In this edition of P.S., Haynes Boone associate Sean Lewis was recently recognized for more than 400 hours of pro bono service last year, including his trial representation of a minister and gospel singer who won a $973,000 jury verdict in a fraud lawsuit against a longtime acquaintance and former business partner. The Texas Lawbook previously profiled Lewis and his Haynes Boone colleagues on the case.
Attorneys Serving the Community is celebrating a record-setting fundraising year, generating $489,486.65 in net proceeds for Shared Housing Center. At its annual luncheon, the organization recognized several supporters, including Hannah Luke, who received its Most Valuable New Member Award, and Munsch Hardt, which received its Friend of the Community Award.
Plus, several prominent lawyers have joined the board of directors of the Wesley Community Center, and lawyers and professionals from Sidley Austin and Goldman Sachs teamed up to support The Stewpot.
Ruth Mendez and Susanna Rychlak Join Wesley Community Center Board
Wesley Community Center in Houston recently welcomed two attorneys to its board of directors and elevated an existing board member to serve as chair.
Ruth Mendez, Head of Legal at Shell Mexico, and Susanna Rychlak, a partner at Yetter Coleman, have joined the board of the social services nonprofit, which provides programs focused on early childhood education, workforce development, family support and other community services.
Additionally, longtime board member Luke Gilman, founder and managing member of Flywheel Law, has been named board chair.
Mendez shared in a LinkedIn post that Wesley holds a special place in her heart because her husband participated in the organization’s early childhood program as a child.
“Being able to give back to an organization that has touched my family and continues to transform lives throughout Houston is truly an honor,” Mendez wrote.
Haynes Boone’s Sean Lewis Honored with Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award
A Haynes Boone associate whom The Texas Lawbook profiled last year for helping secure a $973,000 verdict in his first trial — a pro bono fraud case — has been honored with the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers 2026 Pro Bono Service Award.
Sean Lewis, an associate in the firm’s litigation and trials practice group, was recognized July 16 during the DAYL Wine Tasting for completing more than 400 hours of pro bono work in 2025
“In my brief remarks, I reflected on the importance of pro bono service and how each hour we commit to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us have access to legal representation will, in the aggregate, continue to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice,” Lewis wrote in a LinkedIn post.
Lewis told The Lawbook last year that he knew from an early age he wanted to become a lawyer. His interest in history and politics — combined with the fact that many of the public servants he admired held law degrees — inspired him to attend Texas Tech University School of Law. He joined Haynes Boone in its Dallas office in 2022.
Last year, Lewis and former Haynes Boone associate Ashley Koos secured the $973,000 jury verdict in Houston on behalf of a gospel singer and minister who alleged that a longtime acquaintance and former business partner defrauded him into investing more than $300,000 in a compounding pharmacy business, costing him his life savings.
Attorneys Serving the Community Raises Record-Setting Net Revenue for Shared Housing Center
Dallas-based Attorneys Serving the Community announced this week that its latest fundraising year generated a record-setting $489,486.65 in net proceeds for Shared Housing Center.
The fundraising total was due “to the hard work and generosity of ASC’s members and the legal community in Dallas, as well as Shared Housing Center’s efforts, Board, and supporters,” said Debrán O’Neil, ASC lead chair and partner at Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal.
“It was an amazing partnership between ASC and SHC that is going to make a huge impact on the Dallas community and the clients SHC serves,” O’Neil said.
ASC, a volunteer organization made up of women lawyers, judges and law students, selects a nonprofit beneficiary each year to receive proceeds from its events, membership dues and corporate sponsorships. Operating under a unique model, ASC is not a standalone nonprofit and does not maintain its own bank account, allowing every dollar raised to go directed to its selected beneficiary.
The organization’s annual luncheon generated $277,554.50 in net proceeds. Donations made on the day of the luncheon totaled $91,056.15, including a $40,000 matching gift in honor of Maria Machado, who retired as Shared Housing Center’s CEO after 40 years.
During its June 5 luncheon, ASC also recognized several supporters, presenting its Most Valuable New Member Award to Hannah Luke, a litigation associate at Hilgers, and its Friend of the Community Award to Munsch Hardt.
Since joining ASC in 2024, Luke has taken on leadership roles and become active on the organization’s silent auction and charity selection committees.
“Hannah’s positivity, reliability, and willingness to step in wherever needed have made her an invaluable part of ASC in a remarkably short time,” O’Neil said.
ASC recognized Munsch Hardt for hosting the organization’s annual silent auction for the past three years, a partnership that has helped reduce event expenses and increase the amount of funding available for ASC’s beneficiaries. The firm’s attorneys and staff have also consistently contributed their time, effort and creativity to support the organization’s efforts.
“Munsch Hardt doesn’t simply host our event — they welcome us in, cheer us on, and take genuine pride in helping ASC succeed. Their team shows up with positivity, flexibility and a true sense of community, making what could be a stressful day feel seamless. By partnering with Munsch Hardt, ASC knows it will be spending time in a space filled with people who care deeply about giving back,” O’Neil said.
Claire Carroll, a Munsch shareholder and co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Group, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
“It has been a privilege to support ASC and host its annual silent auction,” Carroll said. “Community involvement is an important part of the firm’s culture, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support ASC’s mission and the meaningful work it does in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.”
Sidley, Goldman Sachs Link Arms to Support The Stewpot
Sidley Austin and Goldman Sachs recently joined forces to support The Stewpot, a Dallas nonprofit that pairs subsidized housing assistance with case management and support services.
Earlier this month, lawyers and professionals from the two organizations volunteered together to assemble 500 personal care kits for The Stewpot’s clients.
The service project was part of Sidley’s Corporate Responsibility Program, which encourages its lawyers and professionals to volunteer with local nonprofits that address community needs.