Tulsa MagazineLawyer Legislative Update
A Message from the President Michael P. Taubman
Love & the Rule of Law
Our TCBA community continues to excel this year. In January, TCBA members walked together in Tulsa’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Parade, with our staff making sure we were kept warm with Hot Hands and Hot Chocolate. Much needed and appreciated by all in attendance. We continue to press forward with our programs, such as the Mentor/Mentee committee, so reach out soon to Kevinn Matthews if you want to participate!
Also, TCBA just completed the bi-annual Judicial Dinner with the installation of Judge David Guten as our presiding judge for Tulsa County. Thank you again to all of our sponsors, including: GableGotwals and GravesMcClain (Platinum level); McAfee & Taft, Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, Sherwood & McCormick, and Studebaker Law (Gold level); and Titus Hillis Reynolds Love and Rhodes Heironymus (Silver level). Thank you also to our Tulsa County Bar Foundation president, Kara Vincent, our committee chairs Austin Bond and Mbilike Mwafulirwa, our Executive Director, Tami Williams, and our staff, Jeril Haug, Alicia Meyers, and Heather Heck. The team exceeded the goals we set, and their efforts made this event a huge success.
Last but not least, thank you to all of our judiciary members in attendance.
Following our successful dinner program, I attended the wedding of a friend last weekend, one of the most unique I can remember. We stood in witness of this couple’s love on display on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the Starbucks at Tulsa Hills where they first met. The family and friends gathered on the small patio filling every square inch, but leaving room for an aisle for the exuberant flower girl to herald the approach of the smiling bride to her beaming groom before their officiant, Judge Julie Doss. St. Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians plainly speaks that LOVE is the thing above all else, lest we all become nothing more than a noisy gong or clashing cymbal, cluttering up the universe. As we move through this year together, I find myself reflecting on two forces that shape our profession more than any others: Love and the Rule of Law.
At first glance, the marriage of Love and the Rule of Law may seem like distant, unrelated concepts, if you take them merely as one rooted in emotion and the other in structure. I submit to you that they are inseparable in
practice. The Rule of Law is sustained not only by statutes and precedent, but by the care we bring to our work, the passion we show in our advocacy for others, the respect we show one another, and, at its core, our belief that justice is not some abstraction, but a lived experience for the people we serve and the larger community.
The ancient Greeks described four kinds of love: Agape, Eros, Philia, and Storge Love, in the context of the Rule of Law, is not romantic (Eros) nor familial as between parents and children (Storge). It’s more akin to acting in the interest of others (Agape) and found in mutual respect and shared values of a community (Philia), not sentimental. It is our commitment to treat every client, colleague, judge, or adversary with human dignity. It is the humility to recognize that our authority as licensed professionals comes with a great responsibility, and that our words and actions carry weight beyond the moment. It is the courage to stand firm when the law demands it, and the grace to seek common ground when the moment allows for it.
The Rule of Law, for its part of its marriage to Love, establishes the framework that allows our love of the practice of law to matter. The Rule of Law promises that power will be exercised fairly, that human rights should be respected, and that no person, regardless of station in life, stands above the law nor the common legal principles that bind us together. However, the Rule of Law does not enforce itself; rather, it relies on us to exercise our judgment, our integrity, our Love for and our willingness to uphold the values that drew us to this profession in the first place.
Every day, in courtrooms and conference rooms, in quiet negotiations and difficult conversations, you embody this intersection of principle and compassion. You have the power to show to others that the law is not merely a system, but a service. You all, the members of this Tulsa County Bar Association, serve to remind each of us, and our larger community, that justice is not achieved through force, but through fidelity to the principles of truth, fairness, and recognizing that core agreement we’ve made to one another – Equal Justice Under Law
As we look ahead, I encourage each of us to continue leading, in ways both great and small, with clarity of purpose and hearts of passionate commitment to our founding Constitution. Let us be rigorous in our advocacy, generous in our professionalism, and unwavering in our commitment to the Rule of Law. And let us remember that our work, at its best, is an act of service grounded in respect for the people whose lives are touched by our efforts.
Thank you for being members of our community, the trust you place in your Tulsa County Bar Association and Foundation, and in one another. It is truly an honor to serve alongside you.
With appreciation and resolve,
Michael P. Taubman President, Tulsa County Bar Association
Fast-Tracking Litigation: What Lawyers Need to Know About the Expedited Actions Act
By Morgan Rinner
Senate Bill 453 was signed into law in May 2025, creating the Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act (“Act”), which became effective September 1, 2025. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §§ 1775 et seq. The Act was designed to provide, as the name states, “expedited” relief to parties, through reducing discovery requests and creating strict deadlines for different portions of the judicial process.
The expedited process applies to all claimants, exclusive of counter-claimants, who seek monetary relief of $250,000 or less, excluding attorney’s fees and costs, interest, punitive damages, and penalties. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1776. However, a court can remove an action from the scope of the Act (1) on motion and a showing of good cause by any party or (2) if a claimant files a pleading or amended or supplemental pleading seeking relief other than monetary relief. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1777(A). The motion to remove the case can be filed up until thirty days after discovery has ended. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1777(B).
As a practical matter, early case assessment will be critical under the Act, as parties must evaluate at the outset whether the efficiencies of expedited litigation outweigh the constraints imposed on discovery, expert development, and trial preparation.
With some additional rules, the discovery process is still subject to Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 3226 under the Act. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1778(B). There is a maximum of fifteen written interrogatories, fifteen requests for production, and fifteen requests for admission with each discrete subpart counted as a separate interrogatory, request for production, or request for admission. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §1778(A) (3). Twenty hours are permitted for examining and crossexamining witnesses in oral depositions. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §1778(A)(2). However, the court is provided with the discretion to modify deposition hours to ensure a party does not receive an unfair advantage. Id. Discovery ends six months after service of the first discovery requests but
may subsequently be reopened if a case is removed from the Act’s jurisdiction. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §1777. If discovery is reopened, individuals can be deposed again and the court may continue the trial date if necessary for the parties to complete discovery. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1777(B).
Any alternative dispute resolution processes which the parties wish to engage in or the court orders cannot exceed a total cost of twice the amount of civil filing fees and must be no longer than half a day. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1781(A). Alternative dispute resolution must be completed at least sixty days before setting the initial trial date. Id.
If a party requests a trial date, the court is required to set the case for a trial date within ninety days after discovery ends. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §1779. Eight hours are permitted for jury selection, opening statements, the presentation of evidence, examination, cross-examination, and closing arguments. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, §1780(A)(1). The eight hours is not inclusive of time spent on objections, bench conferences, bills of exception, and challenges for cause to a particular juror. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1780(B). As of now, it is unclear to the extent to which the judiciary will be enforcing these very demanding timelines which arguably do not adhere to or even contemplate the realities of the workload of Oklahoma’s district courts.
In addition to procedural changes, SB 453 also addresses the standards for admitting and challenging expert testimony. Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 1782 describes how a party can challenge the admissibility of an expert’s testimony as an objection to summary judgment evidence which may be brought at a pretrial conference or during the trial. Section 9 of the Act amended Title 12 Section 2702 to now require a proponent to demonstrate that expert evidence is “more likely than not” to assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or determining a fact that is in dispute.
Beyond creating an expedited process, SB 453 also revised damage limitations for bodily injuries and certain exceptions to those limitations. Actions now have bodily injury claim noneconomic damage caps of $500,000, rather than the previous $350,000. Okla. Stat. tit. 23, § 61.3. There is not a limit for non-economic loss if a plaintiff suffers from permanent and severe physical injury. Id. If a trier of fact determines that a plaintiff has a “permanent mental injury that severely impairs plaintiff’s ability to be employed or enjoy a reasonable standard of living”, the plaintiff may not be awarded more than one million dollars. Id. Additionally, these limits do apply regardless of the number of parties whom the action is brought against or the number of various actions brought. Notably, these damages caps do not apply to actions under the Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act, the
Oklahoma Governmental Tort Claims Act or claims brought under the Workers’ Compensation Act. Id.
The Oklahoma Expedited Actions Act represents a significant shift in how lower-value civil cases may be litigated in Oklahoma courts. By imposing strict limits on discovery, alternative dispute resolution, and trial timeframes, the Act reflects a legislative effort to reduce cost and delay in civil litigation.
Whether the Act ultimately achieves its stated goals will depend largely on how courts apply its provisions in practice, particularly given existing docket pressures and the discretionary authority retained by trial courts. Practitioners should carefully evaluate whether a case qualifies for the Act, consider early motion practice regarding removal for good cause, and adjust litigation strategy accordingly.
About
the Author
Morgan Rinner is an attorney at Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold. Her practice primarily focuses on public finance, education law, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate transactions, advising business organizations, and taxation and employee benefits. Morgan received her law degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and a minor in Economics from Truman State University. Morgan lives in Broken Arrow with her husband and their Australian Cattle Dog. In her free time, Morgan enjoys volunteering at her church, visiting family in Missouri, and playing tennis.
Record-Breaking Judicial Dinner Celebrated at River Spirit Casino Resort
The Tulsa County Bar Foundation’s 2026 Judicial Dinner marked a major milestone, setting a new attendance record with more than 300 guests, making it the largest Judicial Dinner to date. This year also marked the first time the event was held at River Spirit Casino Resort, providing a beautiful new setting for one of the Foundation’s most important fundraising traditions. The event also raised almost $40,000, the largest amount raised to date.
The evening brought together members of the bench and bar, sponsors, and supporters in a shared show of commitment to the judiciary.
The night also delivered meaningful momentum for the Foundation’s Fellows Program, with three new Fellows members signing up and two $500 Fellows donations generously made at the event by TCBF President Kara Vincent and OBA President Amber Peckio.
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and attendees, the 2026 Judicial Dinner was not only a memorable evening but a meaningful success in support of the Foundation’s mission to serve the courts and the administration of justice in Tulsa County.
Silent Auction
TCBA President, Michael Taubman
Community Corner
TCBA Community Outreach Committee Events, Opportunities and Success!
Community Outreach Highlights
Our Community Outreach Committee has been busy putting our values into action. From organizing essentials to feeding our neighbors, here is a look at how we make a difference.
Organizing Hope at Fostering Connections
Volunteers spent a productive morning at the Fostering Connections Resource Center. The team worked to sort through mountains of clothing donations, transforming them into an organized, shopping experience. By ensuring every item was sized, folded, and categorized, our team helped make it easier for foster families to find exactly what they need with dignity and ease.
March Community Outreach Committee Meeting Tuesday, March 17 at noon
Meetings are held in person at the bar center with a virtual option to attend.
Serving Neighbors in Need
The momentum continues March 28th! We are thrilled to announce that our March service activity will be at Iron Gate, preparing the grocery pantry for shoppers.
As one of the city's primary soup kitchens and grocery pantries, Iron Gate relies on volunteers to uphold their mission of "feeding the hungry of Tulsa every day." Our committee will be stepping into the pantry to assist with organizing and packing food items for the grocery distribution at the Grocery Pantry.
Join Us!
Whether you’re a regular volunteer or looking to get involved for the first time, there is a place for you. Your handson help makes a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Former Tulsa City Councilor, Crista Patrick, was a guest speaker at the January Community Outreach Committee meeting.
Representing Tulsa Metro Ministry, she shared information about the new Dawson Commons, a 29-acre nonprofit development tackling food insecurity, education, and housing. Rooted in interfaith collaboration, this project is designed to uplift the Dawson neighborhood through inclusive, sustainable, and green energy solutions.
"Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth."
~ Shirley Chisholm
Judicial Dinner Photo Review
River Spirit Casino & Resort
Thursday, January 29th
Register by March 2nd
Voices of the Tulsa County Bar Association Mary Clement
By Ralph Schaefer
Mary Clement finds that mathematics and law work well together. Both require an analytical mind to solve and work problems all the way through, she said. Mathematics involves a lot of trial and error. A person in advanced math applies formulas, finds some that don’t work, and it’s time to try another possible solution to the problem.
Think about the law, she continued. If one legal analysis doesn’t solve the problem, it’s time to approach it from a different angle. It’s all about problem-solving.
The Wichita, Kansas, native earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics and followed with a Juris Doctorate in 2015.
Law is not new to her.
Her dad, Ted E. Knopp, is a solo practitioner in Wichita with a practice that spans more than 40 years. He works on real estate and transactional law cases.
Today, 10 years after graduating from the University of Tulsa College of Law, Mary is president and managing partner of Clement Legal, P.C.
Her practice is 40 percent probate and administration, 15 percent adult guardianship, 20 percent trust disputes, 20 percent estate planning, and 5 percent criminal defense.
Despite that 100 percent effort, she still has time to be involved in the Tulsa County Bar Association activities.
After graduating from law school, Mary joined the Tulsa County District Attorney’s office as an assistant prosecutor.
She worked with Tulsa County D.A. Steve Kuntzweiler for
three years and had the opportunity to handle several jury trials as first and second chair.
While serving as an assistant district attorney and having a “wonderful, wonderful experience,” Mary felt it was time to make a change.
“I had the opportunity with the DA’s office to practice and learn from several attorneys who are on the bench in this county (Tulsa) or other counties,” she said. “They were excellent litigators and outstanding trial attorneys.”
“I know lawyers who have practiced law for 10 years and have never done a single jury trial. It was an excellent training ground for young attorneys.”
“That being said, it was a demanding job, and the office is always understaffed and underfunded.”
After leaving the DA's office, Mary worked briefly with the Social Security Administration (SSA) as an attorneyadvisor. She wrote legal opinions for administrative law judges reviewing appeals based on agency determinations.
It was a night-and-day change of pace for her, thanks to the slower, less pressured environment.
Mary opted to work for other law firms and, on July 1, 2022, went out on her own, and Clement Legal, P.C. was founded.
“It was not always my intention to have my own firm,” she said. Like most small firms, Mary took on “almost anything (cases) that came through the door.”
But she saw a generational shift in the U.S. as the population continues to age. That underscored the need for probate work.
“I always intended to do that work,” Mary said. “There is a nice procedural aspect, and obviously, it is going to be a lot of work. I consider my focus to be a bit more of an elder law practice at this point.”
That means doing estate planning, trusts, probates, as well as adult guardianships and estate administration.
Easy points are found within probate law, which is typically a challenging field.
That is also where the TCBA Probate, Estate, and Elder Law Section is beneficial.
There is a really great collaborative bar in Tulsa that practices this area of law, especially in Tulsa, Mary continued. The same is valid statewide with other practitioners.
“Tulsa District Judge Kurt Glassco has been on the probate bench for several years and runs an excellent docket. The nice thing about probate law is that it is very statute-based, with methodical procedures that everyone follows. No one is treading on new ground procedurally.”
Today’s technology encourages people to do their own wills, and probates provide new challenges. While Mary has handled 100-plus probate cases, people feel they can follow programs. Often, they find themselves in trouble.
Probate law is complex and not often something a layperson can do on their own, she added.
The nice thing about working in probate, she said, is helping families. The tough part is when families argue, and a fight is a given.
That’s part of legal work, which, in itself, is adversarial. It is supposed to work in that way and is intended to be iron sharpening iron, and the best result comes out of it.
“It can be difficult to deal with families who are arguing over things that to my mind don’t matter,” Mary said. Sometimes letting things that do matter fall apart because of disagreements is an interesting part of working in this area of law.
There is a reason attorneys are called counselors: part of the job is helping them not just with the law and what is going on in their case, but also with the life effects it will have in the future.
Estate administration is a broader term, so probates and trusts are classified under it as well.
The guardianship role was a surprise to Mary. It wasn’t an intentional step, but it turned out to be a “wonderful opportunity.”
“I feel that I can advocate for individuals, that they still have their autonomy, they do have rights, and their wishes should be followed,” she said. “Sometimes they just need assistance.”
People may need more help than they required in the past, but just because they reach a certain age doesn’t mean they stop being their own person.
Guardianship roles come from families and the courts. Court assignments are particularly challenging because one doesn’t often know what they might be handling.
When an attorney gets a call from a judge, they do as much research as possible for background information.
Even then, under the rules of professional conduct the client is afforded as close to a normal attorney-client relationship as possible, even if that individual is in a diminished capacity.
Meeting people as they are, finding ways to communicate with and accommodate them, and helping them is essential. It is critical that the client feels they are being heard.
Estate administrations and probate law can be complex because attorneys often deal with people in moments of grief who are struggling with financial concerns stemming from the loss of a significant household income.
“Helping shepherd people through those issues is something I like to do,” she added.
Mary goes back to her roots when she takes on criminal defense cases.
This work is done by referrals that might involve a client or former client, when a family member might be accused of drug possession or a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. “It is a nice way to stay brushed up on that area of law,” she said.
Her work was recognized when she received the Rising Star Award and was included on the Super Lawyers list.
Mary is constantly adjusting her practice to the changing times. Now, clients come to her with a problem and expect a quick turnaround.
They feel their lawyer should respond by email within 5 or 10 minutes and be available after office hours and weekends.
Those changes have accelerated the practice of law. The upside is it can help an attorney be responsive to clients, she continued. The downside is that the opportunity to engage in deliberative practice, where one can reflect on and think through the issue, is reduced. This really discourages deliberative practice, and with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it doesn’t provide the same deliberation, creativity, or analytical mind. It is a very results-oriented effort.
Despite AI issues, Mary is excited about how much more the law and the courthouse will be accessible to people who cannot afford an attorney.
On the negative side, that “DIY” wheel has “gummed up the works,” and the results often are not what the people intended.
It is important to remember that the attorney’s role is also that of a counselor, she added. The attorney brings to their client the value of their experience and judgement. “I don’t see attorneys being out of a job soon.”
The various practices enable Mary to work in different areas
of law, and she uses TCBA Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes to stay current with changes in the law. It also provides an outlet for Mary, who describes herself as a “very social person.”
“I was concerned about practicing alone and that I would not have connections with other attorneys,” Mary said. “It is difficult to think that one person would have all the answers about the law.
“Joining the TCBA was one way to get that social aspect met. It helped build my referral network, which is wonderful for an emerging practice. I met colleagues, and I could pick their brains about issues I was struggling with during committee meetings.”
Other work included serving on the TCBF Law Day and TCBA Lawyer Referral committees. Activities, including Law Day events and luncheon, the Ask-A-Lawyer Day, and the student contest, are among the highlights of the year.
“Retired Judge Martha Rupp Carter’s book club also is a wonderful activity,” she said. “It’s really going well.”
In addition to her TCBA work, Mary is the co-chair of the Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) Law Day Committee.
Play is also part of the activities. Mary and her husband, Bobby, are members of the TCBA bowling league and find it a “nice way to unwind.”
Mary admits she is a very risk-averse person and is “planning a lot” about what is coming next in her law practice. “Some things are moving a little faster than I expected,” she said. “But that is a positive thing.”
Voices of TCBA
This innovative project, by the TCBA Law Week Committee, aims to preserve and share the rich stories of our members and the history of the Association.
Members interviewed are encouraged to contribute their unique experiences and insights, reflecting on their journeys within the legal profession and their connection to the TCBA. Through this initiative, we strive to highlight the diverse voices and histories that shape our community.
Leading the project and interviewing members is Ralph Schaefer, retired senior editor of the Tulsa Business and Legal News. He has interviewed U.S. Supreme Court Justices and did a series on the Oklahoma Supreme Court Justices. The Tulsa County Bar Foundation and Oklahoma Bar Association honored him with the Liberty Bell Award, the highest recognition for a non-lawyer.
Your voice matters, and we look forward to celebrating the legacy of the Tulsa County Bar Association. Let’s bring our stories to life!
Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club 2026
April 28 - Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Tool
May 26 - The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, Timothy Egen
June 23 - My Friends, Fredrik Backman
July 28 - North Woods, Daniel Mason
August - off
September 22 - Agatha Christie, A Hidden Life, Lucy Worsley
October 27 - The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones
Please Join Us for Upcoming Book Club Events!
(Above) The Lynne Miller Law Day Book Club began its celebration of Law Day 2026 with a presentation by Dr. David Goldenberg, CEO of Museum of Tulsa History (MOTH) at the Bar Center on January 27, 2026.
Dr. Goldenberg provided a lecture and PowerPoint on the history of affirmative action. His lecture was based on a chapter from his book, Trials that Shaped America. Following his presentation, Dr. Goldenberg signed copies of his book.
(Below) Connie Cronley (far left), author of A Life on Fire: Oklahoma's Kate Barnard, spoke to attendees at the Bar Center on February 17.
TCBA Happenings...
Thursday, January 22nd
And we’re rolling! (Right) Kickoff night for YLD bowling league did not disappoint. The vibes were high, the beer was cold, and the competition started early. We loved seeing everyone out on the lanes—including a little "bowler-intraining", Shepard, who tagged along with Dad, Colton Richardson for the fun.
Share your TCBA event pics with us!
Send to tulsabarnews@yahoo.com
Thursday, January 8th (Below)
Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler presented a one hour CLE on "Career Tips" to the Paralegal Section in January.
MOMS, DADS, AND GRANDPARENTS... CASH PRIZES FOR STUDENTS!
TCBA sponsors a Pre-K through 12th Grade student contest for Law Day. Some schools participate, but ANY Tulsa County student can enter directly by submitting their entry to the Tulsa County Bar Center by April 3, 2026.
Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles who are lawyers – this is your chance to help a young person connect with the “Rule of Law” and its importance to the American Dream of democracy, justice, and peaceful co-existence. Law Day Student Contest information, forms, and rules can be found on by scanning the QR Code at right.
Corporate and Business Law Section"IP Strategy and Licensing in the Modern Economy."
The Corporate and Business Law Section invites you to a CLE program on March 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM at the Tulsa County Bar Association regarding "IP Strategy and Licensing in the Modern Economy." This CLE will be presented by Paige Hulse, an attorney with Winters & King, Inc., who has over a decade of experience advising business owners, entrepreneurs, and organizations on intellectual property strategy and a wide range of business matters.
This CLE by Ms. Hulse will equip business attorneys with a framework for advising clients on intellectual property as a strategic vehicle for protection, leverage, and monetizationnot merely a registration exercise.
This presentation will be eligible for 1 hour of general CLE credit. Register with the QR Code at left.
Beginning with a practical review of the primary categories of intellectual property that commonly exist inside modern business portfolios, the CLE focuses on how to identify ownership gaps, prioritize protection, and implement risk-management practices that directly affect valuation, defensibility, and long-term growth. The CLE will also examine how to retroactively address unsecured or overlooked intellectual property in existing portfolios and stabilize those assets through strategy-driven protection.
The CLE will then shift to a forward-looking approach- how secured intellectual property can be positioned as a source of leverage and expansion in the modern era. In an economy shaped by artificial intelligence, personal branding, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) value, intellectual property is created faster than ever, often without the safeguards necessary to preserve its value.
The final portion of the presentation explores licensing as a practical strategy for transforming protected IP into a vehicle of monetization, including methodologies for assessing licensing readiness and structuring licensing relationships that support growth while preserving brand integrity, quality control, and legal boundaries.
Lunch will be served!
VP's Corner Shena Burgess Foundation Focus
March brings spring flowers, St. Patrick’s Day and of course my birthday. It was a March a few years ago when I got the happy birthday message from the Tulsa County Bar that asked if I would donate to the Tulsa County Bar Foundation. I was on the Board of Directors at the time, but I didn’t understand what the Foundation was or did. I called Tami Williams and asked, “okay you’re asking for money, but what does it do?” It was at that time I donated for the first time to the foundation. Here is how it was explained to me. “The Tulsa County Bar Association takes care of its members; The Foundation takes care of the community. “
The Foundation’s first task is to provide funds for the various Tulsa County Bar Association committees and projects and the second is to find permanent revenue streams. As a member of the Tulsa County Bar Association, you are automatically a member of the Foundation.
One of the biggest yearly fundraisers that the Foundation sponsors is the TCBF Annual Charity Golf Tournament. This year the money raised at the tournament will go to City Lights Foundation, Tulsa Lawyers for Children, Tulsa Veterans Treatment Court, and the Coffee Bunker. The tournament will be on April 6, 2026, at Meadowbrook Country Club. If you are thinking, I don’t play golf? I don’t either so I have volunteered for the last few years and have had as much fun if not more than the golfers running the putting competition and running around the course on the golf cart.
Fund the Foundation
The Foundation owns the Bar Center and the adjacent building. The rentals from those two buildings help maintain them. However, as a general rule, the Foundation raises funds through community fundraising events. The funds raised are immediately distributed to the community through nonprofit organizations. To support the Foundation's efforts, we have introduced a monthly "Fund the Foundation" program to raise funds for the Foundation's general fund. Scan the QR code to make a donation
Many of you showed up to the Judicial Dinner that had a great turn out. That money goes to the courthouse to take care of items for the public and judges that are not in the budget. The Foundation sponsors a scholarship to a University of Tulsa Law student every year.
There are so many good things that the Foundation does for the community. Spring is a time for new beginnings and making the world a better place. This is a small way to do both.
Shena Burgess TCBA Vice President, 2025-2026
Fellows Program
The Fellows Endowment Fund is more than a donation—it is a permanent, invested legacy. Contributions to this fund are not spent immediately; rather, they are invested to generate income in perpetuity. A portion of this income supports our annual scholarship program, while the principal grows, providing a permanent, reliable source of funding that shields our mission from economic fluctuations. Fellows agree to pay $1,000 in $100 increments over ten years, or in one flat donation. Members may also sign up as a Sustaining Fellow, agreeing to pay $100 annually until they choose to stop contributing. Interested in becoming a Fellow? Contact Tami Williams at tamiw@tulsabar.com.
Liberty Bell Award Nominations
Deadline for nominations is Friday ~ March 27, 2026
The Liberty Bell Award was established more than 50 years ago to acknowledge outstanding community service. The Liberty Bell is presented to a nonlawyer who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community. The Liberty Bell Award is one of the most prestigious awards the Tulsa County Bar Foundation can bestow on an individual or group of individuals.
Nominees may be an individual or a group that has:
• Promoted better understanding of the rule of law
• Encouraged a greater respect for law and the courts
• Stimulated a sense of civic responsibility
• Contributed to good government in the community
Please forward all nominations to Tami Williams, TCBA Executive Director tamiw@tulsabar.com
Previous Recipients
1984 Lois McIlroy
1988 Mary Jo Speaker 1989 Nancy McDonald 1990 Lynn Jones 1991 George Singer 1992 Jill Tarbel 1993 Ha Thi Crick 1994 Steven Dow 1995 Michael Reggio 1996 Marty Mundell 1997 Winona Tanaka 1998 Kim Camp 1999 Harriet Morgan 2000 Sally Howe-Smith 2001 Sandra K. Cousins 2003 Chester Cadieux 2004 Jane Kolesnik 2005 Channel 2 2006 Tuesday Morning Miracle Workers 2007 Hamilton 6th Grade Teachers 2008 Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa
2009 Theresa Hansen
2010 Sherri Carrier
2011 Cortez Tunley & Tava Slocum
2012 Ralph Schaefer
2013 Cheryl Conklin
2014 Disabled American Veterans
2015 Bill Braun
2016 Julie Delcour
2017 Suzane Stewart
2018 Amley "Popsey" Floyd
2019 Christine Po
2019 Karen Keith
2020 Not Awarded
2021 Justin Jones
2022 Michael Willis
2023 Matt Lay
2024 Gwen Freeman
2025 Ginnie Graham
A Tribute to Janine VanValkenburgh
The Tulsa Lawyer is not a common venue to celebrate attorneys and friends our Bar has lost. But for me, losing Janine VanValkenburgh could not stand without somehow commemorating her. In Janine, lived honorable, high qualities that should reside in all attorneys and other humans. It is my loss not to have known her better as I knew Janine mostly by knowing of her. I first noted her at a book discussion of Melville’s novella, Billy Budd, Sailor, during our first year of the Law Day Book Club. She was kind, informative, articulate in a way that was not superior or judgmental, particularly to me when I displayed a shocking ignorance of a term English majors should know: “trope.” “Oh, duh, yeah” was my eloquent response when she spoke of trope as a recurrent theme or motif in a work of literature. The point is, Janine did not put me in the stupid corner with her response or its delivery. We more recently connected at a Law Day Book Club book discussion of James (a modern-day depiction of Jim of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn). During the discussion, several of us wondered aloud of Mark Twain relevancy and if he was overrated. When I learned of Janine’s death, I was sad on many levels, including selfishly that I could not seek her views on the biography of Mark Twain by Ron Chernow. Her views on literature and just about anything were worthy and insightful, not to be missed.
Janine VanValkenburgh was a rare and unique human being and attorney. She created ease and well-being in the people with whom she connected. As a lawyer, Janine could and did provide disliked legal advice to her clients and client representatives without eliciting conflict or contention. Janine instead fostered collaboration and positivity as she adroitly found solutions and led her clients to the best possible legal outcomes. She manifested her superior intelligence and creativity with respect and consideration for those with whom she worked as well as for those on the other side.
There are many attorneys who are bright and clever, but perhaps not so many with the kindness and skill to bring others to their best selves. Janine’s kind qualities did not indicate a lack of forcefulness. She could and did stand for herself and others when faced with hostility and unreasonableness. Janine could put in place an overdemanding and unreasonable actor.
Janine’s legal skills combined with her consideration and genuine curiosity about others combined to make her the “rock star” that she was. Susan Miller, Planning Director for the City of Tulsa and Janine’s colleague and friend, recalls working with Janine who was the Real Estate/Zoning Division Manager for the City’s Legal Department. Ms. Miller describes Janine as an amazing attorney on whom she greatly depended, one who was admired and beloved by the City employees with whom she worked and counseled. Janine was the kind of person with a real, not mere lip service, interest in the circumstances and efforts of others.
Janine graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Tulsa and attended Stanford University, majoring in psychology. She graduated from Peabody College, Vanderbilt University’s College of Education and Human Development where she attained a Bachelor of Arts in human development and then the University of Tulsa College of Law. Janine’s law school classmate, Wayne Cooper, said that Janine’s engaging personality and exceptional intelligence made her a popular and respected member of their law school class, and created continuing regard for her throughout her great law career.
Janine’s early diverse work experiences in her first ten years of practice preceded her work with preeminent zoning and land use attorney Roy D. Johnsen, Epperson and Johnsen. Her expertise in land use regulation and real property law led to her selection in 2012 as the Division Manager of Zoning and Real Property for the City of Tulsa Legal Department. Former Tulsa City Attorney David O’Meilia selected Janine for the management position. O’Meilia states: “I immediately recognized she was the perfect fit for the supervisory position. Janine’s legal competence in real estate matters was unmatched, and her quiet work confidence, work ethic, and professionalism was infectious. She effortlessly handled the most difficult real estate and zoning legal issues affecting the City of Tulsa. She also quickly earned the respect of her Division attorneys, of both Tulsa mayors during her tenure, as well as that of every other City officer and employee she worked with. The Tulsa legal profession has lost a valued and preeminent legal talent.” Janine retired from this position at the end of 2023.
Janine died on October 23, 2025.
Janine VanValkenburgh, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, colleague, attorney, life-long student, book lover, protector of human rights, and active civic volunteer, rest in peace. You are missed.
Grapevine News
Sherwood & Robert is pleased to announce that Hugh M. Robert has been inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN).
Hugh is a principal at the firm and focuses his practice on complex litigation cases including business transactions, business torts, business dissolution, breach of contract, nursing home negligence, real estate transactions, probate/ trust actions, and real estate condemnation. He also serves as general counsel to businesses and nonprofits of varying sizes. Hugh is a highly skilled mediator having mediated more than 500 civil disputes and was recently named again top 50 lawyers by Oklahoma by Super Lawyers.
The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals is a professional association whose membership consists of ADR professionals distinguished by their hands-on experience in the field of civil and commercial conflict resolution. Membership is by invitation only and all Academy members have been thoroughly reviewed and found to meet stringent practice criteria. Members are amongst the most in-demand neutrals in their respective states, as selected by their peers and approved by local litigators.
“We’re delighted to recognize Hugh M. Robert to the Academy’s Oklahoma Chapter in recognition of Excellence in his mediation practice,” commented Darren Lee, Executive Director of NADN.
McAfee & Taft is pleased to welcome Matt Crook , an attorney with nearly 24 years’ experience working in both private practice and private industry, to the firm’s Litigation Group. The Tulsa native’s practice is primarily focused on commercial and business litigation, with an emphasis on the resolution of disputes involving the construction industry, including creditors’ rights, commercial debt collections, workouts, bankruptcy, construction contracts, construction defects, and homeowner claims.
Crook graduated with distinction with his B.B.A. in accounting and finance from the University of Oklahoma in 1997 and worked as a business analyst for a Fortune 500 energy company for nearly two years prior to entering law school. He is a 2002 graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law and earned his CPA certification in 2003.
TCBA member and Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals Judge James R. Huber was elected to the American Law Institute’s membership roll in December 2025. The American Law Institute (ALI) is the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law. ALI drafts, discusses, revises, and publishes Restatements of the Law, Model Codes, and Principles of Law that are enormously influential in the courts and legislatures, as well as in legal scholarship and education. By participating in the Institute’s work, its distinguished members have the opportunity to influence the development of the law in both existing and emerging areas, to work with other eminent lawyers, judges, and academics, to give back to a profession to which they are deeply dedicated, and to contribute to the public good.
Hall Estill is pleased to announce the election of three new shareholders. Hall Estill continues its legacy of legal expertise and client focused service with offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Denver and Northwest Arkansas.
New Shareholders:
Teak Hull is based in the Tulsa office, where he represents health care systems and providers in medical malpractice litigation, defending matters from inception through trial. He also advises clients on electronic discovery issues, with a particular focus on matters involving electronic health record systems. In addition to his practice, Teak serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Child Advocacy Network.
Bryan Lynch, who is in the Oklahoma City office, provides practical, tailored guidance in complex transactions, high-stakes litigation, and day-to-day legal needs. He serves as a strategic partner across corporate, litigation, and regulatory matters, with experience in banking, energy, and technology and particular insight into the needs of dentists, pharmacists, and small business owners.
Jeffrey Wilson, from the Tulsa office, is an experienced attorney with nearly 40 years of practice in health care, litigation, and medical malpractice, focusing on drafting trial and appellate briefs for the firm’s medical malpractice defense group, as well as general appellate representation.
Visit TCBA's Job Bank scan the QR code here or visit www.tulsabar.com. and click on Member Services.
St. Patrick's Day, Luck of the Irish...Did You Know?
• It is believed that the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, was born in Britain—not Ireland.
• Kidnapped by Irish raiders at 16 and sold as a slave to a Celtic priest, in what is now Northern Ireland.
• Six years later, he escaped back to Britain and then returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary.
• He was never canonized because the process didn't exist yet.
• The shamrock was once considered sacred. Symbolizing the start of spring and used by St. Patrick as a guide explaining the Holy Trinity.
• The first parade for St. Patrick's Day was in 1601.
• Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in Boston and New York City March 17, 1773
• Corned beef and cabbage was created in America. In Ireland it was Ham and cabbage. Corned beef was less expensive.
2025-2026 TCBA CONTACTS, COMMITTEE & SECTION CHAIRS
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Madison Cataudella
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Tulsa Lawyer Submissions - tulsabarnews@yahoo.com
TCBA OFFICERS
President .............................................................Michael Taubman
Past President......................................................Stephanie Jackson
President-Elect............................................................Billy Duncan
Vice President...........................................................Shena Burgess
Secretary................................................................. Jennifer Struble
Treasurer.....................................................................John Gotwals
Budget/Internal Operations..............................Madison Cataudella
Director at Large (1) Large Firm...............................Sean McCalip
Director at Large (2) Large Firm................................Natalie Sears
Director at Large (1) Medium Firm.......................Jason McVicker
Director at Large (2) Medium Firm................................Kara Pratt
Director at Large (1) Small Firm...........................Spencer Pittman
Director at Large (2) Small Firm..............................Mary Clement
Director at Large (1) Public Sector................. Judge April Seibert
ABA Delegate............................................................ Molly Aspan
OBA Delegate.............................................................Philip Hixon
Library Trustee (1).................................................Caitlin Getchell
Library Trustee (2)...................................................... Julie Evans
Presiding Judge .................................................Hon. David Guten
Chief Judge, U.S. District Court ..................Hon. John F. Heil, III
Chief Judge, Tulsa Municipal Court........Hon. Gerald Hofmeister
TU Law Student Bar Representative.......................Lori Whitlock
YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION BOARD
YLD Chair......................................................................Kyle Trice
YLD Past-Chair....................................................Lacy Williamson
YLD Chair Elect........................................................Isaiah Brydie
YLD Vice President.................................................Morgan Smith
YLD Treasurer..........................................................Bryan Seaton
YLD Secretary.................................................Nathan Miramontes
FOUNDATION APPOINTMENTS
Law Day Chair ....................................................Tana Van Cleave
Community Outreach................................................ Ashley Webb
Community Outreach Co-Chair...................... Madison Cataudella
Golf Chair................................................................Michael Thelen
Scholarship Chair.....................................................................TBD
FOUNDATION
President....................................................................Kara Vincent Treasurer...........................................................Catherine Hoopert
Trustee...............................................................Stephanie Jackson
Trustee.................................................Timothy Michaels Johnson
Trustee..........................................................................Rick White Trustee.........................................................................Lizzie Riter
Trustee ..................................................................Chad McLain
Trustee .....................................................................Mike Esmond
Trustee ...................................................................Ashley Webb
TCBA President.................................................Michael Taubman
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Access to Justice... .............Katie Dilks
Animal Law ............Katy Inhofe
Animal Law Co-Chair .........Erica Grayson Bench & Bar..............................................Austin Bond & Mbilike Mwafulirwa
Children & the Law.......................................................Lexie Allen
Children & the Law Co-Chair .......Michael Nesser CLE...........................................................................Morgan Smith Diversity Development...............................................Matt Ingham
Diversity Development Co-Chair .......Marvin Lizama Fee Arbitration.............................................................Scott Savage Law Related Education / Street Law Co-Chairs..............................
............................... Trevion Freeman, Pierre Robertson, & JP Ray Lawyer Referral .............................................. ............Alan Barker
Mentor/Mentee....................................................Kevinn Matthews
Military/Veterans ...........Diana Cupps
Nominations & Awards........................................Stephanie Jackson
Pro Bono Chair...............................................................Eric Yoder
Membership.....................................................................Kara Pratt
Publications......................................................Rhiannon Thoreson
Publications Co-Chair ..................................... Madison Cataudella
Special Events ................................................. ..........Natalie Sears
SECTION CHAIRPERSONS
ADR/Mediation................................................... .......Zack Brown
Bankruptcy ..Hon. Paul Thomas
Business/Corporate................................................Spencer Pittman
Criminal Law ...........Dustin Allen
Energy & Mineral Law.............................................Buford Pollett Employment Law ..........Chris Vaught Family Law ..........................................Anastasia Krich-Mahoney Health Law................................................................Shelby Fields Immigration ............................................................Maria Mattern
Juvenile Law. .......Michael Nesser Juvenile Law Co-Chair..................................................Lexie Allen Litigation Co-Chairs...........................Jake Pipinich & Don Smolen Municipal Law.........................................................................TBD Native American Law Section................................Hannah Scandy
Paralegals/Legal Assistant.......................................Danna Malone
Paralegal /Legal Assistants Vice Chair.....................Sabrina Kallam
Paralegals / Legal Assistant - Secretary..............Ashleigh Casebolt
Probate/Estate/Elder Co-chairs............ ..Linda Van Arkel-Greubel ......................................................................... ....... & Justin Munn
Solo/Small Firm .......................................................Mary Clement
Tax......................................................................Alexander Bratton Technology ...............................................................Trevor Riddle Workers Comp.........................................................................TBD Workers Comp Co-Chair ................. ......TBD * Section Chairs will be updated as positions are filled
