Sooner Lawyer, Spring/Summer 2012
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sooner Lawyer Archive Volume 2012 | Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2012 2012 Sooner Lawyer, Spring/Summer 2012 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/soonerlawyer Part of the Legal Education Commons Recommended Citation (2012) "Sooner Lawyer, Spring/Summer 2012," Sooner Lawyer Archive: Vol. 2012 : Iss. 1 , Article 1. Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/soonerlawyer/vol2012/iss1/1 This Entire Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the OU College of Law Archives at University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sooner Lawyer Archive by an authorized editor of University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPRING / SUMMER 2012 SoonerTHE UNIVERSITY OF OKL AHOMAL COLLEGEawyer OF LAW John B. Turner LL.M. Program Inaugural Class of 2012 Published by University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons, 2012 Editor JONELLA FRANK Director OF Public AFFAIRS EVELYN KLOPP HOLZER From the Dean PHOTOGRAPHY Dear Friends, STEVE RICE This issue of Sooner Lawyer celebrates significant SHEVAUN WILLIAMS milestones and accomplished alumni. In addition to ROBERT TAYLOR providing a window into the spring semester at the OU NORMAN PARTY PICS College of Law, this issue includes six feature articles. The first article celebrates the first-ever graduating class of STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN the John B. Turner LL.M. Program. To commemorate this historic class, our Master of Laws RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL, graduates are pictured on our cover. Learn about each of these exceptional students and the AMERICAN-STATESMAN program on page 2. The program is exceeding expectations and is growing rapidly with an JAY MALLIN PHOTOS incoming class this fall poised to double the size of the inaugural class. CAMPUS COMPOSITES The second article is the first in a series of future articles highlighting major career sectors Graphic DesigNER selected by our graduates. This issue’s article (page 6) focuses on the energy industry, HALEY FULCO recognizing the College’s longstanding history with such companies and individuals UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA headquartered in Oklahoma and the surrounding states employing our graduates. As an COLLEGE OF LAW example, Devon Energy Corporation (page 8) employs 20 OU Law graduates, including the DEAN general counsel, and four of the five members of his legal department leadership team. JOSEPH HARROZ, JR. The article on page 12 will introduce you to John Raley (’84), an inspiring example of alumni Associate DeaN FOR Academics giving back. Mr. Raley visited OU Law in March to share his experience representing Michael MICHAEL SCAPERLANDA Morton, a man wrongly accused of murdering his wife. Through Mr. Raley’s pro bono work, Mr. Morton was exonerated after serving 25 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. It Associate DeaN FOR Research was a gripping story, told to a packed house of students, faculty and staff in Kerr Lounge. Mr. RICK TEPKER Morton was also in attendance and expressed his gratitude that Mr. Raley never gave up on AssistaNT DeaN FOR StudENts him. Both men encouraged students to take on volunteer work. Mr. Morton’s story garnered SCOTT PALK national attention and was later featured on an episode of the CBS program “60 Minutes”. CONTACT INFORMATION I think you will enjoy reading a career spotlight on Greg Julian (’82), vice president of UNIVersitY OF Oklahoma the legal department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (page 16). California was “calling” this College OF Law small-town Oklahoma native who has always had a passion for cinema. Mr. Julian worked 300 TIMBERDELL ROAD tirelessly to land his dream job at MGM. Though his career path has been forged by his own NORMAN, OK 73019-5081 determination and abilities, he gives much credit to his Oklahoma roots. AttN: JONella FraNK Finally, an article about the incoming J.D. class of 2015 (page 20) provides insight into our [email protected] interesting and impressive students by featuring a few select members. More student (405) 325-5264 profiles can be viewed on our website at www.law.ou.edu. We are excited to welcome our FAX: (405) 325-7474 incoming class to the College of Law and wish students the best in the 2012-13 academic Sooner Lawyer is published two times per year by the University year. of Oklahoma College of Law. This publication, printed by University Printing Services, is issued by the University of Oklahoma. 10,000 copies have been prepared and distributed I hope you’ll enjoy this issue of Sooner Lawyer. Please know how much we value our alumni at a cost of $1.30 per issue to the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma. and friends who make OU Law one of the great public law schools in the nation. Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Warmest regards, Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. OU enrolls more than 30,000 students, has more than 2,600 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 163 majors at the baccalaureate level, 157 majors at the master’s level, 81 majors at the doctoral level, 28 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 28 graduate certificates. The university’s annual operating budget is $1.5 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. (5/11) Joseph Harroz, Jr. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. Dean and Professor www.ou.edu/eoo Fenelon Boesche Chair of Law Copyright ©2012 https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/soonerlawyer/vol2012/iss1/1 SPRING / SUMMER 2012 SoonerTHE UNIVERSITY OF OKL AHOMAL COLLEGEawyer OF LAW Features 6 The energy industry and OU Law: A working partnership 8 Devon's OU Law alumni: On the rise 12 John Raley: Giving back On the cover 2 John B. Turner LL.M. Program: 16 Greg Julian: Exceeding expectations Remembering his roots 20 Meet the Class of 2015 Inside every issue 24 CLASS NOTES 36 OU LAW UPDATES 60 FAcuLTY NEWS 70 GIVING HIGHLIGHTS 81 RES IPSA LOQUItuR Published by University of Oklahoma College of Law Digital Commons, 2012 SOONER L AW YER 1 John B. Turner LL.M. Program: Exceeding | BY JONELLA FRANK | expectations Seven law students made history when they walked the stage at the 2012 OU College of Law Convocation in May. These graduates were the first to earn LL.M. degrees from the University of Oklahoma College of Law through the John B. Turner LL.M. Program in International Energy, Natural Resources, and Indigenous Peoples, which is poised to more than double in enrollment in the next academic year. The Master of Laws program was established with the assistance of a $1.5 million gift from the Stuart Family Foundation of Tulsa. OU Regent Jon R. Stuart and his wife, Dee Dee, through the foundation, made the gift in honor of Tulsa attorney John B. Stuart, a trustee of the foundation and longtime business partner of Stuart. The process of creating a new degree program, with approval by various university, state and national entities required, was initiated. Final approval came in March 2011 and the program’s first students began five months later in August. This inaugural LL.M. class, five women and two men from six countries, successfully completed 24 units of credit during the fall and spring semesters of the 2011-12 academic year as students in an interdisciplinary program available only at OU Law. Owen Anderson, an OU Law faculty member for 20 years and director of the program, along with David Dye 2https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/soonerlawyer/vol2012/iss1/1SOONER L AWAWYER YER “ LOU’s L .M. program is the first of its kind in the country, and we anticipate a promising future as the program continues to grow.” (’09), associate director, oversaw the seven Law for a delegation of Russian legal academics Above: Professor Owen Anderson, LL.M. program director, hosted an end- students’ progress in the program. who traveled to Oklahoma as part of the Open of-year party for the students, who World Leadership Center. Twice during the were encouraged to dress in clothing “We were very pleased with our first class. school year, they were entertained in the home of their native country. Anderson They all have diverse backgrounds and stands with Frances Agbebaku, of Owen and Kathie Anderson. many came to the program with substantial Niquaise Moore, Ensieh Mohajeri, Christine Fritze, Marina Valley, Krasimir experience in the energy industry,” commented In October, the group toured the Oklahoma Gabrovski and Cheng Ding. Anderson. “Considering the rather late start City headquarters of Chesapeake Energy. Opposite page: The first graduating in publicizing the program, we were highly The following month, a weekend field trip to class of the John B. Turner LL.M. pleased with a class of seven. We wish them learn about the oil industry took them to two Program gathers in the Chapman Great Reading Room of the Donald E. well in the future and want them to stay in Oklahoma towns. They visited Ponca City, Pray Law Library prior to the OU Law touch with the law school.” the former home of Conoco, and Cushing, a graduation reception.