In the mid-1990s, looking for “something to do in between other things,” a young Sam Prince took a job with the Dallas branch of legal services. Coming from a fundraising gig at the University of Dallas where he’d honed his development skills, the Buffalo, New York, native thought he would learn a few things about the legal nonprofit field and then move on to his next adventure. Twenty-eight years later, Prince is still adventuring with legal services (now Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas) where he’s raised more than $50 million for needy Texans.
Special Edition of P.S. — Remembering Kirkland’s Olivia Clarke and ‘Humor Beats Cancer’
The world of corporate law lost someone special last week. Olivia Clarke was not a lawyer. She was not a judge. She was not a general counsel. Olivia was the communications director at Kirkland & Ellis. She also was a former reporter and editor at the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. She knew her lawyers and firm and she equally knew our work and business. She was a strong advocate for her colleagues at the world’s largest corporate law firm, but lawyers inside Kirkland say she was equally an advocate pushing them to be open with journalists.
After a decade-long battle with cancer, Olivia died last week. She was only 46. “Olivia was incredibly capable and unfailingly thoughtful,” Texas Lawbook senior editor Allen Pusey said Monday.
P.S. Honors Betty Torres, David Beck
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor once told me during an interview that “there are lawyer heroes among us” who use their training to “make this a better society.” Betty Torres and David Beck are two of those heroes. Their good deeds and commitment to the legal profession are being recognized. In addition, the Texas Young Lawyers Association is building a website that can help those with an interest in becoming lawyers but who have no connections to the law better understand the process of becoming a part of this noble profession.
P.S. — SPCA and Jones Day: 2024 DFW Creative Partnership of the Year
Jones Day construction litigation partner Joseph Van Asten, the dad to two rescue dogs, was looking for a pro bono project earlier this year. Chris Luna, former T-Mobile chief counsel-turned-CEO of SPCA needed a large corporate law firm with experience in several different practice areas. The result: The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are honoring SPCA’s Luna and Jones Day with the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Creative Partnership. During the past year, Jones Day has had 10 different lawyers work more than 200 pro bono hours on seven different matters for the SPCA, including drafting and negotiating construction agreements for the SPCA expansion project, providing advice on SPCA’s corporate bylaws and corporate governance issues and advising the nonprofit on its trademark portfolio. This is how the partnership came together.
Reynaldo Anaya Valencia to Make History as First Hispanic Leader of South Texas College of Law Houston
South Texas College of Law Houston has named Reynaldo “Rey” Anaya Valencia, dean of the Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, as its next president and dean following a nationwide search. Valencia will assume the position in July.
P.S. — Dallas Cowboys’ Kaleisha Stuart, SPCA’s Chris Luna Win DFW Corporate Counsel Awards
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are awarding the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel Award for Diversity and Inclusion to Dallas Cowboys Deputy General Counsel Kaleisha Stuart and the Creative Partnership Award to SPCA of Texas CEO Chris Luna and Jones Day partner Joseph Van Asten. Also in this P.S. column, Munsch Hardt and Paul Hastings share the holiday spirit with those less fortunate.
P.S. — Law Firms Share Holiday Spirit with Those in Need
With fewer than five days until Christmas Day and the start of Hanukkah, corporate law firms in Texas continue to demonstrate their giving spirit for those in need. During the past month, The Texas Lawbook’s P.S. column has highlighted nearly 20 law firms for their contributions to helping feed, clothe and house thousands of Texans who are struggling. Today, we turn the spotlight on three law firms — Sidley Austin, Katten and White & Case — for the support they are providing to those less fortunate.
P.S. — Texas Law Firms Step Up to Help Others for the Holidays — Including Squishmallows
Texas business lawyers made a lot of money in 2024, and now they are giving back. And they are apparently giving back in a currency called Squishmallows.
From Texas-based firms such as Gray Reed and Akin Gump to national operations Greenberg Traurig, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Norton Rose Fulbright, O’Melveny & Myers and Winston & Strawn, lawyers are adopting angels, families, children centers and food banks. They are providing gifts for foster children, families that have been the victims of abuse and homeless veterans.
A prime objective of the Texas Lawbook Foundation is to employ journalists who showcase the public service and pro bono work of lawyers in Texas — to demonstrate that law is more than a great paying job. It is an honorable profession.
In this weekly issue of P.S., The Texas Lawbook continues to highlight specific public service efforts of nine law firms in Texas.
The staff of The Lawbook thanks you for being a good citizen.
Southwest Regroups to Defend Free Flights for Low-Income Hispanic Students Against Lawsuit
A federal judge in Dallas has given Southwest Airlines more time to prepare a legal defense against a lawsuit brought by an organization that claims the airline’s program offering free flights for low-income Hispanic students to go home to visit their parents is illegally discriminatory. Senior U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater ruled Dec. 6 that the lawsuit brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights must proceed forward even though Southwest officials agreed to end the charitable effort several months ago.
P.S.: Join the Joy: Texas Lawyers Help Those Less Fortunate
Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa had the “Three Bs,” and now The Texas Lawbook has the “Three Ps” — public service, pro bono and positive press. Bracewell, O’Melveny & Myers, Haynes Boone and Yetter Coleman are the first four law firms in Texas to provide information on their efforts to help those in need during the holidays. The details of their initiatives are included in this week’s P.S. column. Please send us the good work you are doing and thank you for the other firms that have sent us their efforts. They will be included in next week’s P.S. column.