The role of a volunteer advocate at CASA is unlike any other volunteer opportunity. It requires passion, creativity, tenacity, and above all, it demands dedication.

Melissa Lorber, who became a 15-year Tenured Volunteer Advocate this year, has certainly dedicated a large piece of her life, and her compassionate heart, to CASA.

A lawyer by trade, Melissa was first introduced to the child welfare system while attending The University of Texas School of Law in 1998. During that time, she was a student lawyer at the Children’s Rights Clinic, where she was appointed to be the attorney ad-litem on cases. Ignited by her experiences there, Melissa first thought she might become a children’s rights prosecutor.

Luckily for us at CASA, she decided to do a bit of volunteering first and found that she enjoyed working for the child welfare system in a volunteer capacity much more. Since then, she’s been a volunteer for SAFE as well as CASA, and her support of our work has gone beyond advocating for children in court—she’s become a sponsor for our CASAblanca Gala each year, and has even gotten her law firm, Enoch Kever PLLC, involved as well.

In fact, supporting CASA has become a family tradition. “Being a CASA volunteer has definitely given me and my family a cause to dedicate ourselves to and a focus on how we want to give back to the community. My kids and I are always reminded that there’s a lot of people with less that need help, and that we need to be understanding of what kids and families are going through.”

ML-feature.jpgCurrently, Melissa works as an appellate lawyer, but what brought her to Texas after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Political Science at the University of Arizona was a job as a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News. A lifelong learner, Melissa muses that “I’m still not quite sure what I want to do when I grow up.”

While her career and 15-year volunteer role with CASA have kept Melissa busy, her home life easily fills out her days as well. She has three kids, and although two are now in college, there’s been no shortage of extracurricular activities to attend over the years, from marching band to soccer.

Before the days of the pandemic, Melissa and her family enjoyed traveling, exploring wineries in the Texas Hill Country, and experiencing all the culinary delights Austin has to offer. “We’re not ‘stuff people,’ we’re ‘experience people.’ We’re planning to go to Costa Rica next—when it’s safe,” she says.

The pandemic hasn’t just brought about challenges for Melissa when it comes to traveling. Like many of our advocates, COVID-19 has meant that she’s had to be creative in finding ways to connect with the child she serves.

“Before COVID, we could go places each month and it was really something the child I serve looked forward to. We keep that same consistency through phone calls, and sometimes I’m able to send small gifts.”

As difficult as this has been, Melissa is certainly up to the task after serving over 20 children in the past 15 years.

There’s a lot about her role as a volunteer advocate that feels familiar, like attending court, testifying during trials, and writing court reports, but that doesn’t mean she’s never been surprised in over a decade. In her time with CASA, Melissa’s also seen how a committed team can really change a child’s story.

“I’ve learned that there are just so many good people involved in the child welfare system. The people who take in foster children, those who are working as counselors, caseworkers, attorneys ad-litem—on a lot of cases, we’ve had such a great team of people in different roles. Particularly in court, Judge Byrne and Judge Martinez Jones really listen to what CASA volunteers have to say.”

When asked what she would give a keynote speech on, Melissa’s answer is a stark reflection of her devotion to CASA, as well as the life and career she’s built for herself.

“Find something you care about that you’re interested in. I know a lot of people talk about finding your passion and making that your career, but that’s not really what I’ve done. I want to support my family, but then I want to find something else that I care about. Even if what you’re passionate about can’t be your job, do it anyway, and find whatever time you can to devote to it.”

The role of a volunteer advocate at CASA is unlike any other volunteer opportunity. It requires passion, creativity, tenacity, and above all, it demands dedication.

Melissa Lorber, who became a 15-year Tenured Volunteer Advocate this year, has certainly dedicated a large piece of her life, and her compassionate heart, to CASA.

A lawyer by trade, Melissa was first introduced to the child welfare system while attending The University of Texas School of Law in 1998. During that time, she was a student lawyer at the Children’s Rights Clinic, where she was appointed to be the attorney ad-litem on cases. Ignited by her experiences there, Melissa first thought she might become a children’s rights prosecutor.

Luckily for us at CASA, she decided to do a bit of volunteering first and found that she enjoyed working for the child welfare system in a volunteer capacity much more. Since then, she’s been a volunteer for SAFE as well as CASA, and her support of our work has gone beyond advocating for children in court—she’s become a sponsor for our CASAblanca Gala each year, and has even gotten her law firm, Enoch Kever PLLC, involved as well.

In fact, supporting CASA has become a family tradition. “Being a CASA volunteer has definitely given me and my family a cause to dedicate ourselves to and a focus on how we want to give back to the community. My kids and I are always reminded that there’s a lot of people with less that need help, and that we need to be understanding of what kids and families are going through.”

ML-feature.jpgCurrently, Melissa works as an appellate lawyer, but what brought her to Texas after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Political Science at the University of Arizona was a job as a reporter for the San Antonio Express-News. A lifelong learner, Melissa muses that “I’m still not quite sure what I want to do when I grow up.”

While her career and 15-year volunteer role with CASA have kept Melissa busy, her home life easily fills out her days as well. She has three kids, and although two are now in college, there’s been no shortage of extracurricular activities to attend over the years, from marching band to soccer.

Before the days of the pandemic, Melissa and her family enjoyed traveling, exploring wineries in the Texas Hill Country, and experiencing all the culinary delights Austin has to offer. “We’re not ‘stuff people,’ we’re ‘experience people.’ We’re planning to go to Costa Rica next—when it’s safe,” she says.

The pandemic hasn’t just brought about challenges for Melissa when it comes to traveling. Like many of our advocates, COVID-19 has meant that she’s had to be creative in finding ways to connect with the child she serves.

“Before COVID, we could go places each month and it was really something the child I serve looked forward to. We keep that same consistency through phone calls, and sometimes I’m able to send small gifts.”

As difficult as this has been, Melissa is certainly up to the task after serving over 20 children in the past 15 years.

There’s a lot about her role as a volunteer advocate that feels familiar, like attending court, testifying during trials, and writing court reports, but that doesn’t mean she’s never been surprised in over a decade. In her time with CASA, Melissa’s also seen how a committed team can really change a child’s story.

“I’ve learned that there are just so many good people involved in the child welfare system. The people who take in foster children, those who are working as counselors, caseworkers, attorneys ad-litem—on a lot of cases, we’ve had such a great team of people in different roles. Particularly in court, Judge Byrne and Judge Martinez Jones really listen to what CASA volunteers have to say.”

When asked what she would give a keynote speech on, Melissa’s answer is a stark reflection of her devotion to CASA, as well as the life and career she’s built for herself.

“Find something you care about that you’re interested in. I know a lot of people talk about finding your passion and making that your career, but that’s not really what I’ve done. I want to support my family, but then I want to find something else that I care about. Even if what you’re passionate about can’t be your job, do it anyway, and find whatever time you can to devote to it.”

Craig EnochThe Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce announced that its board of directors has selected Craig Enoch, former Texas Supreme Court Justice, as the Chamber’s chair-elect. As 2019 chair-elect, Craig Enoch will serve as chairman of the board in 2020.  Justice Enoch states: “I want to thank Phil Wilson for his outstanding leadership and service as our chair and offer my support to Brian Cassidy as he assumes the chairmanship in what promises to be an important and consequential year,” said Enoch. “I’m honored to have been selected as chair for 2020 and look forward to continuing the great work the Chamber has done generating jobs, investing in education, and helping the two million people who live in, and those who arrive in, our community find good jobs, are able to provide for their families, and enjoy our outstanding community.”

Mike Truesdale was sworn in, as a lawyer member, to serve on the State Bar of Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline.  The Commission provides oversight to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, which administers the Texas Attorney Disciplinary system.  The Commission is comprised of six attorneys and six members of the public. (To see more about Mike, click here.)

Mike Truesdale (right) with Steven Henry and Hon. Monica Gonzales at the investiture for the Commission for Lawyer Discipline

ENOCH KEVER PLLC, an Austin-based law firm representing businesses across Texas, has named John A. Menchaca as a Member focusing on debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, privacy and related data matters, and general corporate law and licensing. Menchaca brings over 25 years of experience providing legal counsel to venture capital and private equity firms, emerging growth technology companies and entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining Enoch Kever, Menchaca served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at CSIdentity Corporation, a part of Experian. Prior to serving as General Counsel at CSID, Menchaca was a shareholder with two regional law firms.

“As our firm grows, more and more of our clients are calling on us to assist them on an increasingly wide range of finance, corporate and business matters,” said Andy Kever, managing member of Enoch Kever. “We have known John for many years and several of us had practiced with him before he became an in-house General Counsel. The opportunity to work together again is really terrific for us and our clients. John brings exactly the experience and judgment our clients are seeking.”

“I am very excited to join the team at Enoch Kever,” said Menchaca. “I have known many of the Enoch Kever lawyers for years and view this as the ideal platform for me as I move back into private practice. Enoch Kever has a tremendous breadth of legal talent and a strong client base and I look forward to continuing the next chapter of my legal career at the firm,” Menchaca added.

Menchaca has served as an adjunct professor at The University of Texas School of Law and has lectured at The University of Texas, Texas State University, and St. Edward’s University. He received his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law and undergraduate degree in Government from The University of Texas.

Menchaca remains involved in the Austin community and has served on a number of non-profit Boards, including The Neighborhood Longhorns, as well as President of the Austin Longhorns Club. He is a graduate of Leadership Austin and has previously served on the Boards of LifeWorks and the RISE School of Austin, a school for children with Down Syndrome. (To see more about John, click here.)

Enoch Kever PLLC is pleased to welcome Vincent (Vin) Paladini to the firm as Senior Counsel.  Vin attends to legal, regulatory, and policy matters affecting a wide variety of communications service providers and technologies. He has extensive experience as in-house counsel, in private practice and in government, working for the Federal Communications Commission. He advises and represents clients on state, federal, and international legal and regulatory matters involving Internet, telecommunications, cable, satellite, submarine, wireless, and encryption technologies.  Vin also has broad experience with privacy and data security matters including international licensing and regulation.  Vin holds United States (CIPP/US) and European Union (CIPP/EU) privacy certifications from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Before joining the firm, Vin was Assistant Chief Counsel, Regulatory of a national cable and telecommunications company where he was responsible for a wide variety of matters involving communications and privacy issues. More recently, Vin has been a consultant to a prominent international telecommunications service provider with respect to law, policy, and regulation in emerging markets in Eastern Europe and Africa.

 

Pictured: (Left) Justice Craig Enoch (’75) and wife Kay Enoch (’77), Dawn Enoch Moore (’81), Brett Moore (’17), Blair Moore(’17), Preston Enoch (’15), Matt Enoch (’08), Mark Enoch (’78) and Scot Gregory (’90).

Enoch Kever has again been included among the Best Law Firms in Texas by its peers as it has been each year since the firm was founded in 2011. The firm has again been recognized this year for its work in Administrative and Regulatory, Appellate, Environmental and Commercial Litigation.

Craig EnochJustice Craig T. Enoch (retired) has again been recognized for his Appellate practice,

 

 

 

Andy Kever for Administrative and Regulatory,

 

 

 

John VayRod Johnson and John Vay for Environmental,

and Gary Zausmer for Commercial Litigation.

 

In the 2017 edition of its annual listing of highly regarded lawyers, Chambers USA recognizes Enoch Kever and founding Member Andy Kever for the firm’s expertise in Energy: State Regulatory and Litigation (Electricity).  Chambers describes Kever as a “respected and knowledgeable senior practitioner with a demonstrable string of successes.”  The publication also recognizes Enoch Kever Member Rod Johnson for his “longstanding regulatory practice” in Environmental Law.  Johnson is recognized for his “particular expertise in air quality work” in addition to his advice on “OSHA compliance and enforcement matter.”

The upcoming year will be a busy one for Enoch Kever’s appellate attorneys. Mike Truesdale has taken the reins as the Chair of the Texas State Bar Civil Appellate Section for 2017-18 and Marla Broaddus is serving as Co-Chair of the Texas State Bar Civil Appellate Section’s On-Line Committee.  Melissa Lorber and Shelby O’Brien have begun serving as Secretary/Treasurer and Council Member, respectively, for the Austin Bar Association Civil Appellate Section. Additionally, Shelby has been elected to serve on the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association Board of Directors as Co-Chair of Events. Both Melissa and Shelby are scheduled to present at the Texas Bar Civil Appellate Seminar in September 2017 and Amy Saberian will be presenting at the Litigation Update Institute in January 2018.

Combs v. Texas Small Tobacco Coal., 440 S.W.3d 304 (Tex. App.—Austin 2014), review granted (Oct. 9, 2015). To review the briefing filed by the Enoch Kever team, please click here. To view the opinion from the Austin Court of Appeals, please click here.

The Texas Supreme Court granted the State’s petition and has submitted the case. Member Craig Enoch argued on behalf of the Texas Small Tobacco Coalition. To review the briefing filed by the ENOCH KEVER team, please click here. To view Craig’s argument before the Supreme Court of Texas, please click here.

During the 2013 legislative session, the Texas Legislature imposed a tax only targeted on small, independent tobacco company competitors while declining to impose the same tax on big tobacco companies that had previously entered into settlements with Texas because of antitrust violations and other illegal behaviors. The tax was imposed in part to ameliorate the impact on big tobacco companies of the financial penalties under their settlement with Texas. The ENOCH KEVER team, comprised of Craig Enoch, Melissa Lorber, Amy Saberian and Shelby O’Brien, representing the Texas Small Tobacco Coalition, successfully took the legislation to court in Cause No. D-1-GN-13-002414, Texas Small Tobacco Coalition and Global Tobacco, Inc. v. Susan Combs, Comptroller of Public Accounts, and Greg Abbott, Attorney General, where the tax was declared void. And they upheld the judgment in the 3rd Court of Appeals.