Preferred Perspectives

Join Preferred Counsel’s host, Morgan Matson, and guest host, State Bar of Texas Board of Directors Chair Santos Vargas, a commercial litigator and equity partner at Davis & Santos, P.C., as they discuss changes to the State Bar Rules and Policy Manual spurred by the Fifth Circuit’s McDonald decision; the two board-approved candidates running for 2022-23 State Bar president-elect; and how you can become more involved with the State Bar and your local bar.

With the new changes to sexual harassment legislation going into effect on September 01, 2021, it’s essential that you understand them. Join Preferred Counsel’s Host, Morgan Matson, and guest host, Senior Associate at Schmoyer Reinhard LLP, Thomas N. Cammack, IIl as they discuss the extension of the statute of limitations on sexual harassment claims, a broader definition of employers and the timeline of employer responsiveness to a claim. Tune in to hear how this new liability for sexual harassment will change the workplace.

With the new, no-mask mandate set by Texas Governor Abbott on May 18, 2021, what are employers to do with vaccines and the tangled Covid web? Join Preferred Counsel's host, Morgan Matson, and guest host, Senior Associate at Schmoyer Reinhard LLP, Thomas N. Cammack, IIl as they discuss how employers are navigating mask-wearing and Covid-19 vaccination within their employees. Tune in to hear how certain laws differ among private and public governmental entities.

San Antonio native and local legal business owner Ryan Reiffert joins Preferred Counsel’s host, Morgan Matson to analyze Greg Abbott’s recent lift of the July 2020 Mask Mandate. Tune in as they unravel what rights local business owners hold and what to expect now moving forward. Will the Austin mandate case prevail over state orders? What will this mean for the future of surrounding cities and businesses in the state?

Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation Lead Academy has provided women in the legal industry-exclusive opportunities that enable professional women to reach their highest level of success since 2014. Join Preferred Counsel’s host, Morgan Matson, and guest host, Academy Director for Bexar County Women's Bar Foundation LEAD Academy, Elena Sullivan as they discuss an uplifting message about the importance of elevating women attorneys in our community for the long term success of the entire legal community. Tune in and hear about what they are currently up to, ways they are utilizing technology to fit the “new normal”, and how you can get involved and support the Women’s Bar Foundation.

Looking to start your own firm? Join Preferred Perspectives and guest, Crista Branch from Branch Family Law as we dive into the dos and don’ts of owning your own firm. We will cover all things aspiring business owners will need to carefully consider before taking the leap to become entrepreneurs. From knowing when to expand to practical tips on how to get more clients in the door, we cover it all! Do you have what it takes to be successful? Find out more in this week’s episode.

In this episode, we are joined by Natalie Arledge, Associate Attorney at Cowen Rodriguez Peacock. Natalie has ventured on both sides of the law and has experience as both a defense attorney as well a plaintiff attorney. In this episode, Natalie and Morgan discuss:

• Favorite aspects of being a defense lawyer
• Strengths and skills needed to succeed at each
• Types of cases she handled
• What prompted the change to the plaintiff side
• Major differences between each
• Role of continuous training
• Internal structure differences
• What to keep in mind if making the switch

In this episode, we are joined by Emma Cano, Member of Jefferson Cano a local firm where the principal members formerly practiced together in the business litigation department of a large international law firm, but then decided to transition to a smaller boutique firm structure.

Emma and host Morgan Matson take an in-depth look at the large firm and boutique firm models. They discuss:

• Her experience at both large international and boutique firms
• Her decision to go boutique
• Differences in the types of clients, cases and resources
• Advantages and disadvantages of each
• How the office environment and dynamics affect the trajectory of your career
• Tips for young lawyers confronted with the decision to go big or boutique

Host Morgan Matson is joined by Mary Brennan Stich, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at Rackspace Technology, to discuss “Going In-House: Is it Right for Me?” In this episode, Mary shares an in-depth and firsthand perspective on how in-house roles differ from being a lawyer in private practice. Morgan and Mary do a deep dive into the differences between the two and talk about the traits and skills needed for each type of role. Mary offers her perspective and some stories from her 39-year career that highlight the challenges and opportunities that arise in each environment. Additionally, she shares her thoughts on taking calculated risks, including risks with your career decisions. This engaging and insightful episode provides a clear picture for lawyers who aren’t quite sure about whether going in-house is the right move for them.

In this episode, host Morgan Matson is joined by Nathaniel Mack, III who will dispel common myths about personal injury law. They will discuss putting the “personal” in personal injury law, addressing the ambulance chaser claims and other common myths, as well as talk about Mack’s nonprofit and app he’s developing.