Wednesday, January 15, 2014

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DAILY BRIEFS
Briefs, from 1 Property. Metcalfe has been of counsel with GableGotwals since 2011. Metcalf came to the rm with a wealth of state and federal litigation experience earned during eight years as an Oklahoma Assistant Attorney General. He has handled hundreds of civil lawsuits and appeals involving a variety of diverse issues, including technology issues, contract disputes, business litigation, oil and gas litigation, employment disputes, civil rights defense, and tort claims. Metcalfe has also developed expertise regarding discovery of electronic information and he serves as an e-discovery instructor for the National Association of Attorneys General. KARL F. KURZ JOINS WPX ENERGY BOARD WPX Energy ofcials announced that Karl F. Kurz has been elected to the companys board of directors. This increases the size of WPXs board to 12. Kurz is a former chief operating ofcer for Anadarko and also held management positions at Vastar Resources and ARCO Oil and Gas. Most recently, he was the managing director and co-head of the energy group and a member of the investment committee at CCMP Capital Advisors LLC. Karls background in exploration, production, reservoir engineering and marketing complements the depth of energy and nancial experience we have on our board, said William G. Lowrie, WPX chairman of the board. He joins WPX at a strategic time as we work to grow this company in an enterprising way that capitalizes on the great positions we have in natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids, Lowrie added. In addition to the WPX board, Kurz also serves as a director for SemGroup Corporation and Global Geophysical Services Inc. He previously served as a board member of the American Petroleum Institute, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, the Natural Gas Supply Association and Western Gas Partners LP. He has a bachelors of science degree in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M University and is a graduate of Harvard Business Schools Advanced Management Program. Kurz will serve on WPXs nominating and governance committee along with Kimberly S. Bowers, Don J. Gunther and George A. Lorch. Eleven of WPXs board members are independent. The sole inside director is James J. Bender, WPX president and chief executive ofcer.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

OBA PRESIDENT ELECT

Susan S. Shields, left, of Oklahoma City is the Oklahoma Bar Association vice president for 2014. Other board of governors members include; Deirdre ONeil Dexter of Sand Springs, John W. Kinslow of Lawton, James R. Marshall of Shawnee and Kevin T. Sain of Idabel. OBA 2013 President Jim Stuart of Shawnee and OBA Young Lawyers Division Chairperson Kaleb Hennigh of Enid took the oath of ofce to serve on the board for one year.

RALPH SCHAEFER

David A. Poarch, Jr. of Norman introduces family and friends after taking the oath of ofce as the Oklahoma Bar Association President-Elect. Poarch will become OBA president in 2015.

RALPH SCHAEFER

Education, from 1 learn more about the legal system, individual judges and their cases. The OBA mission statement is that all people shall have access to and full benefit of the rule of law in the system of justice in Oklahoma, DeMoss continued. We lawyers must help educate Oklahomans on how our system of justice works, help preserve and ensure public confidence in it. Sessions on technology affordability and the courts also will be available to OBA members during 2014. An appellate college is planned in the spring and a trial college is set at the annual meeting.

Enhanced educational opportunities in technology and affordability will be provided to all members. DeMoss said she met with the deans of Oklahomas three law schools to evaluate programs for the OBA to help integrate new law graduates into the ever-changing profession. A section for senior lawyers is being developed to focus on issues particular to that membership demographic. The OBA also will explore how the organization can help publicize and work with Oklahomas Promise Program. DeMoss said Oklahomas Promise Program helps provide funding for Oklahoma students who would not have the opportunity to complete their

higher education. It is important to see the future OBA members also receive a good education. Scholars predict that both legal institutions and lawyers will change more rapidly over the next two decades than it has in the last two centuries, DeMoss said. Long-time attorneys have seen the yellow pad disappear in favor of the computer screen. Letters to clients have been replaced by emails. These, and all changes, will continue to challenge the legal profession, she said. It is my goal during 2014 to work with the American Bar Association and Oklahoma Bar Association team to meet and embrace challenges and all opportunities possible through education.