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AL UMNI NEWS AL UMNI NEWS

UH LAW DEAN’S SOCIETY INVITES YOU!

The Dean’s Society is an integral force
behind the Power of Legal Education.
The generous support of its members
allows the Law Center to innovate and
respond to emerging opportunities
that will help the Law Center continue
rising and be the best.
George Levkoff ’85 Judith A. Blissard ’87

LAW FUND VOLUNTEER LAW FUND VOLUNTEER This society honors and engages
AWARD AWARD the most exclusive group of alumni
In recognition of outstanding service in In recognition of outstanding service in and friends devoted to providing
fundraising for the UH Law Center fundraising for the UH Law Center significant unrestricted support to

George Levkoff never practiced law, Judy Blissard, a partner in the Houston the Law Fund each year.
but he credits the Law Center for an office of Vinson & Elkins LLP with
important part of his education for almost 30 years of legal experience,
business and life. He was born on has a broad-based income tax practice, As members, Dean’s Society
Manhattan Island in New York and advising clients on tax planning and individuals enjoy benefits, including:
lived his first 18 years within two blocks various types of M&A and financing • Reserved invitations to annual
of his birth hospital. He went on to transactions. Her principal areas of
Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., practice are business transactions and special dinners, receptions,
the University of Chicago Graduate domestic and international tax planning. lectures and other events.
School of Business and the University of She represents both public and privately • Special Recognition in the Honor
Houston Law Center. The next 15 years, held companies, including private equity
Levkoff was a United States government funds, in a number of significant business Roll of Donors, Law Center website
bond trader in Los Angeles, and for the transactions, corporate spin-offs and and other publications.
past 19 years a pinot noir winemaker in other divestitures, and the purchases and
Healdsburg, Calif. This year will mark sales of assets and entities. She serves • Access to Dean Baynes and input
the 15th vintage for the george wine as tax counsel to numerous U.S. and on the Law Center’s strategic
company, where he is the founder and foreign issuers and underwriters on debt, direction.
sole full-time employee. Levkoff hadn’t equity offerings and securities offerings,
had a passport for 30 years and is now including issues of convertible debt,
pouring his wine at dinners all over the contingent payment debt instruments, Dean’s Society members are
world. At the Law Center, he says he preferred and common stock offerings recognized based on their giving level
was fortunate to take multiple courses and production payment financings.
from Professor Richard Alderman in Blissard graduated from the University within the society. Membership ranges
contract law, Professor Ira Shepard in of Houston Law Center cum laude in from a minimum annual gift of $2,500
tax law, and Professor Stephen Zamora 1987 and was a member of the Order to up to $24,999. *Young Alumni, or
in international law. He says teachers at of the Barons and the Order of the Coif.
this level of academia obviously possess Since her time at the Law Center, she graduates of the last 10 years, can join
mastery of the subject matter but few has continued to be a strong supporter for $1,000.
have the ability and understanding of and advocate for her alma mater. Judy is
how to instill self-motivation of the a member of the Law Center’s premier
untrained mind to recognize issues, gift club — the Dean’s Society, and has Easily give online to “Dean’s
options, remedies and solutions from supported the Law Annual Fund for Society” at https://giving.uh.edu/
a legal point of view. Levkoff donates almost 30 years. During the past three
wine for Law Center events to honor years, she has served as the Law Annual law/ or contact Stephanie Johnson,
professors. Fund’s 100% Challenge captain for associate director of development, at
Vinson & Elkins, helping to secure 100 sejohnson7@uh.edu or 713.743.3839.
percent participation in giving by UH
Law alumni within the firm.

24 Briefcase 2017