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GCs/Corp. Legal Depts.

Connecting Continents: Megumi Ryoya Played ‘Indispensable Role’ in Exxon-Mitsubishi Hydrogen Deal

Megumi Ryoya saw her future as a corporate lawyer during her senior year of college at Waseda University.

“I met an in‑house counsel at a well‑known Japanese manufacturer who told me that formal legal training and a bar license would significantly broaden what I could do professionally,” Ryoya told The Texas Lawbook. Fifteen years later, Ryoya is senior counsel at global powerhouse Mitsubishi Corporation, where she played a critical role during the past year in developing a joint venture agreement between Mitsubishi and ExxonMobil to develop the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen project.

Citing her achievements, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Lawbook are honoring Ryoya with the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for Senior Counsel of the Year for a Midsized Legal Department. The awards recognize lawyers who have been in-house for two years or less.

Mark Curriden

Talen Energy’s GC Change is ‘Getting the Band Back Together’

When Talen Energy General Counsel John Wander told his fellow executives and corporate board earlier this year that he planned to retire, the hunt for a replacement did not take long. Next week, former Vistra Corp. Deputy GC Dan Kelly officially replaces Wander as the booming Houston energy company’s top lawyer.

Mark Curriden

‘I Only Want You’: How Steven Scheinthal Became Tilman Fertitta’s Go-To Lawyer

Steven Scheinthal has one of the most unique and challenging jobs in corporate law — the general counsel for Tilman Fertitta, whose business holdings include the NBA’s Houston Rockets, the Golden Nugget casinos and hotels, Landry’s Seafood and Morton’s and Del Frisco’s steakhouses. The Houston billionaire is also reportedly interested in acquiring Caesars casinos and hotels.

“It is tough having one boss because his frustrations become yours,” Scheinthal said. “However, we have had a tremendous number of business successes from our IPO to follow on offerings, over 50-plus acquisitions, bond offerings, the Rockets purchase." Those successes continued through 2025. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honoring Scheinthal with the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for General Counsel of the Year for a Midsized Legal Department.

Mark Curriden

After Finding a ‘Port in a Storm’ in Lawyers, Lyondell Basell’s Dave Louie Now Serves as One for Others Through Pro Bono Work

When Dave Louie was 17, he caused a car wreck. His father feared the family could lose everything in a resulting lawsuit, a possibility that weighed heavily on Louie. But his nerves eased after he met with the legal team hired by the family’s insurance company.

“They were like a port in a storm,” Louie said. 

Now a lead counsel at LyondellBasell, Louie strives to provide that same sense of reassurance to the families he serves through his pro bono work. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honoring Louie, along with Shell USA Senior Litigation Counsel Sara Keith, with the Harry Reasoner Pro Bono Advocacy Award at the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards on May 28.

Krista Torralva

Deep Blue’s Ali Denson Navigates Complex Deals and Regulatory Waters

The daughter of a commercial real estate lawyer, Ali Denson played a leading role last year in Deep Blue’s $750 million acquisition of Environmental Disposal System from Diamondback Energy and spearheaded the $950 million term loan needed to finance the sustainable water management company's acquisition. Citing those transformative transactions, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are awarding Denson the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for Senior Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department. 

Mark Curriden

Wendy Wright Has Transformed the Legal Function at The Lactation Network

Wendy Wright was in the third grade when she first decided to become a lawyer. Nearly three decades later, Wright has achieved numerous successes, including making partner at a global law firm and now as the general counsel of The Lactation Network, a healthcare company trying to make a difference to families with newborns.

Citing those achievements, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook have named Wright as the recipient of the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Award for General Counsel of the Year for a Solo Legal Department.

Mark Curriden

Toyota CLO Sandra Phillips to Retire from ‘Dream Job’

Toyota Motor North America chief legal officer and corporate secretary Sandra Phillips told The Texas Lawbook Tuesday that she is retiring from the company’s top legal post July 31 to spend more time with her parents, who are in their 80s, and to focus more on serving on corporate boards.

“I’ve been living the dream job for 15 years, working with a great team,” Phillips said. “I am proud that I was able to help Toyota navigate some of its most difficult issues and to help move this great company forward. This is a good time to transition to a team that is ready to take more responsibility and lead Toyota into the future.”

Mark Curriden

Energy Transfer, KBR, LyondellBasell, Plains All American & P66 Win Top 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards

The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announced Monday the recipients of the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards for Business Litigation of the Year, M&A Transaction of the Year, Creative Partnership, Corporate Legal Department of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Rookie of the Year.

ACC Houston and The Lawbook disclosed the GCs of the Year, Senior Counsel of the Year, Harry Reasoner Pro Bono Advocacy and Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion honorees last week.

"The Houston Corporate Counsel Awards celebrate the exceptional legal talent driving business success across our city, honoring the in-house counsel who work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect and advance the companies and communities that make Houston thrive,” said ACC Houston President Emily K. Shields. “When accomplished lawyers take time to nominate a peer, it speaks volumes about the standard of excellence this recognition represents.”

Mark Curriden

ACC Houston, Lawbook Name Annual GCs, Senior Counsel of the Year, Pro Bono and Diversity Honorees

The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook announced more recipients of 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards. General counsel and senior in-house counsel from six of the world’s largest corporate energy and chemical giants, a handful of thriving midsized energy industry operators and the top lawyer for Houston Rockets owner and entertainment billionaire Tilman Fertitta have been named.

During the next week, ACC Houston and The Lawbook will unveil the 2026 award winners in 17 different categories.

Mark Curriden

Leadership Lessons We Weren’t Taught in Law School but Should Have Been

In law school, we were taught to think critically, communicate persuasively and pay attention to detail. Law firm training was much more of the same, except with even greater emphasis on precision, especially as an M&A attorney. Often, the best lawyers are promoted to managers because of their technical skills or business development success. That doesn’t mean they’re prepared to lead people. We were trained to advise. Not to lead. And when the promotion comes, we’re often thrown into the deep end. Leadership becomes a trial by fire. But it doesn’t have to be.

Chasity Henry

Leading With Purpose: Lessons from the Frontlines

In the legal profession, we’re trained to argue, advise and analyze. But leading is often left to chance.

This series explores what it really means to lead with clarity, courage and purpose — especially in high-stakes environments.

Drawing from her experiences as a law firm associate, in-house legal executive, board leader and mentor, Jacobs General Counsel Chasity Henry shares lessons that go beyond titles and job descriptions. Whether you're a junior attorney, law firm partner or general counsel, Henry invites you to reflect on how your values, choices and actions shape the culture you create and the legacy you build.

Chasity Henry

Walmart Names Erin Nealy Cox as New CLO

Walmart Inc., the largest corporate employer in the U.S., has named former Dallas prosecutor Erin Nealy Cox as its new chief legal officer. Cox, who has been a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Dallas since 2021, will assume the job as the retail giant’s top lawyer April 13.

Mark Curriden

Chasity Henry Named New Jacobs GC

Dallas-based Jacobs has named Chasity Henry as its new general counsel, replacing Justin Johnson, who left last month to become the chief legal officer at Westinghouse.

Mark Curriden

2025 DFW Corp. Counsel Award Winners: ‘It Was a Challenging Year’

Brinker, Children’s Health, Comerica, Energy Transfer, Match, PGA, Schwab, Solo Brands and Trintech were the big winners Thursday night at the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards. Eight of the 14 award categories, including Business Litigation of the Year, M&A Transaction of the Year and Corporate Legal Department of the Year, featured multiple finalists, with judges describing them as photo finishes. More than 360 of the most prominent general counsel, senior in-house counsel and law firm partners celebrated the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards at the George W. Bush Institute. This was the ninth year that the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook partnered on the awards event.

Mark Curriden

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