(OKLAHOMA CITY – April
27, 2009)
Oklahoma City lawyer Gina L. Hendryx was today named
Oklahoma Bar Association general counsel.
In
her new position, she will act as the chief disciplinary counsel
supervising a staff of 12 and will serve as the association’s
counsel on other legal matters. She will also be responsible
for supervising the attorney diversion program and making presentations
concerning lawyer ethics and disciplinary issues. Ms. Hendryx
will work with the Professional Responsibility Commission and
serve as a liaison to the OBA Board of Governors, OBA committees,
the courts and other local and national entities concerning lawyer
ethics issues.
Since
2003, Ms. Hendryx has been OBA ethics counsel, assisting bar
members facing ethical dilemmas in their practice of law, lecturing
and writing on current ethics issues, registering out-of-state attorneys
for pro
hac vice admission and implementing the diversion program.
She
began her legal career in law school working as a legal intern for John W.
Norman in Oklahoma City and became an associate with the firm upon graduation.
She litigated a myriad of personal injury matters including products liability,
environmental torts and trucking accidents. For seven years, she was lead
counsel on 443 products liability cases stemming from asbestos exposure at
an Oklahoma tire plant. Her responsibilities included managing a staff of
attorneys and legal assistants. In 1997, she opted to explore the nonprofit
legal sector with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City and was
the litigation attorney in its Senior Law Project. She represented low income
senior citizens in civil disputes and trained new attorneys in addition to
assisting attorneys with trial presentations. She left the nonprofit to become
the OBA’s
first ethics counsel.
Ms.
Hendryx holds a bachelor of science degree from Oklahoma City
University and earned her law degree from OCU School of Law.
OBA
President Jon K. Parsley said, “Gina’s experience in the
court room combined with her recent duties as OBA ethics counsel will
allow her to quickly transition to her new responsibilities. The OBA
Board of Governors and the Professional Responsibility Commission are
pleased that she has accepted the challenges of this position. We had
many excellent candidates, and the decision was extremely difficult.
After lengthy deliberations and consultations with the final candidates,
the Board determined that Gina exhibited all the qualities we need
for this important position. The Board of Governors unanimously endorses
her and has high expectations for her work as our new General Counsel.”
President Parsley emphasized that the position of general counsel
is an extremely important one within the state’s legal community
and much effort was devoted to finding the right individual.
He said, “I had every confidence in former OBA President Gary
C. Clark of Stillwater, who served as Search Committee chair, and his
committee members, who include several past presidents as well as current
bar leaders. They conducted a nationwide search that involved both
print and online resources and were very thorough in their process
of considering many qualified candidates. They volunteered many hours
of their time, and they deserve a great deal of thanks for their hard
work.”
Other Search Committee members were Molly Bircher, Tulsa; Luke Gaither,
Henryetta; Bill Grimm, Tulsa; Linda Samuel-Jaha, Oklahoma City;
Jon K. Parsley, Guymon; David Petty, Guymon; Allen M. Smallwood, Tulsa;
Linda S. Thomas, Bartlesville; Harry Woods, Oklahoma City and Michael
E. Smith, Oklahoma City.
The
Search Committee selected candidates to be interviewed, conducted
interviews and recommended three final candidates. The Board of Governors,
together with PRC members, conducted additional interviews before deciding
upon a final selection.
Ms.
Hendryx begins her new position immediately, and a search will
begin soon for a new OBA ethics counsel to fill the vacancy. |
