In an era when corporate lawyers frequently change jobs, Abel Martinez and Michael Danforth have been rocks for their employers. The two San Antonio in-house counsel have been with their respective legal departments for a combined 45 years.
Danforth, a principal lawyer at USAA for more than 18 years, and Martinez, group vice president at H-E-B, are also widely respected for giving back to the legal profession and their local community.
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announced Friday that Danforth is the recipient of the 2026 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Award for Achievement in Pro Bono and Public Service while Martinez will be honored with the Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion Award.
“These are two incredibly talented lawyers for two outstanding San Antonio businesses who are also true leaders of the legal profession,” said Brooks Igo, publisher of The Texas Lawbook.
Maritnez and Danforth are among 13 corporate lawyers who will be honored Oct. 29 at the 2026 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Awards.
“Corporate legal departments at San Antonio’s most prominent businesses achieved some extraordinary successes during the past year, and it is our privilege to showcase those achievements,” Igo said. “Over the next three weeks, The Lawbook will publish in-depth profiles of each of the award honorees. The Lawbook’s partnership with ACC San Antonio is so successful because of the organization’s deep pool of talent among its membership and The Lawbook’s expertise at telling their stories.”
The other 2026 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Award recipients are:
Legal Department of the Year — Howard Energy Partners, led by general counsel T.J. Campbell, assistant GC Bailey Murdock, senior counsel Cynthia Angell, Mexico lead counsel Fatima Lopez, commercial regulatory head Jay Allen, counsel Clint Bonn, counsel Marshall Moorhouse. Sidley Austin partner Herschel Hamner and White & Case partner Joshua Teahen nominated Howard Energy for the award.
General Counsel of the Year for a Large Legal Department (21 or more attorneys) — Frost Bank GC C.E. Rhodes, who was nominated by Jackson Walker partner Justin Shipley.
General Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department (five or fewer lawyers) — Lewis Energy Group GC Weston Sharples, who was nominated by Norton Rose Fulbright partner Jeffrey Webb.
Chief Corporate Compliance Officer of the Year — Affinius Capital deputy GC and global chief compliance officer Rachel Donnelly, who was nominated by Kirkland & Ellis partner John Kaercher.
M&A Transaction of the Year — CPS Energy deputy GC Devi Kumar-Nambiar, who was nominated by Dykema members Wilhelm Liebmann and Rodrigo Figueroa.
Rookie of the Year (in-house for three years or less) — Alterman Inc. GC Jenna Castleman
Senior Counsel of the Year for a Large Legal Department — Valero litigation chief Alex Miller, who was nominated by Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing partner Todd Mensing, with assists from Dowd Bennett partner Jim Bennett and Jones Walker partner Parker Kilgore.
Senior Counsel of the Year for a Midsized Legal Department (six to 20 attorneys) — Frost Bank senior associate corporate counsel Nick Munro, who was nominated by Dykema senior counsel Jake Vollebregt.
Senior Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department — BioBridge Global deputy GC Brenna Nava, who was nominated by BioBridge GC Richey Wyatt, a Lifetime Achievement Award honoree at last year’s Corporate Counsel Awards program.
ACC San Antonio and The Lawbook announced recently that Vericast deputy GC Shelayne Clemmer and Jackson Walker partner Robert Soza Jr. are the recipients of the prestigious 2026 C. Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life and Leadership Award.
The Cusenbary Award honors one in-house lawyer or legal department and one private lawyer or law firm that exemplify exceptional ethical behavior and leadership in the practice of law. It is one of the most coveted honors in the San Antonio legal community.
For more information about the 2026 San Antonio Corporate Counsel Awards, contact Brooks Igo at brooks.igo@texaslawbook.net.