Hueston’s Haul; Thank You, Ladies; Star Power for Hoag

Put local lawyer John Hueston of Irell & Manella somewhere around the front of the line on Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s recent agreement to pay $5.15 billion to settle claims of 85 years’ worth of environmental damage caused across the U.S. by its Kerr-McGee subsidiary. Hueston, who works out of the firm’s offices in Newport Beach and L.A., represented numerous states, municipalities, the Navajo Nation and some individuals with claims. He told the Daily Journal that he was the lead lawyer at trial and the negotiating table … Special thanks to Twyla Reed Martin, Eve Kornyei Ruffatto, Harriet Sandhu, Laurie Rodnick, Adrienne Brandes, Diana Martin, and Joyce Tucker—all sponsors of the 15th annual Women in Focus luncheon and panel at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman U on April 11. That’s when the Insider learned about the Bechdel Test, which more than half of the Best Picture nominees at this year’s Oscars failed. Google it for an epiphany … Jamie Lee Curtis, who undoubtedly knows something about the Bechdel Test, will keynote Circle 1000’s 27th Annual Founders’ Celebration Brunch on Monday, April 28, at Island Hotel. Circle 1000 has raised more than $14 million for the Hoag Family Cancer Institute since 1987. Contact Jennifer Garner at Jennifer.Garner@hoag.org for more info … Congratulations to OCer-once-or-twice-removed Anne Hidalgo, who recently became the first female elected mayor of Paris. Hidalgo, who scored the win despite a national tide running against her Socialist Party, mentioned to Women’s Wear Daily during the campaign that she has a sister who lives and owns a business in Newport Beach … Ben Thornhill, managing director of Irvine-based First Foundation Advisors, has been rounding up a roster of high net-worth clients for an invite-only event at Newport Sports Museum on investing in memorabilia worn or used in actual games. It’s an asset class the financial planner knows well. “When I got introduced to game-used material, I was hooked,” said the Ohio native, who has bats used by every player on the 1976 Cincinnati Reds—aka the Big Red Machine, not to mention World Series champs—among his personal collection. First Foundation is joining Dana Point-based SCP Auctions at the May 7 event to educate interested buyers about top-shelf memorabilia as an investment option in advance of a series of auctions of decades of collectibles set for sale by OC resident and Newport Sports Museum President John Hamilton … Suggestion for Santa Ana: Mike Stockstill says Da Vinci Street is the right moniker for the stretch of Main Street in Santa Ana that includes the Orange County School of the Arts, Bowers’ Kidseum, Wooden Floor, Bowers Museum proper and Discovery Science Center. “He covers it all—science, arts, intelligence,” Stockstill says … The one that got away: David Philipps’ series of articles on U.S. soldiers who were being discharged without benefits ran in the Colorado Springs Gazette in May 2013, about six months after Orange County Register owner Freedom Communications sold the daily to Philip Anschutz. The series was named a Pulitzer Prize winner last week, just two days before Freedom launched its Los Angeles Register … Personal to Sam Ingardia: Molte grazie, and you are correct—Segesta is besta for olive oil.