Franklin Jones Best CLE Article

2016 Recipient Shelly L. Skeen

For 2016 the award goes to Shelly L. Skeen for her article, “State of Rights Post – Obergefell”.

Shelly L. Skeen of BFS Law Group practices complex commercial litigation, representing businesses across the country in commercial litigation disputes in state and federal trial courts, appellate courts and in arbitrations. After graduating magna cum laude from law school, Shelly began her law practice as a Briefing Attorney for a Texas State Appellate Court of Appeals. Shelly has been a certified mediator since 2001, earned a Diploma in International Arbitration, and achieved a “Fellow” designation from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in London (CIArb), making her one of less than 475 lawyers in the U.S. holding the Fellow designation.  Shelly also handles online free speech, business disparagement and defamation cases as well as probate, guardianship and estate planning for individuals and families, including LGBT individuals and families.

Shelly employs a practical, problem-solving approach to her practice. Shelly believes her client and her client’s priorities come first, and that her first job is to listen to her clients and then provide cost-effective legal advice to resolve their disputes quickly and efficiently.

Shelly has appeared before the United States Supreme Court, appeared and argued successfully before the Texas Supreme Court, appeared and argued before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Louisiana, appeared before the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio, the 7^th Circuit Court of Appeals in Illinois, United States District Courts in Texas, Michigan and Illinois, and several Texas State Appellate Courts.

Shelly has served a Council Member, Vice President, and Chair of a LGBT Law Section for the State Bar of Texas, is the President of the Dallas LGBT Bar Association, and is a member and board member of nonprofits, including the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas and the Coalition for Aging, LGBT, where she serves as the Co-Chair of the Policy & Legislative Advocacy Committee.

Shelly was appointed by the President of the State Bar of Texas to serve a three (3) year term on the State Bar of Texas’ CLE Committee. Shelly is also frequent speaker and author and is adjunct faculty for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy where she teaches trial skills to lawyers. She also teaches the Members program for CIArb.

Shelly is active in the local community where she performs volunteer work, has taught as an adjunct instructor, mentors for night time law students and high school students and serves as an assistant city prosecutor. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, hiking, and reading.

Shelly has recently been accepted into an LL.M. program in law and sexuality at UCLA School of Law.

2014

Clyde J. “Jay” Jackson, III, Houston
“Texas Supreme Court Update” presented at TexasBarCLE’s 30th Annual Advanced Personal Injury Law Course.

2009

Richard R. Orsinger, San Antonio
“Practicing Family Law In a Depressed Economy Part I: Your Law Practice” and “Your Clients – Part II: The Economy” (Written for the TexasBarCLE Advanced Family Law Course 2009)

2002

Steve Akers, Dallas
“Trustee Selection; Retaining Strings Without Getting Strung-Up“

1998

Eric E. Sigsbey, Midland

1997

David H. Pace, Dallas

1996

David B. Young, Austin

1995

Kathryn Hinkel, Dallas

1994

Scott Rothenberg

1993

Walter P. Wolfram, Amarillo