Bill Hopkins helps to protect health care providers and health care companies against the many potential pitfalls in the industry, serving as both an advocate and educator for his clients in administrative law, regulatory defense, compliance, and litigation. He ensures that the legal aspects of health care are covered, so his clients can maintain their focus where it matters most – providing health care. Bill advises the full spectrum of health care clients from individual health care providers, health care companies to institutional health care clients. He focuses on state and federal licensure, regulatory compliance, and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on proactive legal services aimed at maintaining compliance and minimizing potential legal exposure. He handles all aspects of health care professional licensure and practice; long-term care licensure, regulation, and enforcement; medical staff issues, credentialing, fraud, and abuse; and compliance with rules of state and federal regulatory agencies. He has litigated on behalf of his clients in both state and federal administrative courts, as well as the District Courts of Texas. Additionally, Bill is a recognized thought leader and prolific speaker on health care regulatory, enforcement, and compliance matters at the local, state, and national levels. He also serves as an advocate for diversity initiatives in the legal industry, health care industry and general business community, currently serving as President of the Central Texas Advisory Board of the Texas Diversity Council and sitting on the organization’s statewide board. Credentials Education The University of Texas School of Law, 1995 (J.D.) High Point University, 1990 (B.A.) Bar Admissions Texas, 1995 Distinctions Best Lawyers in America, Healthcare Law, 2018-2020, 2022-2024 Texas Diversity Council, Diversity First Award Winner, 2011, 2018 Texas Diversity Council, Diversity Champion Award, 2020 American Bar Association, Health Law Section, Champion of Diversity and Inclusion Award, 2017 Leadership Austin Essential Class, 2008 Austin Under 40 Award, Legal Category Winner, 2006 Memberships American Health Law Association (f/k/a American Health Lawyers Association) Post Acute Practice Group (PALS), Vice Chair of Publication, 2019-2021 Austin Bar Association Health Law Section Administrative Law Section American Bar Association Litigation Section Health Law Section ABA National Commission on Law and Aging, Former Commissioner Distance Learning Committee, Chair Leadership Council, 2018-2020 Post-Acute Care Interest Group, Member Long-Term Care Task Force, Former Chair Coordinating Committee on Diversity, Former Chair Physician Issues Interest Group, Former Chair Houston Bar Association Health Law Section, Former President Texas Diversity Council Central Texas Advisory Board, President Statewide Board Member Related Practices Health Care Litigation and Dispute Resolution White Collar Defense and Investigations False Claims Act / Qui Tam Investigations and Defense
Tyrone C. Moncriffe is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and a faculty member of the Criminal Defense Institute. He is certified for first chair in Death Penalty cases in Harris County, Texas and, also lectures on acting and storytelling in trials where he uses skills learned from Sandra Zimmer’s Self Expression Center in Houston, Texas. In 1978, he graduated from Texas Southern University, magna cum laude. After completion of his undergraduate degree, Tyrone continued his education at Thurgood Marshall School of Law graduating in 1982.
2013 was a phenomenal year for Tyrone, obtaining many new accolades as well as continuing to build on his previous awards. Tyrone C. Moncriffe was given a presidential award by TCDLA President Lydia C. Jackson for work in the organization and received the most nominations for the TOP 50 Black Lawyers of Houston. He was voted as one of the favorite speakers at the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Seminar in May. Tyrone was asked to speak at the Ohio Bar Associate Superstar Seminar as well as the DUI/DWI Seminar in Las Vegas Nevada.
Tyrone was honored with a Trail Blazer Award by Harris County Black Criminal Lawyers in 2015, The Presidential Award 2015 for work with TCDLA, voted in "National Top One Percent Lawyers 2015", and "Best Attorney" charter member 2015. Also, was voted for the 10th year in a row as a Super Lawyer.
Board Certified in Criminal Law:
• Criminal Law Specialist - 1996-Present
• National Board of Trial Advocacy - 1998-Present
• Certified Specialist Capital Murder - 1st Chair Harris County
Lecturer / Faculty:
• Voted **Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the Nation 2012-2020
• Voted **Top 50 Black Attorneys 2013-14**
• Voted Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
• Huntsville, Texas Seminar - 2000-Present
• Demonstrative Evidence - 2002
• Harris County Lawyer of the Year - 2017
• Center for American and International Law - 2004-Present
• University of Houston Lecturer / Storytelling
• Houston Bar Association / Storytelling
• TCDLA / Lecturer
• Indigent Defense - Voir Dire
• Cross Examination Final Arguments
• Super Lawyers 2006 - 2020
• H-Texas Magazine 2008 - 2014
• Book Feature - It's Your Time to Shine! - Pg. 37
• Press Release - Alum Tyrone Moncriffe Names Top Professional
• Voted one of the Best Speakers of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers 2010 & 2011
• Atticus Finch Award Fort Bend Criminal Lawyer Defense Attorney Association - 2019
• Storytelling & the Art of Persuasion - The Champion Magazine
• Awarded One of the Top Attorneys in Texas - 2011
Destiny Montemayor received her Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, with a concentration in broadcast journalism and a minor in Spanish from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2009. While at ULM, she was a member and team captain of the university’s track and field team, as a thrower, on a full scholarship.
She later earned her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, magna cum laude, from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2016. Ms. Montemayor spent eight years as a middle school educator in Texas, where she taught history, English, science, and physical education, while coaching volleyball, basketball and track and field. Right before receiving her masters, she also trained for the 2016 Olympic Trials, demonstrating a strong commitment to discipline and high performance.
Ms. Montemayor went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the Southern University Law Center, graduating cum laude and in the top twenty percent of her class in 2024. While in law school, she gained valuable experience through internships with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Texas House of Representatives. She also served as President of the Latino/a Law Students Association and Executive Editor of the Journal of Race, Gender & Poverty.
Prior to joining Fee Smith & Sharp, LLP, Ms. Montemayor gained indispensable litigation experience at Thomas Quinn, LLP, where she handled Defense Base Act claims from intake to resolution. This experience further developed her litigation skills and motion writing skills.
Ms. Montemayor now represents clients with a detail orientated and results-driven approach, drawing on her diverse professional background in education and law.
PRACTICE AREAS
- Insurance defense
- Personal Injury defense
- Transportation Liability
EDUCATION
- Southern University Law Center, J.D., 2024
- University of Texas at Arlington, M.Ed., Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, Summa Cum Laude, 2016
- University of Louisiana at Monroe, B.A., Communications, 2009
BAR ADMISSIONS
Texas, 2024
Maseo Brown is an associate in the Private Equity Practice Group in the Houston office of Haynes and Boone, LLP.
His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, capital markets and securities, and other commercial transactions.
Prior to joining Haynes and Boone, Maseo earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School. While earning his degree, Maseo served as Vice President of the Business Law Society, Community Outreach Chair of the Black Law Students Association, Legal Extern at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, and Senior Member of the Moot Court team. He also spent a semester studying international business law at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law, where he learned about foreign direct investment into and out of China.
Credentials
Education J.D., Tulane University Law School, 2020 B.A., Oglethorpe University, 2014 LANGUAGES Spanish ADMISSIONS Texas
Activities
Member: American Bar Association, Business Law Section Member: American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Volunteer: Houston Volunteer Lawyers Member: Houston Lawyers Association Member: State Bar of Texas, Business Law Section Member: State Bar of Texas, African American Lawyers Section Member: Houston Bar Association, Mergers & Acquisitions Section Houston Small Business Legal Consultant (Houston Office of Business Opportunity) Member: Association for Corporate Growth, Young Professionals Network Mentor: Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Member: Emerging 100 Black Men of America, Economic Empowerment Committee
Vanessa Allen Sutherland is Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Phillips 66. She has over 25 years of legal experience.
Before assuming her current role in January 2022, Sutherland was Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Norfolk Southern Corporation, where she held a series of positions.
Sutherland brings considerable knowledge of the public sector, having served as Chairperson and CEO of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board from 2015-2018 and as Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration from 2011-2015. She also served in senior legal counsel roles for Altria Group and Philip Morris USA.
Sutherland earned a bachelor’s degree from Drew University, as well as a law degree and MBA from American University.