Check out our October newsletter!
OCTOBER 2021
4315 W. Lovers Lane, Suite A, Dallas, TX 75209 | 1900 W. Illinois Avenue, Suite 101, Midland, TX 79701 www.buttonlawfirm.com | 214-888-2216 HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
I ESCAPED TO THE MOUNTAINS!
3 Things I Learned From My Utah Vacation
This summer, I did something a little different than usual: I took my very first long vacation away from BLF since opening the firm almost seven years ago. I was a little nervous about leaving for a full week, but you know what? The trip was awesome . It all started when my sister and her husband, Dom, invited me to join them on their annual outdoorsy vacation. Then, my parents heard I was going, and they jumped on board, too! We rented a house that was right up in the mountains in Park City, Utah, and hiked pretty much every day. The weather was beautiful (just 60–80 degrees F in August), and it was a refreshing break from the Texas humidity. Dom and I tried fishing in the Alpine lakes we hiked to but didn’t have any luck, so we headed down to the Provo River one day to fly fish for trout. Neither of us had thought to rent waders, so we probably looked like a couple of goofballs trying to catch trout in our shorts! Still, we didn’t let the sideways looks stop us. Luckily, we caught a guided fishing trip our last day and all caught a bunch of trout — we had a blast! When my family and I weren’t hiking or fishing, we spent time just relaxing, eating great meals at local restaurants, and exploring the historic part of Park City. Between all of that fun, I even learned a few things about myself. The first thing I learned was that when I’m not in the office, I have a lot more time and space to think. While I was out on the river, hiking through the mountains, and sitting on the patio sipping coffee and watching the sun come up, my brain was busy working on my vision for BLF. I had the space to work through big problems, get creative, and project far into the future. It was good for me, and when I got back, it was good for the team. Speaking of the team, the second thing I learned was that they can get along just fine without me! That was a little bit humbling, but it was exciting, too. Thanks to the way our systems have been set up — and
especially to Ashley’s work with PracticePanther — everyone here feels confident and empowered in their roles. Not only did they do great work while I was away, but their dedication also allowed me to dive back in and get up to speed more quickly when I got home. The final thing I learned was that disengaging for a while makes me a better lawyer, leader, and business owner. I came back from Utah feeling sharp and ready to work. Because I was well-rested, I jumped out of bed the second my alarm went off! There was a clear improvement in my decision-making and focus, too. Honestly, that was tough to accept. I thought I was doing my team and clients a service by never taking a vacation over the last six years. But the truth is that getting away periodically from now on will allow me to be an even better lawyer when I’m here. Even better, it means I can represent my clients more effectively and catch more fish. That sounds like a win-win to me!
–Russell Button
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THE BLF FAMILY IS GROWING UP 3 MAJOR MILESTONE WE’RE CELEBRATING THIS FALL
3. Rosies’ daughter, Evelyn, kicked off her senior year of high school. When Rosie joined BLF, Evelyn was just a high school freshman. We’ve watched her grow up, learn to drive, and get her first car. Now, she’s practically an
“Family” is a broad term here at BLF. It includes our team, their families, our referral partners, and, of course, our past and present clients. These folks’ victories are our victories, and we always celebrate them! The more parties the merrier. This month, we actually have three major milestones to highlight among the youngest and sweetest members of the BLF family. 1. Russell’s niece, Aria, turns 1 year old this month! Can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday
there in the hospital when she was born on Oct. 18, 2020, and he helped give Aria her first bath. It’s a special memory he’ll never forget, and we’re looking forward to celebrating many more of Aria’s birthdays!
adult! We can’t wait to watch her excel in her last year of high school and choose a life path. Aria, Harley, and Evelyn are part of what we think of as the “next generation” of our BLF family. It’s so cool to see them grow up! Who knows — maybe in a decade or two, one or more of these amazing young women will be practicing law just like their BLF role models.
2. Cristina’s daughter,
Harley, started first grade this fall . Going to “real” school for the first time is a huge milestone for Harley, her mom Cristina,
and her aunt Ashley! Cristina and Ashley talk about Harley in the office all the time, and we love hearing their stories. We’re so blessed that Cristina chose to move her family here to Houston. Harley
that Russell wrote about Aria’s arrival in our December 2020 newsletter. He had the opportunity to be
Thinking about that future is beyond exciting. We wish Evelyn, Harley, and little Aria all the best of luck with their dreams!
Russell and Aria
MEET FRISCO’S NEWEST LAW FIRM! LGH Estate Law Is Our Go-To for Guardianship and Disability Planning
This month, we’re toasting a big win for another member of our firm family: former BLF client and fellow attorney Adriane Grace! She helped found a brand-new law firm that opened its doors in Frisco this June. The firm is called Loveland | Grace | Hurley, PLLC. Adriane and her partners, Kimberly Loveland and Cynthia Hurley, specialize in estate planning, probate and estate
administration, asset protection, trust services and administration, business planning, and guardianship and disability planning. Adriane focuses on helping families with what she calls “complex dynamics.” These include blended families and those with beneficiaries who have disabilities, special needs, or addiction issues. “These families need to have a better plan about how they are going to provide for that person without setting them up for failure or the possibility of being exploited by third parties,” she says. Adriane also advises families on applying for Social Security Disability and other public benefit programs. Her background as a Social Security appellate attorney gives her unique insight into Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid that’s unmatched in our state. She knows who is eligible, how to become eligible, and how to ensure that a disabled
child can inherit assets while still receiving government assistance and income. This is a tricky field that a lot of our BLF clients and their families have to navigate after life- changing injuries. Fortunately, Adriane has a big heart that matches her skills. “My favorite part of my job is teaching people and educating them about their legal rights,” she says. “They’re so stressed as it is, tending to the disabled individual’s day-to-day needs, and it’s exhausting and overwhelming when they have to apply for a benefit program like Social Security Disability. The government is a big bureaucracy! I like helping them understand the rules and how to navigate them to get the most out of the program they need to help their disabled loved one.” We’re so proud of Adriane’s accomplishment! To learn more about her new firm, visit LGHEstateLaw.com.
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When Ashley first joined our team at The Button Law Firm, one thing she and Russell bonded over was their shared love of reading. LOVE TO READ? Check Out the Latest From the BLF Book Club!
firm. After reading those, they move on to choosing their own books. We all read two or three inspiring nonfiction books each year, then Russell and Ashley host a “Book Report Day” where we meet as a team to share takeaways from what we read and how we can apply them to better serve our clients. “I think talking about the wisdom from the books helps us think about it, digest it, and apply it,” Russell says. “Reading has really helped me and Ashley get further faster and take on new, complex challenges.” If you’re looking for a new read for National Book Month this October, here are just a few recent BLF Book Club finds to check out!
“We both read all the time, so we were always talking about books, rereading them, and recommending them to each other,” Russell recalls.
Then he and Ashley brought our litigation paralegal, Rosie, in on their book powwows. Before long, they realized reading and discussing business books was in line with two of BLF’s core values: “Education” and “Believe in Better.” With that in mind, they opened up their discussions to the rest of the team, and the BLF Book Club was born!
“I was really excited to have everyone be a part of the learning process and hopefully get inspired
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Persuasion: Convincing Others When Facts Don’t Seem to Matter by Lee Hartley Carter
• No B.S. Direct Marketing by Dan Kennedy (This whole series is great.) • Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin • Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer’s Guide to Proving Liability by Rick Friedman and Patrick Malone • The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie CLIENT REVIEW “Everyone was always very nice and helpful, they worked with me every step of the way, and they were able to help me greatly. Russell is a very kind man, and his whole staff is wonderful. I always felt heard and all I can say is that The Button Law Firm was definitely the right choice to make.”
to push themselves and grow within their roles,” Russell says.
Today, every new hire at BLF gets a list
of recommended books tailored to their specific job in the
BLF HIGHLIGHT REEL
Russell and the family at their annual dove hunt on the Brazos River
Cinthia P.
Fred in his BLF Shades
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4315 W. Lovers Lane, Suite A Dallas, Texas 75209
www.buttonlawfirm.com | 214-888-2216
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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3 Things Russell Learned From His Utah Vacation
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BLF Celebrates 3 Family Milestones Meet Frisco’s Newest Law Firm! Fresh Reads From the BLF Book Club BLF Highlight Reel
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Changing Priorities — Put Safety First
CHANGING PRIORITIES — PUT SAFETY FIRST
BLF and Snellings Injury Law Collaborate to Help a Hurt Client
Do you know what’s better than one all-star team of lawyers? Two all-star teams. That’s what it took recently for us to resolve a tough personal injury case for a client who we’ll call Bethany. Bethany was attacked at her apartment complex while attempting to check her mail. She tried to escape the thief, but she ended up tangled in her purse. The attacker dragged her by her bag for 20 feet, pulling her body down steps and across a parking lot. The incident was traumatizing for Bethany and left her with a broken hip and a torn rotator cuff. She needed extensive surgery and had to restructure her life after the attack. That included giving up the four things that brought her the most joy: golfing, bowling, traveling, and helping families through her work. Even brushing her hair and using the restroom is now difficult. Crime was on the rise in the area where Bethany lived. Her apartment complex was well aware of the danger, but management took no steps to keep Bethany and her fellow
residents safe. There were no security cameras or fences around the complex, the staff was untrained, and the
community’s safety procedures were unclear. As soon as we took Bethany’s case, we knew that these management failures were to blame for her injuries.
To get Bethany the best possible outcome, Scott Snellings brought us in. Scott is a great friend of ours and brilliant litigator who runs a personal injury firm in Frisco. We have collaborated with Scott and his team on several cases. Working together, we were able to secure Bethany the compensation she deserved to cover her medical bills, future care needs, and help her build a new life after her trauma. It was a privilege to work with Scott and to represent someone as kind and deserving as Bethany. We hope that going forward, she lives a long, happy, and safe life!
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