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.

December 6, 2024 Mark Curriden

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. 

November 22, 2024 Mark Curriden

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.

November 15, 2024 Mark Curriden

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.

November 8, 2024 Mark Curriden

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.

November 8, 2024 Mark Curriden

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.

November 1, 2024 Mark Curriden

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.

October 17, 2024 Mark Curriden

P.S. — ADL Honors Reasoners, Dallas Hispanic Bar Gala, Inns of Court Recognizes Gray Reed Partner

Two years ago, The Texas Lawbook created the full-time pro bono, public service and diversity writer position with a carrot-and-stick approach: Highlight the successes of Texas lawyers in these three critical areas to hopefully encourage others to do the same and to provide data and analysis about where lawyers and firms are falling short. To be sure, the sticks are being sharpened to address failures. But today, we have three successes to highlight.

October 11, 2024 Mark Curriden