| GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Nathan H. Atkins has joined the Oklahoma City office as a Shareholder.

Nathan’s experience includes advising corporate clients regarding private market mergers & acquisitions, commercial finance, joint ventures, securities, investor relations, and general corporate governance. Prior to joining the Firm, Nathan practiced at major international law firms headquartered in New York and Silicon Valley, where he advised private equity and venture capital sponsors and investors in connection with fundraising, operational, and wide-ranging transactional matters. He has also served as in-house general counsel to a global investment firm and SEC registered investment adviser.

“We are excited to expand our transactional capabilities in Oklahoma City with the addition of Nathan,” said Nick Merkley, Managing Shareholder of GableGotwals’ Oklahoma City office. “His national practice and in-house experience offer important perspectives for our clients as they look to us not only as a legal provider but also as a strategic business advisor.”

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

September 25, 2025 | On September 16, 2025, the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued its opinion in Oklahoma Republican Party, et al. v. Setter, et al. (2025 OK 56; Initiative Petition No. 448, State Question 836), holding that the petition is legally sufficient for circulation and signature gathering. The Court accepted the arguments advanced by Robert G. McCampbell, who conducted the oral argument, and Amelia A Fogleman, who was the lead brief writer, regarding critical First Amendment issues.

State Question 836 seeks to replace Oklahoma’s closed primary system with a new “open primary” system. Under the proposal, all candidates for political offices would appear on the same primary ballot, regardless of party affiliation; any registered voter would be able to vote in such primary, regardless of party affiliation; and the top two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

In rejecting the argument that State Question 836 might be unconstitutional, the Court explained, “Proponents’ asserted interests in allowing independent voters to participate, in electing the most popular candidates, in gaining efficiency, in increasing voter participation and turnout, in providing voters with greater choice, and in promoting fairness is sufficient to pass constitutional muster.”

“The people’s right to propose law and amendments to the Oklahoma Constitution through the initiative process is precious, and any doubt as to the legal sufficiency of an initiative petition should be resolved in its favor,” wrote Justice Douglas Combs for the majority.

“We are very pleased with the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision. This is a major step toward giving all Oklahoma voters a voice in their primary elections,” said Amelia A. Fogleman, Shareholder at GableGotwals.

“State Question 836 is important for our state. Among other things, it will give the 488,000 Oklahomans who are registered as independent a constitutional right to vote in primary elections,” said Robert McCampbell, Shareholder at GableGotwals.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, State Question 836 may now move forward to signature gathering. Proponents will have 90 days to gather nearly 173,000 valid signatures from registered Oklahoma voters. The Oklahoma Secretary of State will issue a formal order announcing when the signature-gathering period will begin.

About GableGotwals

GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with nearly 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

GableGotwals’ attorneys have a wealth of experience with campaign finance and election law. We advise on all aspects of federal, state and local campaign finance, lobbying, fundraising, and gift giving provisions. The Firm named a 2025 “Best Law Firm” by Best Lawyers for its Government Relations Practice, ranked as Tier 1.

September 22, 2025 | GableGotwals Shareholder Jennifer Annis was one of five attorneys honored with the Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award at the 2025 Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) Women in Law Conference last Friday.

Since 1996, the Spotlight Awards have annually recognized five women who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. In 1998, the award was renamed the Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award in honor of one of its first recipients and the first woman to serve as president of the OBA. Honorees are nominated and selected by past award recipients.

Jennifer has more than 25 years of litigation experience. She has handled hundreds of cases involving professional negligence, insurance bad faith, products liability, and commercial litigation, and has tried numerous cases to verdict. She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

“I am honored to receive the Mona Salyer Lambird Spotlight Award,” said Jennifer Annis. “It is a privilege to be recognized alongside so many accomplished women who have made meaningful contributions to the practice of law in Oklahoma.”

In addition to her professional achievements, Jennifer is committed to community service. She has served on the Special Olympics Oklahoma Board of Directors for more than 20 years, including 12 years on its Executive Committee, and has also held leadership roles at Harvard Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa.

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

September 17, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that four experienced Associates have joined the Firm.

Caleb Evans is a litigation Associate in the Firm’s Oklahoma City office, where his practice focuses on business and commercial litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Caleb served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable David L. Russell of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Tristan Reagan is a litigation Associate in the Firm’s Tulsa office, where he focuses on general commercial and business litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Tristan served as a law clerk to the Honorable Susan E. Huntsman and the Honorable Jodi F. Jayne, United States Magistrate Judges for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

Bailey Tulloch is a litigation Associate in the Firm’s Tulsa office, where she focuses on commercial litigation and other business disputes in federal and state courts. Prior to joining the Firm, Bailey served as a law clerk to the Honorable David Alan Ezra of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. She also worked as a litigation associate at a national law firm, where she handled a wide variety of matters in state and federal courts, including breach of contract, property disputes, employment matters, white-collar investigations, collections, fiduciary litigation, and Fifth Circuit appeals.

Francesca Walentynowicz is a transactional Associate in the Firm’s Tulsa office, where her practice focuses on banking and commercial law matters. She previously worked as an associate at a Tulsa-based law firm, where she handled a wide variety of commercial law and financial services matters. She also served as a legal intern to the Honorable Gregory K. Frizzell of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma and a legal extern with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma while attending The University of Tulsa College of Law.

Bailey, Caleb, Francesca, and Tristan join more than a dozen other GableGotwals attorneys who have gained valuable experience through judicial clerkships, internships, and externships in federal and state courts.

“My experience as a law clerk provided me with insight into the judicial decision-making process and sharpened my legal research and writing skills, which continues to benefit me and my clients. I am excited to welcome this group of talented young attorneys who bring similar experience to the Firm,” said Amy Fogleman, Director and Shareholder at GableGotwals.

About GableGotwals

GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

September 15, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that former summer associates Trisha Bunce, Logan Norton, CJ Pollins, and Madison Taylor have joined the Firm as litigation Associates.

Trisha Bunce is an Associate in the Firm’s Oklahoma City office, where her practice focuses on commercial litigation, bankruptcy law, and Native American law. At the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Trisha received the Joel Jankowsky Outstanding Graduate Award and was involved with numerous student organizations, including Oklahoma Law Review, the Native American Law Student Association, the Federal Bar Association, and Phi Alpha Delta. She was a finalist in the New York State Bar Association National Moot Court Competition, finishing second in the region and qualifying for the national-level tournament.

Logan Norton is an Associate in the Firm’s Tulsa office, where his practice focuses on commercial litigation, employment law, energy law, and healthcare. Logan graduated with highest honors from The University of Tulsa College of Law, where he served as an elected delegate for the Student Bar Association and participated in numerous student organizations such as the Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law Society, the Health Law Society, and the Business Law Society. He also earned CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Criminal Law & Administration and Artificial Intelligence & Law. While in law school, Logan completed the Public Defender Clinic with the Tulsa County Public Defender’s Office, where he acquired an academic LLI and represented incarcerated individuals before the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board through Project Commutation.

CJ Pollins is an Associate in the Firm’s Oklahoma City office, where his practice focuses on a wide range of matters involving commercial law, energy, and sports, media, and entertainment. While in law school, he was on the Oklahoma City University Law Review Editorial Board as a Resource Editor, a member of the ABA Moot Court Team, and externed for the Honorable Sarah Hall and the Honorable Janice Loyd at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the Firm, he served as a consultant for United Youth Football League and worked as a high school teacher and football coach in Mansfield, Texas, co-developing a financial literacy curriculum and coaching student-athletes, including several who earned collegiate scholarships and state honors.

Madison Taylor is an Associate in the Firm’s Tulsa office, where her practice focuses on matters involving medical malpractice, oil and gas law, commercial law, and Native American law. At the University of Oklahoma College of Law, she received the Student Bar Association Prize for outstanding contributions to the student body, the Professional Responsibility Award, and was named Outstanding 3L. Madison was also recognized as a 1L Moot Court Distinguished Speaker and participated in multiple competition teams. She was active in several student organizations, serving as the Student Body President of the Student Bar Association, as a Negotiations Assistant for the Board of Advocates, and as an Articles Editor for the Oil and Gas, Natural Resources, and Energy Journal. 

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

Each summer, GableGotwals hosts 1L and 2L students who gain valuable experience alongside our attorneys through hands-on legal work, exposure to a broad range of practice areas, and meaningful opportunities to connect with our people and culture. The program provides opportunities for both the Firm and the candidate to get to know each other. The program emphasizes integrating law students into the practice of law. For more information, click here.

September 10, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Ryan Heatherman has joined the Tulsa office as a Shareholder, where he will focus on business issues, estate planning, and a broad range of litigation matters.

Ryan helps businesses thrive at every stage – from launch to growth and beyond. He assists clients in negotiating deals, guiding them through government or internal investigations, and successfully resolving disputes. An experienced litigator, Ryan is no stranger to the courtroom, having tried dozens of cases to verdict in federal, state, and military courts. In addition, Ryan has extensive experience helping clients navigate the complexities of probates and estate planning.

Ryan began his career as an Officer in the United States Marine Corps, where he prosecuted courts-martial as a Trial Counsel, including numerous jury trials to verdict. Ryan later deployed to Afghanistan, embedded with an infantry battalion (2/7 Marines) involved in constant combat throughout 2008, where he resolved law of war and rules of engagement issues, in real time, and led all enemy combat detainee operations across a 27,800 square foot area in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Following his military service, Ryan served as General Counsel of a Tulsa-based oil and gas company before founding a successful litigation law firm. He later returned to public service as an Assistant United States Attorney, where he held several leadership roles, including White-Collar Crime Coordinator for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and Civil Rights and Human Trafficking Coordinator for all federal districts in Oklahoma. He was promoted to Violent Crimes Team Leader and Lead Homicide Prosecutor for the Northern District of Oklahoma, serving as first chair in numerous jury trials, including multiple complex first-degree murder cases.

“When it comes to meeting the needs of our clients, GableGotwals is service-minded and mission-oriented – just like our newest Shareholder, Ryan Heatherman,” said Trent Shores, Managing Shareholder of GableGotwals’ Tulsa office. “Ryan’s experience in both public service and private practice will well serve the diverse needs of our clients.”

Ryan received his J.D. from The University of Tulsa College of Law, MBA, cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame, and BBA in accounting from the University of Oklahoma.

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

September 8, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Timothy T. (Tim) Jones and Ethan T. Mock have joined the Firm’s Tulsa office as Of Counsel.

Tim Jones has practiced at the forefront of environmental law for more than 30 years – in both industry and government. His experience offers him unique perspectives and enables him to understand environmental issues from every standpoint – having worked as counsel to companies in the food, oil and gas, transportation, manufacturing, and energy sectors, as well as from the perspective of the regulators. Prior to joining the Firm, Tim served as Senior Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at HF Sinclair, an oil and gas company based in Texas, as well as Senior Counsel to Tyson Foods, one of the country’s largest agribusinesses based in Arkansas. Earlier in his career, Tim worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in both regional and headquarters offices, handling complex enforcement litigation and regulatory matters. He also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arkansas, where he conducted criminal and civil case preparation and investigations.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tim to the Firm,” said Tim Sowecke, Co-chair of GableGotwals’ Environmental and Natural Resources Law Practice. “Tim’s background is exceptional. He combines high-level regulatory and litigation experience from his time at the Department of Justice and as Regional Counsel at EPA Region 6 with deep in-house leadership at Fortune 500 companies. His arrival represents a strategic investment in the continued growth of our top-notch national environmental practice and enhances our ability to provide clients across industries with practical, business-focused solutions to complex regulatory and litigation challenges.”

Ethan Mock has experience in oil and gas lease processing and title examination, administrative appeals, and tribal and federal regulatory compliance. Prior to joining the Firm, Ethan worked for the Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he supervised oil and gas leasing operations across the region, including new lease approvals, assignments, and permitting. He oversaw compliance with federal regulations and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and communicated directly with the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, and the Bureau of Trust Fund Administration on regulatory and royalty matters. He also drafted administrative appeal decisions related to oil and gas leasing and surface and subsurface use issues.

“For more than 80 years, GableGotwals attorneys have been advising clients on oil and gas title examination. I am looking forward to collaborating with Ethan as he joins our Title Examination Group. His extensive energy background provides much-needed support for our thriving practice,” said E. Talitha Ebrite, Chair of the Firm’s Title Examination – Oil & Gas Practice.

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

GableGotwals is ranked Band 1 in Environment by Chambers USA, 2025. Our environmental team includes attorneys with advanced degrees and former energy company executives, combining technical expertise with seasoned litigation and former corporate counsel experience. For more information, click here.

GableGotwals title attorneys work closely with our energy and production company clients in all phases of oil and gas title examination in the state of Oklahoma. From fast-paced due diligence review of key properties in asset purchase or financing transactions, to the rendering of formal drilling opinions, and ultimately the issuance of highly detailed division order title opinions. For more information, click here.

September 2, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Jacob C. (Jake) Swanson has joined the Firm’s Oklahoma City office as a litigation Associate, where his practice will focus on commercial litigation and business disputes.

Prior to joining the Firm, Jake served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Patrick R. Wyrick of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma and the Honorable Hal R. Ray, Jr., Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Jake joins 12 GableGotwals attorneys who have served as judicial clerks. Their experiences provide valuable insight into how judges view and consider cases. Having clerked for federal judges, they have worked behind the bench, gaining firsthand knowledge of how decisions are made and what resonates with the courts. This experience equips them with the advantage of understanding not only the law but also the process and strategy that drive successful outcomes for our clients.

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.

August 28, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that Hillary Stuart has joined the Tulsa office as Of Counsel.

Hillary has nearly 15 years of litigation, government investigation, and military experience. She advises clients and handles matters involving white-collar crimes, corporate investigations, cybersecurity and data privacy, administrative and regulatory law, employment law, and governmental compliance.

Prior to joining the Firm, Hillary served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Washington and was the district’s Military Liaison, consulting on military-related matters nationwide and coordinating with the Department of Justice Civil Division on claims involving Department of Defense facilities and personnel. She led national and local training initiatives, mentored military Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and prosecuted procurement and government services fraud.

Hillary is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps. She currently serves as a Command Judge Advocate, advising command teams on criminal actions, administrative law, government compliance, FOIA, employment law, and national security law. She also oversees legal reviews and investigations of civilian and active-duty employment law issues, equal opportunity cases, and sexual harassment complaints. During her nearly 10-year active-duty military career, Hillary was a defense attorney, prosecutor, administrative law attorney, and claims attorney. She deployed to Afghanistan with the 1st Cavalry Division and was stationed in Germany, Texas, and Washington.

Hillary’s experience complements the Firm’s robust Governmental and Administrative Law Practice, which includes two former U.S. Attorneys, two former federal prosecutors, the former Deputy General Counsel in the Executive Office of Governor J. Kevin Stitt, former Assistant Attorney General and Civil Rights Enforcement Chief of Oklahoma, and multiple former Oklahoma state and federal judges.

About GableGotwals
GableGotwals® is a full-service law firm with 100 attorneys and more than 70 other business professionals in Oklahoma and Texas. We represent a diversified client base across the nation, and our connections and reach are global. Fortune 500 corporations, privately owned companies, entrepreneurs, foundations, and individuals entrust us every day with the stewardship and strategic management of their legal challenges.