In a legal world of $2,000-an-hour rates where lawyers are deemed successful based on winning brutal, high-stakes courtroom battles or outmaneuvering opponents in multibillion-dollar M&A transactions, the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook are seeking to recognize and honor attorneys for their extraordinary accomplishments within the profession of law.
ACC-DFW and The Lawbook are encouraging our readers to nominate folks for the 2024 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards.
Specifically, we seek nominations 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. Past recipients of the pro bono and public service award include Nexstar Media Group’s Rachel Morgan, Pioneer Natural Resources’ Mark Berg and Barry Thomas, former Texas Capital and current Landsea Homes GC Kelly Rentzel, AT&T’s Belinda Boling and Toyota’s Meyling Ly Ortiz.
The past recipients of the diversity and inclusion honor are Toyota Managing Counsel Kelly Chen, General Motor’s Juli Greenberg, Heidelberg Materials GC Shonn Brown and Jacob’s Deputy GC Chasity Henry.
An insider tip: ACC-DFW and The Lawbook have received very few nominations for the Creative Partnership Award in previous years. The Creative Partnership Award recognizes the work of in-house counsel and corporate legal departments with their outside counsel. This can include work on pro bono and public service initiatives and diversity and inclusion efforts and successes.
Here is a link to the nominations.
The DFW and Houston Corporate Counsel Awards are the two events that allow the business law community to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of corporate counsel and the outside lawyers who represent them.
“Making nominations for the DFW Corporate Counsel Awards provides an opportunity to spotlight the hard work, dedication and accomplishments of in-house legal teams and individuals who may otherwise go unnoticed,” said Alvin Benton, lead product counsel for Upstart and president of the ACC-DFW. “Nominating a peer or team for these awards not only recognizes their excellence but also contributes to the growth of the entire legal community by sharing success stories and best practices.”
“The DFW Corporate Counsel Awards highlight the vital role that in-house counsel play in not only managing legal risks but also shaping business strategy, promoting ethical practices and driving corporate success,” Benton said.
There are two critical dates to remember:
- Nominations are due Nov. 15; and
- The DFW Corporate Counsel Awards celebration is Jan. 30 at the George W. Bush Center.
The other DFW Corporate Counsel Award categories are General Counsel and Senior Counsel of the Year. M&A Deal of the Year and Business Litigation of the Year. Rookie of the Year.
Plus, there’s a brand-new category: DFW Corporate Legal Department of the Year. This can focus on either a single major project tackled by the entire in-house legal team or multiple projects or matters that were handled simultaneously by multiple members of the legal department. This award can also highlight the work of paralegals and other professionals within the legal or corporate compliance departments.
Anyone can make a nomination. Once the nominations are received, ACC-DFW and The Lawbook assign three-judge panels to review each one and to vote on those that are deserving of the award. The judging panels are mostly comprised of past award recipients, and they are screened for conflicts of interest.
As ACC-DFW President Benton states, the Corporate Counsel Awards are not pay-to-play, as are other awards. However, once the finalists are identified by the judges, lawyers and law firms are approached about financially supporting the awards event. The money goes directly to help pay for The Lawbook’s full-time pro bono, public service and diversity reporter position.
“ACC-DFW teams up with The Texas Lawbook because The Lawbook is a trusted resource for news and insights on corporate legal matters, and its partnership with ACC-DFW brings enhanced visibility and credibility to the awards,” Benton said. “Together, ACC-DFW and The Lawbookamplify the recognition of excellence and innovation in corporate law, fostering connections and celebrating the contributions of in-house legal teams in the DFW.”
Nominations for the Houston Corporate Counsel Awards will start in early January.
Please let us know if you have any questions. My email is mark.curriden@texaslawbook.net. My phone number is 214.232.6783. Thank you for your interest and participation. We are looking forward to celebrating the great work of corporate counsel from the past year.
Texas Veterans
Next week, Nov. 11-15, is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week.
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, legal aid programs, local bar associations and Texas law schools are planning to provide civil legal services for qualified Texas veterans in various locations throughout the state.
Texas AJF provided grant funding this year to 14 nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to veterans. Last year, legal aid organizations provided legal services to nearly 7,000 Texas veterans.
A list of in-person and virtual clinics and events throughout the state can be found here. Assistance and referrals are also provided year-round through a statewide hotline for veterans, 1-800-622-2520, option 2, and at legal aid programs throughout the state.