Before the program began, attendees of the Texas Access to Justice Commission’s Champions of Justice Gala in Austin buzzed about whether this year’s fundraising total would surpass last year’s record-shattering haul.
Last year, under co-chairs AT&T General Counsel David McAtee and Halliburton Chief Legal Officer Van Beckwith, the event raised an impressive $1,034,918 — up from $565,850 the previous year.
This year’s co-chairs, Toyota Motor North America Chief Legal Officer Sandra Phillips and CenterPoint Energy General Counsel Monica Karuturi, struck a confident tone as they opened the evening.
“David, Van, you’re going down tonight,” Phillips said from the stage.
By Thursday night’s end, the gala raised a grand total of $1,055,172.26
Beckwith was the first to spring up from his seat in applause when Phillips announced the previous record was broken.
“I want to stand here and humbly say ‘thank you,’” Phillips said. “Thank you for reaching deep down to support our veterans. It matters so much.”
The gala, raising funds for Texas Access to Justice and military veterans, featured filmmaker and actor Steven Grayhm, whose recent movie Sheepdog follows a U.S. Army combat veteran court-ordered to undergo trauma therapy. Grayhm said the film was inspired by first-hand testimonials he collected from veterans across the country over a 15-year period and serves as his “thank you to the veteran community.”
“When enough people show up for each other, when enough people use what they have to serve somebody else, that’s when lives are changed,” Grayhm said. “That’s when justice becomes real, and that’s when hope is restored. … Thank you for your gift of time and for your generosity and helping and supporting our veterans. Together, we can continue to impact and save lives.”
Texas lawyers were also honored for their contributions to access to justice.
Jessie G. Campbell, supervising attorney at Lonestar Legal Aid, was honored with the James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award “for her steadfast commitment to justice, her transformative leadership, and her profound dedication to serving the most vulnerable among us.”
Laura Burstein, who recently moved from assistant dean at SMU Dedman School of Law to O’Melveny & Myers, was presented with the Harry M. Reasoner Justice for All Award. The selection committee said she has built a “lasting legacy” defined by “opportunity, service, and justice for all.” The Lawbook recently interviewed Burstein about her career move to the firm’s pro bono counsel in Texas.
Norton Rose Fulbright Houston partner Reagan M. Brown was recognized with a Special Recognition for Outstanding Service in Support of Access to Justice for “exceptional dedication and outstanding service in educating and mentoring young Texas attorneys.”
Top sponsors of the event were the State Bar of Texas, CenterPoint Energy, King & Spalding, AT&T, BakerHostetler, Greenberg Traurig, Halliburton, H-E-B, Latham & Watkins, McKool Smith, Moody Foundation, Nelson Mullins, Toyota, Troutman Pepper Locke and Vinson & Elkins.
