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The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

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Krista Torralva

Krista Torralva covers pro bono, public service, and diversity for the Texas Lawbook Foundation and The Texas Lawbook. Previously, she covered courts for The Dallas Morning News. Krista has spent the bulk of her decade-plus-long career covering criminal courts in Texas and Florida. Her reporting includes the high profile federal terrorism trial against the Pulse nightclub shooter’s widow in Orlando, which ended in a rare acquittal. Her civil courts coverage has included the long-winding Texas voter ID lawsuit, legal battles over local Covid-19 mandates and school board disputes. Krista's work has been recognized by the State Bar of Texas' Gavel Awards, the Texas Association Press Managing Editors, the National Headliner Awards program and various local chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The daughter of a Naval officer, Krista grew up traveling every few years but calls Corpus Christi home and talks about the Texas Gulf Coast every chance she gets. She lives in Dallas’ North Oak Cliff with her husband, Fares Sabawi.

Krista graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington.

‘Whatever It Takes’: San Antonio Lawyer Joins Frontline Flood Recovery in His Hometown

After the devastating flood struck the Texas Hill Country over the 4th of July, Dykema associate Matt Maupin and his wife, Katie, returned to their hometown of Kerrville to aid in recovery efforts. Despite the physical and emotional toll, Maupin described the experience as the most fulfilling work of his life.  

July 14, 2025 Krista Torralva

P.S. — New State Bar President Launches Campaign to Fund Legal Aid for Low-Income Texans 

When speaking to fellow lawyers, Santos Vargas often asks them a question to illustrate a point. “How many of you could hire yourselves for a protracted legal dispute?” The point is that many people don’t have the financial means to hire a lawyer when faced with a legal problem, which is why the newly minted State Bar of Texas president is on a campaign to raise money for low-income Texans to access legal services. Vargas aims to raise $300,000, with July donations supporting victims of the recent Texas Hill Country flood. 

July 11, 2025 Krista Torralva

Texas Lawyers Mobilize to Support Flood Victims

In the wake of devastating floods in the Texas Hill Country that claimed more than 100 lives, lawyers stand at the ready to help. The State Bar of Texas and Texas RioGrande Legal Aid are assessing legal needs that will arise in the days following the floods, and they encourage lawyers to sign up to volunteer or donate financial aid to these trusted resources. Also on Tuesday, the Texas Supreme Court issued an emergency order stating that flooding may impact court proceedings and that delays or modifications should be made “where reasonably necessary.”

July 8, 2025 Krista Torralva

P.S. — Pro Bono Work Honored at State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting

Advancing access to justice in rural Texas, advocating for domestic violence survivors and ensuring Spanish speakers aren’t left out are among the pro bono initiatives for which lawyers and a judge were honored during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in San Antonio.  

July 4, 2025 Krista Torralva

P.S. — Litigation Boutique Partner, Once a Teen Advocate for the Texas Dream Act, Now Fights to Save it in Court 

He was once a Texas student with no more than a visa to be in the U.S. who coincidentally helped pass landmark tuition law. Now, Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann partner Andrés Correa is at the forefront of a legal battle to stop its repeal following a swift federal court ruling.

June 27, 2025 Krista Torralva

P.S. — Attorneys Serving the Community Raises More Than $586K for POETIC, Voting Rights Act Commemorated

In this edition of P.S., Attorneys Serving the Community announced it raised more than $586K for POETIC, a nonprofit helping youth survivors of exploitation, with over $60,000 coming from its sold-out annual luncheon featuring Elizabeth Smart. Meanwhile, the Dallas Bar Association and J.L. Turner Legal Association are preparing to honor the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act with a special program featuring civil rights leaders and legal experts.

June 20, 2025 Krista Torralva

P.S. — J.L. Turner Legal Association Hosts Sold-Out Inaugural Juneteenth Celebration in Dallas

In this edition of P.S., we highlight the success of the J.L. Turner Legal Association’s first official Juneteenth Celebration, held at the Dallas African American Museum. The Dallas African American bar association, named for one of the city’s first Black lawyers, shared with The Texas Lawbook why it was compelled to emphasize the importance of Juneteenth in an event that was open to people of all professions and not just the legal community. Meanwhile, the State Bar of Texas is kicking off its annual meeting on June 19 amid controversy over its decision to disinvite the NAACP president from speaking at its Bar Leaders Recognition Luncheon. Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, Wallace B. Jefferson, will deliver a keynote address commemorating the legal history and significance of Juneteenth. And we highlight other upcoming Juneteenth celebrations, as well.

June 13, 2025 Krista Torralva

P.S. — Raising the Bar: Lawyers Fight Food Insecurity, Support Veterans and More 

In this week’s P.S. Column, the Dallas-area legal community is recognized for raising more than $145,000 and donating nearly half a ton of food to the North Texas Food Bank through the annual Food from the Bar campaign, with top-performing firms honored at a recent awards celebration. In Houston, Bracewell and Cheniere Energy recently worked a free legal clinic at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, assisting 23 veterans with challenges such as housing disputes. Meanwhile, Kirkland & Ellis and AlixPartners have launched the first-ever Knock Out the Need blood drive to address summer shortages. Other notable updates include nonprofit board appointments, scholarship awards and Communities Foundation of Texas presenting its 2025 Vester Hughes Award to Holland & Knight’s David Rosenberg. 

June 6, 2025 Krista Torralva

New UT Law Grads Make Courtroom Debut in Federal Appeals Arguments

In their career debuts, two newly minted University of Texas law school graduates and incoming Kirkland & Ellis associates faced pointed judicial questioning from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a prison conditions case. Gabrielle Olubanke Howells and Lizeth Badillo Garcia spoke with The Texas Lawbook about rising to the rare occasion of presenting oral arguments in a federal appeals case before even taking the bar exam. 

June 5, 2025 Krista Torralva

Before Bar Admission, UT Law Grads and Incoming Kirkland Associates Head to Fifth Circuit for Pro Bono Oral Argument

They haven’t taken the bar exam yet, but on Thursday, two newly minted University of Texas School of Law graduates and incoming Kirkland & Ellis associates will argue before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The rare opportunity is the result of a collaboration spearheaded by Kirkland Partner Zack Ewing, who was inspired by the graduates to emulate a program afforded to him while a student at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

June 4, 2025 Krista Torralva

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Features

  • P.S. — New State Bar President Launches Campaign to Fund Legal Aid for Low-Income Texans  - When speaking to fellow lawyers, Santos Vargas often asks them a question to illustrate a point. “How many of you could hire yourselves for a protracted legal dispute?” The point is that many people don’t have the financial means to hire a lawyer when faced with a legal problem, which is why the newly minted State Bar of Texas president is on a campaign to raise money for low-income Texans to access legal services. Vargas aims to raise $300,000, with July donations supporting victims of the recent Texas Hill Country flood.  July 11, 2025Krista Torralva

GCs, Lawyers & Firms

  • Beck Redden Bolsters Appellate Group With Hire From Troutman Pepper Locke - Beck Redden announced this week the hiring of Chris Dove, who focuses on commercial litigation in the energy, financial services and maritime sectors. He had spent more than two decades practicing at Troutman Pepper Locke and Locke Lord.
  • McGuireWoods Names Tyler VanHoutan as New Houston Office Managing Partner
  • Former Texas Solicitor Aaron Nielson: ‘Kirkland is the Perfect Place for Me’
  • Reed Smith Beefs Up Global Regulatory Enforcement Group, Hires V&E Partner 
  • Rey Anaya Valencia Begins Deanship at South Texas College of Law Houston
  • Willkie Adds Blake Winburne to its Houston Office
  • Hines CLO Joins Greenberg Traurig in Houston
  • Thomas Verity Vaults to Norton Rose Fulbright
  • Veteran Houston Partner Jumps from Latham to Simpson
  • Skadden Hires Two M&A Partners from White & Case
More GCs, Lawyers & Firms

Lawyers in the News

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Barry Barnett
Wes Bearden
Emily Westridge Black
Michael Burke
Alicia Campbell
John Campbell
Madeleine Carpenter
Alexander Clark
Dawn Pittman Collins
Richard Finneran
Elizabeth Freeman
David Gail
Elizabeth Gibson
David Jones
Frank Lopez
Abbe Lowell
Neal Manne
Billy Marsh
Tom Melsheimer
Tasha Moser
Justin Nelson
Reed O'Connor
Kate Pennartz
John “J.” Pieratt
Danielle Reyes
Christopher Richardson
Randy Sorrels
Harry Susman
Larry Vincent
Victor Vital
Brent Walker
Matt Weybrecht
Melody Wilkinson
Alex Wolens

Firms in the News

Hover right to show full list

A&O Shearman
Bryan Cave
Cozen O'Connor
Haynes Boone
Holland & Knight
Jackson Walker
King & Spalding
Kirkland & Ellis
Law Office of Liz Freeman
Paul Hastings
Porter Hedges
Sorrels Law
Susman Godfrey
Toyota
Troutman Pepper Locke
Willkie
Vinson & Elkins
Weil
Winston & Strawn

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