BENCKENSTEIN & OXFORD - Key Persons

Alan Sampson graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1971 and was licensed to practice law in Texas the same year. A native of Beaumont, Mr. Sampson received a B.B.A. with honors from Lamar University in 1968. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Zeta Beta Tau. He has practiced with Benckenstein & Oxford, L.L.P. since 1974. Mr. Sampson is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits; the U.S. District Courts of the Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas and all Texas state courts. He is a member of the Jefferson County Bar Association (Treasurer 1978-79, Board of Directors 2002-2004) and the American Bar Association; member and former district director Bar Association for the Eastern District of Texas; State Bar of Texas; Texas Bar Foundation; College of the State Bar of Texas; Bar Association for the Fifth Circuit of the United States; Texas Association of Defense Counsel; Maritime Law Association of the United States; Southeastern Admiralty Institute and Transportation Lawyers Association. Mr. Sampson is active in many maritime related organizations including the Sabine-Neches Waterway Safety Council; Propeller Club of the United States (Port of the Sabine Chapter); Nautical Institute; Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association and former Director (1992-1998), Beaumont International Seafarers Center. He is active in the service of the community as a member and Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Club of Beaumont and Rotary International; Executive Board member (since 1997), Council Advancement Committee chairperson (1999-2005), Executive Committee (2004-2007) and President (2006 & 2007) of Three Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America, and recipient of Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to youth; sponsor and volunteer lawyer coach for West Brook High School Mock Trial Team 1999-2007; sponsor Beaumont Community Players Association (Theatre); Neches River Festival, Knight of the Neches; former Board member Beaumont Mental Health (MHMR) Association; Cemeteries Committee chairperson (1978 to present) and past member Board of Trustees Congregation Temple Emanuel.

Frances Blair Bethea graduated from Baylor University School of Law and was licensed to practice in Texas in 1980. She attended Baylor University and the College of William and Mary, graduating from Baylor University in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Mrs. Bethea joined Benckenstein & Oxford, L.L.P. in 1986. She has been Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1989. She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a member of the State Bar of Texas, Real Property, Probate and Trust law section, Texas Academy of Probate and Trust Lawyers, the Jefferson and Hardin County Bar Associations, American Bar Association, College of the State Bar. In addition to all facets of estate planning, probate and estate administration, her practice includes commercial transactions, and formation of business entities, not for profit organizations, oil and gas matters and representation of governmental entities. Mrs. Bethea has also served on the boards and as an officer of a number of organizations including the Beaumont Heritage Society, Symphony of Southeast Texas, the Symphony League of Beaumont, the Texas Gulf Historical Society and the Kountze Historical and Cultural Preservation District.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner
• Captain and Judge Advocate for United States Air Force
• General Counsel for Both the Lower Neches Valley Authority

Hubert Oxford, IV graduated from Texas Wesleyan School of Law and was licensed to practice law in Texas in 1999. After graduating from Texas Christian University in 1993 with a Bachelors of Business Administration, Mr. Oxford served as an aide for Congressman Jack Brooks in Washington D.C., and later worked in Austin as the legislative liaison for the office of the Comptroller of the State of Texas under the Honorable John Sharp before attending law school. Prior to joining Benckenstein & Oxford, L.L.P. in June of 2000, Mr. Oxford worked for the Jefferson County District Attorney's office where he tried misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Mr. Oxford now focuses his practice on defending corporations in toxic tort cases and personal injury and premise liability cases. He is the co-author of an article "Floating' Forum Selection and Choice of Law Clauses" published in the South Texas Law Review. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, the Jefferson County Bar Association, the Jefferson County Young Lawyer's Association and is licensed to practice in all Texas State Courts, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas, and the United States Supreme Court. He has served on the boards of a number of charities including 2011-0112 President of the board of the Anayat House, Beaumont Heritage Society, Boy Scouts of America Advisory Board Member, S. Elizabeth's Advisory Board Member, Symphony of Southeast Texas Board Member and currently serves on the Civil Service Commission for the City of Beaumont. Mr. Oxford joined the firm in 1967 after serving as Captain and Judge Advocate for United States Air Force (1963-1966), a Briefing Clerk for the late Judge Joe J. Fisher of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas (1966), and as an Assistant District Attorney for Jefferson County, Texas (1967). Mr. Oxford graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Texas A&M University in 1960 and obtained his law degree from the University of Texas, School of Law in 1963 where he served as the Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review from 1962-1963. Since 1975, Mr. Oxford has served as the managing partner of the firm. Mr. Oxford has practiced law in a number of fields, including: Admiralty & Maritime Law; Litigation & Appeals; Environmental Law; Municipal Corporations; Personal Injury - Defense; Personal Injury - Plaintiff; and Toxic Torts. Mr. Oxford has also been specialized/certified in Civil Trial Law, National Board of Trial Advocacy; Civil Trial Law, State Bar of Texas; Personal Injury, State Bar of Texas; and Proctor in Admiralty, Maritime Law Association of the United States. Additionally, Mr. Oxford is admitted to practice law in Texas (1963), Oklahoma (1996), Wyoming (1996), Montana (1996), Colorado (1997), U. S. Supreme Court (1975), District of Columbia (1977), U. S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit (1967), U. S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit (1967), U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas (1966), U. S. District Court Southern District of Texas (1966), U. S. District Court Northern District of Texas (1994), U. S. District Court Western District of Texas (1994), U. S. District Court District of Wyoming (1996), U.S. District Court Western District of Oklahoma, U. S. Tax Court, and U. S. Patent and Trademark Office, and U. S. Court of Federal Claims (1975). In addition to his admissions to practice before a number of courts in the United States, Mr. Oxford has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in the United States, Outstanding Young Lawyer, Jefferson County Bar Association (1972, President 1987-1988), Sustaining Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, Sustaining Fellow, American Bar Association, Listed in Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Listed in Who's Who in American Law, Listed in Who's Who in Practicing Attorneys, Listed in Who's Who in Finance & Industry, and Listed in Who's Who in Beaumont. Mr. Oxford currently serves as general counsel for both the Lower Neches Valley Authority (1976) and the Jefferson County Waterway and Navigation District (1985). Previously, he served on Texas Air Control Board, Member (1984-1989), Lamar University System, Past General Counsel, Lamar University System, Regent (1978-1984), United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, United States Commissioner (1968-1970), Clean Air Study Committee, Texas 60th Legislature, Chairman (1985-1986), Texas Government Reorganization Committee, Texas 70th Legislature (member 1987-1988), Board of Directors State Bar of Texas and Grievance Committee (1995-1996), Rules Committee Civil Justice Reform Act (1991), Advisory Committee for Eastern District of Texas (1991-1995), Member, Texas Oil Spill Commission (1992-1998), and Member, Texas Board of Registration for Professional Engineers (1994-2000). Lastly, Mr. Oxford has had a varied legal experience. Mr. Oxford has lead counsel for defendants in many complex cases and has served as Co-class counsel in a number of class action cases. For a list of Mr. Oxford's reported cases, please click here.

Job Titles:

• Member of the American Bar Association

Josh Heinz is a 2005 graduate of South Texas College of Law and was licensed to practice law in Texas in May, 2006. Prior to law school, Josh attended Lamar University and graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Business Administration-Finance. Mr. Heinz is a member of the American Bar Association, the Jefferson County Bar Association, the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, and the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Young Lawyer's Association. He is admitted to practice before all Texas State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. His practice focuses mainly on product's liability defense, commercial law, and personal injury and premise liability claims.