Biography
James V. Derrick, Jr. is a partner in Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP, and is head of the firm's Houston office. He received his bachelor of arts, with honors, in 1967 from The University of Texas at Austin. He received his doctor of jurisprudence, with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law in 1970, where he was a member of Chancellors and the Order of the Coif, and where he served as an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Derrick served as judicial clerk to the Honorable Homer Thornberry of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He joined VInson & Elkins in 1971, where he became a partner in 1976, and practiced there for twenty years. In 1991 he joined Enron Corp., where he served as its Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and then as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel, until his retirement in 2002.
Mr. Derrick has advised publicly held and privately held business enterprises on United States and international business and energy transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and partnerships. He has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at The University of Texas School of Law. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and of the Houston Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Derrick's civic involvement has included serving on the boards of Houston Grand Opera, The Foundation for Jones Hall, and the Society for the Performing Arts. He is a recipient of the Anti-Defamation League's Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award, an award given for professional achievement combined with community service.
He has served as Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation, President of The University of Texas Alumni Association, Trustee of The University of Texas Law School Foundation, Trustee of the Center for American and International Law, Vice Chair of the Advisory Board of the Southwestern Legal Foundation's Oil and Gas Education Center, member of the American Gas Association's Legal Executive Committee, and Chair of the American Gas Association's Corporate Law Committee.
Mr. Derrick and his wife, Carrin Patman, are captivated daily by the shenanigans of Lord Wellington S.S. Derrick, Q.C., their much loved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Mr. Derrick enjoys international travel, reading, music, trekking, and golf.
Education & Honors
The University of Texas at Austin, B.A., with honors, 1967
The University of Texas School of Law, J.D., with honors, 1970
Chancellors
Order of the Coif
Associate Editor, Texas Law Review
Consul Award
Law Clerk, the Honorable Homer Thornberry, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Judicial Circuit, 1970-1971
Adjunct Professor of Law, The University of Texas School of Law, 1984-1990
Recipient, Anti Defamation League, Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award
Admission & Affiliations
Texas, 1970
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Houston Bar Association
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Fellow and Former Chair, Houston Bar Foundation
Former Trustee, The University of Texas Law School Foundation
Former President, The University of Texas Law School Alumni Association
Former Trustee, The Center for American and International Law
Former Vice Chair and Member of Executive Committee, Advisory Board, Oil and Gas Education Center, the Southwestern Legal Foundation
Former Member, Legal Executive Committee, American Gas Association
Former Chair, Corporate Law Committee, American Gas Association
Member, Council on Foreign Relations
Member, Houston Committee on Foreign Relations |