded to include commercial leases. More information can be obtained by visiting the link above.

11/15/2007
Higer Allen & Lautin attorneys named Rising Stars

Congratulations to Sharon Jett, Jeff Mitchell and Stacy Welch. They have just been named "Rising Stars" to be announced in the February issue of Texas Monthly magazine.

11/6/2007
Stuart Lautin to present real estate legal update

Stuart Lautin will present a real estate legal update to several hundred Re/Max brokers, agents and licensed assistants, at the Omni Park Central in Farmers Branch, on November 6, 2007.

11/1/2007
Welcome Michael B. Allen

Higier Allen & Lautin would like to welcome its newest associate, Michael B. Allen. Congratulations on passing the Bar, Michael.

10/17/2007
Jennifer Owen to speak at TAA Future Focus Seminar
http://www.taa.org/aboutTaa/taaNews/?article_id=1984

Jennifer Owen will be participating in the Emerging Legal Issues Panel at the Texas Apartment Association's Future Focus seminar. The seminar will be held at the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas, on Wednesday, October 17, 2007. More information can be obtained by visiting the link above.

7/15/2007
Clements, Allen, Woods & Margolis, P.C. joins Higier Lautin, P.C.

Continuing on our recent theme of change, we are pleased to announce the addition of Robert Allen, Len Margolis and Tim Woods as shareholders, Tracye McGaughy and Jennifer Goolsby as associates, and Rusty Farabee as "of counsel", and the new name of the law firm, Higier Allen & Lautin, P.C. The new additions bring to us heightened expertise in the areas of real estate, real estate financing and commercial litigation and a group of highly experienced and well-regarded lawyers, and we are all very excited about this combination.

6/26/2007
Stuart Lautin negotiates lease for new MetroPCS headquarters.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-metropcs_26bus.ART.State.Edition1.36d84be.html

5/1/2007
Tom Higier named "Super Lawyer"

Tom Higier was recently named as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly magazine. Additionally, he was named by D Magazine as one of the best bank lending attorneys in Dallas, Texas.

3/1/2006
Jeff Mitchell named "Rising Star"

Jeff Mitchell was recently named one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas Under 40 by D Magazine, and a "Rising Star" by both Law & Politics and Texas Monthly magazines.