Haynes and Boone, LLP proudly announces the promotion to counsel of seven firm associates, representing six practice areas from our Austin, Dallas, Mexico City and New York offices.
The new group of counsel is comprised of Kirsten Garcia, Lisa Gootee, Danny Lisk, Kelly Lyle, Patricia Mastropierro, Suzie Trigg and Laura Whitley.
“Each of these lawyers has proven to be of great value to the firm and our clients,” said Managing Partner Tim Powers. “I warmly congratulate this outstanding group and look forward to their continued growth and success at the firm."
Kirsten Garcia is a member of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensations Practice Group in Dallas. She has extensive experience providing practical advice on complying with the Affordable Care Act, including its penalties and reporting, disclosure, plan design, and fee requirements, and other federal laws affecting health and welfare benefits and wellness programs. Clients and colleagues use Garcia as a “go-to” person for understanding the latest guidance and strategies for ACA compliance. In addition, she regularly advises employers on compliance with the operational and documentation requirements under federal and state laws governing employee retirement and welfare benefit plans, including ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, COBRA and HIPAA. Such assistance includes representation during government audits and investigations, such as by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor, correction of operational or document failures or errors, reporting compliance, drafting required documentation and disclosures, and conducting employee training.
Lisa Gootee is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group in the New York office. Her practice is focused primarily on commercial real estate finance, including the origination and restructuring of mortgage and mezzanine loans and the acquisition and development of commercial and multi-family residential properties. In recent years, Gootee's practice has also included representing equity clients in acquisitions of large portfolios of hotel and other commercial properties. Immediately prior to joining the firm, Gootee spent two and a half years in the public sector as counsel to the New York State Homeless Housing & Assistance Corporation, a public benefit corporation that provides financing to not-for-profit corporations and municipalities to construct homeless housing projects.
Danny Lisk is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group in the New York office. He represents private equity and real estate funds, developer/operators and financial institutions in a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including debt and equity financings, acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, workouts and restructurings across all asset classes. Over the last couple of years Lisk’s practice has focused on equity investments and debt financings in hotel and office properties.
Kelly Lyle is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group in Austin. Her practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in a variety of technical fields, with a particular focus on semiconductor fabrication, integrated circuit devices, and optical systems. Lyle’s experience also includes preparing and participating in post-grant patent matters such inter partes reviews (IPRs) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and reexaminations, advising on patent licensing, rendering of patent opinions, and developing defense positions. Prior to entering the legal field, Lyle worked in the semiconductor and telecommunications industries in both engineering and management roles.
Patricia Mastropierro is a member of the International Practice Group, splitting her time between the Dallas and Mexico City offices. She has worked for more than 15 years advising companies doing business Latin America and the Caribbean, assisting them on cross-border projects, including commercial transactions and regulatory, aviation and litigation matters. Mastropierro is extremely well-versed in aviation matters, she has advised airlines in a broad range of legal matters in the region, including setting up and maintaining operations, obtaining applicable permits, airport authorizations and slots, among others. For several years, Mastropierro has represented one of the biggest U.S. airlines and its regional airlines in more than 35 jurisdictions worldwide.
Suzie Trigg is a member of the Franchise, Distribution and Supply Chain Management Practice Group in Dallas. With a focus on regulatory compliance, supply chain management and strategic growth, Trigg represents food, restaurant, cosmetic and medical device companies in product distribution and supply chain matters and mergers and acquisitions, and by advising on matters concerning the FDA and USDA. She is a go-to lawyer for companies tackling supply chain changes.
Laura Whitley is a member of the Finance Practice Group in Dallas. She serves as counsel to financial institutions and borrowers in an array of sophisticated finance transactions. Whitley offers clients knowledgeable advice and is dedicated to helping clients met their business needs and goals. She has represented agents, lenders and borrowers in syndicated credit transactions involving revolving credit facilities, term loans, letters of credit, multi-currency facilities, cross-border financings, and acquisition financings. Whitley has also provided legal services to clients in a variety of industries in connection with secured credit facilities, secured and unsecured working capital lines of credit, and other commercial loans.