Bell Nunnally attorneys Saba F. Syed and Sydnie A. Shimkus have been accepted into the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court. Syed was selected as a Barrister, and Shimkus was selected as an Associate. Partner Jeffrey S. Lowenstein is a Master of the Inn.
Members are divided into three categories based on their legal experience: Masters, Barristers and Associates. Each level consists of members of the legal community interested in litigation. The membership term for Masters is unlimited; Barristers participate for three years; and Associates have a one-year term. Election for new members is held prior to the beginning of a new term in September.
Syed routinely represents companies and high-net-worth individuals in complex commercial litigation matters in a variety of practice areas, including securities, business torts, patent and trademark disputes, partnership disputes and real estate litigation. She is experienced in a variety of arbitration venues, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and has represented consumers and financial advisors in financial disputes. Syed also assists clients in the live events and hospitality industries, including representation in litigation matters, assisting with trademark issues and providing industry-specific legal counsel. She was named to The Best Lawyers in America’s “Ones to Watch” list for 2021, awarded the Dallas Bar Association’s Outstanding Minority Attorney Award in 2019 and selected for the “Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas” list in 2021.
Shimkus focuses her practice on commercial litigation and labor and employment matters. Her broad experience covers cases involving general business disputes, contract disputes, misappropriation of trade secrets, covenants not to compete, fraud, landlord-tenant disputes and construction litigation. She also works with business managers, in-house legal departments and human resources managers to ensure compliance with a wide array of federal, state and local employment laws, including Title VII, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. Shimkus has experience defending employers against claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation before the Texas Workforce Commission, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and in both state and federal court. Shimkus contributes pro bono hours to the Human Rights Initiative, an organization dedicated to assisting individuals seeking asylum in the United States because of past persecution or fear of future persecution in their home countries. She was named to The Best Lawyers in America’s “Ones to Watch” list for 2021.
To learn more about the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court, please visit their website here.