New Eastern District of Texas Bar Association President Stephanie Barnes (Courtesy)

The Eastern District of Texas Bar Association kicked off its 20th year by selecting some of the state’s top attorneys as officers and directors for 2016. 

The group’s annual Eastern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference draws hundreds of judges and lawyers from across the U.S. for continuing legal education programs focused on the Eastern District and the latest developments in intellectual property law. Last year’s Bench Bar conference drew more than 400 attendees.

The Eastern District is home to the nation’s busiest patent docket and some of the world’s highest-profile intellectual property cases and other significant civil and criminal litigation.

The new Eastern District Bar officers and directors for 2016 are:

• President – Stephanie Barnes of East Texas-based Siebman, Burg, Phillips and Smith, LLP

• Past President – Michael Truncale of Beaumont’s Orgain Bell and Tucker, LLP

•President-Elect – William E. “Bo” Davis III of Longview’s The Davis Firm P.C.

• Secretary/Treasurer – Geoffrey P. Culbertson of Texarkana’s Patton Tidwell and Culbertson LLP

• Director – William C. “Charles” Bundren of Frisco’s Wm Charles Bundren and Associates Law Group, PLLC

• Director – Melissa R. Smith of Marshall’s Gilliam and Smith LLP

• Director – Jennifer Parker Ainsworth of Tyler’s Wilson, Robertson and Cornelius P.C.

• Director – Douglas A. Cawley of Dallas’ McKool Smith

– Cory McCoy