The Oklahoma Bar Journal September 2022

UNCONTESTED ELECTIONS

in their criminal law and civil litigation practice areas. As a criminal defense attorney, he has represented clients in matters ranging from speeding tickets and misdemeanor DUIs to felony drug charges and multi-defendant racketeering prosecutions. As a civil litigator, he has handled cases ranging from small claims disputes to large-scale construc tion litigation, complex business litigation and employment and labor claims on behalf of both the employer and the employee. A fifth-generation Oklahoman, Mr. Erwin gradu ated magna cum laude from OU in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in clas sical cultures. He received his J.D. from the OU College of Law in 2014. While in law school, he served as president of the Student Bar Association and vice justice of the Harlan Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. He received the Student Bar Association Prize for his service to the student body, the Public Service Award for his pro bono work in both civil and criminal legal clinics, a Top Ten Speaker Award in moot court and was included on the dean’s list for his academic achievements. In his free time, he enjoys reading all the books he didn’t have time to read while in law school, writ ing short fiction, traveling and attempting to live out his high school dream of being the front man of a garage band.

she served as the board’s secre tary, and in 2021, she served as the board’s treasurer. From 2020 through 2021, she concurrently served as the ABA YLD district representative for District 24 (Oklahoma and Arkansas). During her time on the board, she has shown her willingness and effort to help other young lawyers, especially those just emerging into practice, from passing out bar exam survival kits, hosting a swearing-in happy hour for the newly admitted Tulsa-area lawyers and attending the TU bar preparation class to provide information about the Oklahoma bar and advice to law students. She has also contrib uted to publications aimed at assisting young lawyers to grow in their careers. Ms. Shaffer Siex wants to continue to serve on this board to bring more networking opportunities to the young law yers in Tulsa and ease the daunt ing transition from law school into the legal field for newly admitted lawyers.

The following persons have been nom inated. They are running uncontested and will be declared elected at the OBA YLD meeting in November.

Chair-Elect

Laura Talbert Laura Talbert is a shareholder at Stockton Talbert PLLC in Oklahoma City. Her prac tice primarily

focuses on complex civil litigation, employment law and cannabis law. Ms. Talbert graduated from the OU College of Law in 2012. After grad uating, she worked as a prosecutor. Prior to starting her own firm, she also worked for the General Counsel’s Office for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and cheering on the Sooners. She has been on the YLD board for five years and is excited to continue serving.

2023 Immediate Past Chair

Treasurer

Dylan D. Erwin Dylan Erwin joined the Oklahoma City

Taylor C. Venus

Taylor C. Venus is a solo practitioner at the Venus Law Firm PLLC in northwest Oklahoma.

law firm of Holladay & Chilton in 2018. Prior to entering

private practice, Mr. Erwin was an assistant district attorney for Comanche and Cotton counties. During his time in the DA’s office, he was able to hone his skills as a trial attorney while serving the people in his hometown of Lawton. After leaving the DA’s office, he brought his trial expe rience with him into the private

His practice focuses on civil litigation and transactional law for individuals and companies. Mr. Venus is a native of Ponca City and graduated from OSU with bachelor’s degrees in eco nomics and finance. During his time at OSU, he had the honor to be Pistol Pete. Thereafter, he obtained his J.D. and MBA at OU. While in law school, he served

sector with Andrews Davis, where he worked primarily

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL