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.
P.S. — Oncor GC Matt Henry: ‘We Can Do This!’
The Dallas Bar Association’s annual Equal Access to Justice Campaign is hitting crunch time in its efforts to raise $1.25 million for legal aid for the poor and disadvantaged. More than 50 lawyers, law firms and corporate legal departments have already donated between $5,000 and $25,500. The State Bar of Texas has awarded its annual Minority Counsel honors. The personal injury law firm J.D. Silva & Associates is giving away 500 new winter coats.
P.S. — This Week’s Givers: Haynes Boone, Squire Patton Boggs, John DeWitt Gregory Trust and Witherite
The Dallas Bar Association’s Equal Access to Justice Campaign is about one-third of the way to its $1.4 million goal. Texas Appleseed raised $544,000 at its annual Good Apple Dinner last week, including a $1,000 donation from The Texas Lawbook. A Dallas plaintiff’s law firm is the first in the legal industry to announce it is sponsoring a Thanksgiving food giveaway. And a Squire Patton Boggs senior partner in Dallas will be honored next week for a career of professionalism.
The NEW Roundtable Turns 10 — A Decade of Making a Difference
Jacobs Deputy GC Chasity Henry founded the NEW Roundtable, a nonprofit that brings together in-house and outside counsel with the mission of promoting the advancement of African American women lawyers. NEW stands for Network of Empowered Women. The organization is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week with a gala. The NEW Roundtable started with Henry and about two dozen other Black women lawyers and has grown to nearly 100 members, including Black women who are in-house counsel, lawyers at law firms or in government service or in academia.
“This broad base enables us to drive impactful connections and career development across various sectors of the legal profession,” Henry said in an interview with The Texas Lawbook. “Our members’ professional achievements across the legal spectrum demonstrate that The NEW Roundtable is not just creating opportunities — it is transforming the legal landscape for Black women attorneys. Through community, mentorship, and strategic alliances, we are reshaping what is possible in the legal profession.”
The Lawbook recently interviewed Henry about the 10th anniversary of the NEW Roundtable, the successes and challenges of the organization and the legal profession regarding diversity and inclusion.
P.S. — 2024 DFW Pro Bono and Diversity Award Nominations Now Welcomed
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are seeking nominations for the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards for Achievement in Pro Bono and Public Service, Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion and Create Partnership. The awards recognizing pro bono and diversity celebrate the efforts and successes of corporate in-house counsel who use their positions to serve their communities and the legal profession.
This week, P.S. also highlights Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week and efforts by Texas Access to Justice, legal aid programs, local bar associations and law schools providing free legal services to qualified military veterans in Texas.
P.S. Spotlights Chevron, Jennifer Banda, Lael and Peter Brodsky, Latham, Sidley and Haynes Boone
In this week’s P.S. column, we highlight upcoming events such as Texas Appleseed’s annual Good Apple Dinner and the Institute for Energy Law’s Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award reception. The Center for Women in Law at the University of Texas School of Law has a new executive director. Haynes Boone gives the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program $25,500. And the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates honor Fort Worth trial lawyer Steve Laird with its first-ever Ethics and Civility Award.
Plus, The Texas Lawbook seeks your contributions or efforts in helping those in need for the holidays.
P.S. — Bankruptcy Judge Harlin Hale, Craig Glidden, Martha Hofmeister Honored, DFW Corporate Counsel Award Nominations Open
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are now accepting nominations for the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, including nominations for Achievement in Pro Bono and Public Service and Achievement in Diversity and Inclusion. In the news this week, the American Bar Association honors former LyondellBasell GC Craig Glidden, and the Federal Bar Association recognizes Dallas lawyer Martha Hardwick Hofmeister for outstanding leadership. On Thursday, the Dallas Bar Foundation presented retired NDTX Bankruptcy Judge Harlin Hale with the Justinian Award.
Plus, The Lawbook thanks Sempra Energy Chief Risk Management and Compliance Officer Carolyn Aiman and Shell USA Head of Legal Travis Torrence for donations to the Texas Lawbook Foundation to support our coverage of pro bono, public service and diversity in the legal profession.
Editor’s note: The Lawbook misspelled Judge Hale’s first name in earlier editions. We apologize for the error.