Board Members
2008-2009 Board of Directors
Bethew “Bert” B. Jennings, III , President, is a principal in the Jennings Law Group, specializing in providing intellectual property expertise to small businesses and corporations that lack in-house intellectual property counsel. Prior to practicing with the Jennings Law Group, Mr. Jennings was Executive Director of Intellectual Property for AT&T, specializing in patent licensing and sales. Mr. Jennings was also employed with Halliburton Company for 8 years, where he served as sole Intellectual Property Counsel Landmark Graphics Corporation within Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. He was responsible for managing intellectual property matters within Halliburton’s Drilling, Evaluation and Digital Solutions division. His responsibilities included global patent portfolio growth and patent prosecution management, IP support for mergers and acquisitions, and management of third party product development relationships, commercial transactions, and technology licensing.
His previous experience also includes employment with the United States Patent and Trademark Office where he was an examiner. Prior to his work with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Mr. Jennings was also an associate at Thomas, Kayden, Horstemeyer and Risley, L.L.P. in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Jennings has extensive experience in all levels of patent prosecution and management of litigation. Prior to attending law school, he was also an applications/requirements analyst for International Business Machines, Federal Systems Division, where he was contracted to NASA on the software system for the purpose of facilitating the guidance, navigation and control of the United States Space Shuttle.
In addition to conducting various seminars and lectures on corporate legal practice, Mr. Jennings is also an adjunct professor of Intellectual Property Law at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and has taught graduate courses in software applications and development at Clark-Atlanta University. He has also served as the sole and co-author of a number of articles.
A proud native of Moss Point, Mississippi, Mr. Jennings received a Bachelor in Computer Science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, a Master in Computer Science from Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, a Doctor of Juris Prudence from Georgia State University, College of Law, in Atlanta, GA, and a Master of Intellectual Property from Franklin Pierce Law Center, in Concord, NH. Mr. Jennings also received a Certificate of Study from Johannes Kepler University (The University of Linz) in Linz, Austria, where he studied International/Comparative Commercial Arbitration and Mediation, and was recently recognized by the Licensing Executives Society as a Certified Licensing Professional (CLP), currently one of 19 in Houston and 40 in the entire State of Texas. He is currently pursing his Ph.D. in Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the State Bar of Texas, where he has served as Chairman of the African-American Lawyers Section and Vice-Chairman of the Council of Chairs.
Mr. Jennings is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., 100 Black Men of America, Metropolitan Houston Chapter, and an Alumnus of Leadership Houston. He also served on many boards, including Empowerment Through Education, Inc.
Mr. Jennings resides in Pearland (a suburb of Houston), Texas with his wife Phashetha, and daughter Kendallyn Siri and son, Bethew Bertrand IV.
Andrew McGee, President-Elect, is a graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He maintains a solo practice, as principal for Law Offices of Andrew G. McGee, focused on the areas of criminal law and procedure, probate and deceptive trade. Andrew currently chairs the HLA Oral History Project committee and serves on HLA Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2008 NBA National Convention local planning group and Hall of Fame Luncheon committee. He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Mr. McGee is also an active participant with the Houston Habitat for Humanity, Big Borthers and Big Sisters of Greater Houston, NAACP Legal Clinic, the Earl Carl Institute at Texas Southern Uivrsity and the Omega Nu Phi Educational Center. He is active on committees with the ACLU of Houston, Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association, Houston Bar Association, State Bar of Texas and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers. He is a member of the College of the State Bar of Texas and the Harris County Democratic Party precinct chair, pct. 368.
He and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of two sons, Mari John and Zachary Thomas.
Linda M. Dunson, Immediate Past President, is a 2001 graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Magna Cum Laude. She has a solo practice in the areas of family law, estate planning, and wills and probate. Ms. Dunson has been involved in her community by working with the NAACP’s voter registration, Child Advocates, Inc., Interfaith Hospitality Homeless Shelter, and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. Ms. Dunson is a member of the State Bar of Texas Law Practice Management Committee, State Bar College, Association of Women Attorneys, and the Houston Bar Association. Ms. Dunson also serves on the Board of the Houston Lawyers Foundation.
Allecia Lindsey Pottinger, Treasurer, attended Texas Southern University where she received her Bachelor degree in Sociology, and Juris Doctorate. She became licensed to practice law in the State of Texas in 1995 and started her solo-practice. In 1997, Allecia started working for the NAACP as the staff attorney and later became their legal program director. She is currently working as a solo practitioner and part-time out reach attorney for Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, Inc. She was the recipient of the Houston Lawyers Associations’ Outstanding Service Award and the NAACP’s ALEX Award for Legal Excellence. She serves on several boards and committees. Allecia is a Board Member of the State Bar of Texas African American Lawyers Section, Board Member and Chair of the Community Service Committee of the Houston Lawyers Association, Board Member and Chair of the Supervisory Committee of the Brentwood Baptist Church Federal Credit Union, and Chair of the State Bar of Texas Poverty Law Section’s Pro Bono Volunteer Committee.
Cassandra Hollemon, Parliamentarian, is a 1994 graduate of South Texas College of Law. Her solo practice, The Law Offices of Cassandra Hollemon offers services primarily in the areas of HR/Workplace law, business/corporate law, and immigration law. Prior to law school, she received a Bachelor in Legal Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX.
Kiana Williams, Corresponding Secretary, is a 2005 graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. She currently specializes in intellectual property law. Her previous experience includes examining patent applications as a patent examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and as a technical consultant for Accenture.
Misty Robinson, Recording Secretary, received an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Houston Law Center in 2007. She is also a 2005 graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. She specializes in contract negotiation and transactional law for SunGard Consulting Services. Misty is an active member of the Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is the proud mother of her son, Jadon Alexander.
Juanita Barner, Board Member, (2007-2009) was raised in Houston and a proud graduate of James Madison High School. In 1988 she graduated from the University of Alabama where she also began her career as a college administrator. In 1992 she moved back to Houston as Coordinator of Residential Life for the University of Houston. After a successful career in higher education, she decided to pursue her dream and in 1997 she graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. After receiving her Juris Doctorate, Juanita worked as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas- Consumer Protection Division. In 2000, she began a solo general law practice and in 2003, she founded The Barner Law Firm which specializes in criminal defense. Juanita is an active member of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. She is the proud mother of two amazing children, Taylor and CJ.
Antoy Bell, Board Member, (2007-2009) graduated cum laude from Morehouse College with a degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Iowa College of Law in 2004. Antoy is a founding member of The Law Offices of Bell and Associates where he specializes in criminal defense and probate law. Antoy is an active member of the Harris County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Houston Bar Association, Houston Young Lawyers Association, and the National Bar Association.
Brandon Leonard, Board Member, (2007-2009) is a native Houstonian who finished law school from the University of Texas. Prior to law school, Brandon received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Houston. He currently practices commercial litigation with the law firm of Henslee Schwartz LLP. Brandon is also a current board member of the Moran Norris Foundation which was founded to provide opportunities in both education and athletics to local inner city school children.
Darius Porter, Board Member, (2008-2010) is an attorney and political consultant with 20 years of experience in domestic and international politics. Mr. Porter obtained his juris doctorate from South Texas College of Law in downtown Houston, Texas. He also holds a bachelor of arts degree in International Studies from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, Mr. Porter pursued his studies at Worcestor College of the University of Oxford and the Osaka School of International Public Policy at the Osaka University in Japan.
In 2006, Mr. Porter started his own law firm, the Porter Law Group, an international and commercial trade law firm dedicated to helping small businesses compete in the global marketplace. Mr. Porter’s work has taken him to the halls of the United States Congress and Texas legislature, chambers of the South African parliament, and even a tiny classroom in Mombasa, Kenya.
Mr. Porter’s personal philosophy is best epitomized in the words of English novelist George Eliot:
“The most solid comfort one can fall back upon is the thought that the business of one’s life is to help in some small way to reduce the sum of ignorance, degradation, and misery on the face of this beautiful Earth.”
Harrison Gregg, Board Member, (2008-2010)
Evelyn Rodriguez, Board Member, (2008-2010)
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2008-2009 Ex-Officio Members
Diane Sweezer, 2008-2009 Webmaster and Newsletter Editor, currently practices general insurance defense, products liability defense, and mass tort litigation with the law firm of Willingham, Fultz, and Cougill, LLP. Ms. Sweezer is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a member of the State Bars of Louisiana and Texas. Ms. Sweezer is also a member of the American Bar Association, National Bar Association (Commercial Law Section), Texas Young Lawyers Association, Young Lawyers Division for the State of Louisiana, Houston Bar Association, and Houston Lawyers Association.
Carl Gordon, Special Representative to the 2008 National Bar Association Convention Planning Committee, currently practices business litigation with the law firm of Haynes and Boone, LLP. He is a graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in business administration and a magna cum laude graduate of TSU Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Mr. Gordon is an active member of the National Bar Association (Commercial Law Section), Texas Young Lawyers Association, Houston Bar Association, and Houston Young Lawyers Association.