Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Also in this edition of P.S., a University of Houston Law Center professor and Phillips 66 General Counsel Vanessa Allen Sutherland earn prestigious recognitions.
In this edition of P.S., civil rights organization LatinoJustice PRLDEF has honored Sidley Austin Management Committee Chair Yvette Ostolaza with a 2026 “Latina Trailblazer” award; representing a former Houston police officer on a pro bono basis, Rusty Hardin and John MacVane secured a unanimous victory before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a lawsuit stemming from the high-profile 2019 Harding Street raid; and Akin Gump recently announced the winners of its annual firmwide Bruce McLean Pro Bono Awards.
In this edition of P.S., Gray Reed Managing Partner Kyle Sanders opens up about his three bouts with blood cancer in an effort to fundraise for blood cancer research, patient services and advocacy. The nonprofit Blood Cancer United has named Sanders a candidate for its Visionary of the Year.
Last week, The Texas Lawbook had the honor of co-hosting the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards with the Association of Corporate Counsel DFW Chapter. The words shared by the four honorees in the Diversity and Inclusion and Pro Bono and Public Service categories are still resonating with us and are well worth sharing with readers in this column.
In this edition of P.S., we also report that Dallas-based Attorneys Serving the Community held a record-breaking fundraising event for Shared Housing Center and a Paul Hastings Texas partner has joined the advisory board of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law.
In this edition of P.S., we report that San Antonio native Cristina M. Rodríguez is set to make history as the first Latina to lead Yale Law School when she assumes the deanship on Feb. 1. Also, the San Antonio Legal Services Association has announced that Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby will serve as the keynote speaker at its premier fundraising event in April. And retired U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn, a trailblazer and mentor to many, will be honored with the Charles O. Galvin Award for Extraordinary Service as part of SMU Dedman School of Law’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
In this edition of P.S., we spotlight the Dallas Bar Association’s Martin Luther King Jr. Justice Award Luncheon. During the event, Shonn Evans Brown of Heidelberg Materials North American was honored with the MLK Jr. Justice Award for her leadership, commitment to justice and service to the legal profession and broader community. We also share news that SMU Law donors met a fundraising goal set by the Stanton Foundation, which provided a $2 million endowment gift. There’re also some important dates you don’t want to miss: Attorneys Serving the Community has opened applications for its 2026–2027 beneficiary partnership, and the annual Champions of Justice Gala announced the date of its 2026 event. Last but not least, William Toles, a litigation shareholder at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, has been selected to receive the James H. “Blackie” Holmes Award from the Dallas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Holiday giving is in full swing across Texas law firms, with many stepping up to ensure kids across the state have gifts waiting for them. In Houston, the Holland & Knight office “adopted” a whopping 141 children through the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation’s drive. Boutique law firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing set a firm record by adopting 56 children among 35 volunteers. The Texas Lawbook's Krista Torralva and Elle Grinnell cover that and more in this edition of P.S.
This edition of P.S. is packed with inspirational words from Texas lawyers who are pushing pro bono and public service work forward. Take Galderma’s Devon Sharp, for example. In her acceptance remarks at the Texas General Counsel Forum Magna Stella Awards dinner, she urged fellow attorneys to meet the moment and serve their respective communities. “We are living in a world and country and state where, increasingly, those who live on the margins are being further marginalized,” she said. “The gap between privilege and need is widening and too many are being left behind.” White & Case Houston partner Taylor Pullins also offered a meaningful reminder of the personal nature of wills and estate planning for veterans in contrast to the transaction-heavy matters that dominate much of his big-law practice. And in Houston, Gibson Dunn is revolutionizing its pro bono culture with an annual tradition that pairs new associates with pro bono cases. We hope this Column leaves you inspired.
In this week’s column, Gray Reed honors the legacy of James “Jim” McGraw, a founding partner and a beloved University of Houston Law Center alumnus, through the firm’s creation of a $50,000 endowed scholarship. We also spotlight volunteers from Greenberg Traurig’s Dallas office who packed over 100,000 meals to help feed children in Haiti. Also, the Texas Access to Justice Commission has announced this year’s Deborah G. Hankinson Award winners, recognizing local bar and young lawyer organizations for their commitment to expanding access to justice. Finally, Spanish-speaking lawyers or assistants are sought for a Houston volunteer opportunity and tickets and sponsorships are still available for a Casino Night benefitting the San Antonio Legal Services Association.
In this week’s P.S. Column, we celebrate the winners of the Texas General Counsel Forum’s Magna Stella Awards, honoring in-house legal leaders for their outstanding achievements ahead of the Nov. 20 ceremony in San Antonio. We also highlight the ongoing Dallas Women Lawyers Foundation’s auction of memorabilia from Judge Barbara Lynn’s career.
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