The 2025 Champions of Justice Gala shattered previous fundraising records by collecting over $1 million to support legal aid for veterans, with AT&T’s David McAtee and Halliburton’s Van Beckwith co-chairing the event and receiving widespread support from the legal community. Keynote speaker Bryan Stevenson highlighted the importance of access to justice, while Texas lawyers Rebecca Flanigan and Fred Krasny were honored for their dedication to legal aid. Meanwhile, Dallas attorney Rogge Dunn raised over $100,000 at a dinner with Gen. David Petraeus to support Ukrainian mental health efforts and plans to attend the Kyiv Security Forum. In a separate initiative, Carry the Load launched its annual Memorial May campaign to honor fallen heroes, with longtime legal support from Sidley Austin’s Aaron Rigby, a U.S. Navy veteran and founding supporter of the nonprofit.
Over $1 Million is Raised from Champions of Justice Gala
The Champions of Justice Gala that raises money for Texas Access to Justice and military veterans shattered the previous record set last year.
More than $1 million was collected by the program’s end, gala committee co-chair David McAtee, AT&T General Counsel, announced to cheerful applause and a standing ovation at the Wednesday evening gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.
Donations continued after the gala and the total came out to $1,034,918, McAtee said Thursday morning. Last year, the event raised $565,850.
“It was our good fortune that the Commission came to us and handed us something precious, the legacy of this gathering, the legacy of the mission that it represents, the legacy of all those who have participated in this over the years,” McAtee, who co-chaired the gala committee alongside Halliburton Chief Legal Officer Van Beckwith, said moments before announcing the fundraising tally. “It is a wonderful legacy and it is indeed a heavy responsibility, but we took it and here was the most amazing thing: as soon as we took it, everyone in this room started stepping forward to support this effort. … In my view, this is just a tremendous success.”
Bryan Stevenson, author of New York Times bestseller Just Mercy and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, gave the keynote address. The Texas Lawbook previously wrote about McAtee’s connection to Stevenson and the pro bono work dozens of AT&T lawyers have contributed to cases that have come to the Initiative.
Texas lawyers were also honored for their dedication and contribution to access to justice.
Rebecca Flanigan of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid was presented with the James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award. Flanigan was described as a “litigator, mentor and innovator” by Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby, who has handled complex cases spanning a variety of legal areas, including family law, housing and public benefits in state and federal courts. Flanigan, who was not in attendance, gave a video-recorded speech urging her colleagues to be vocal in their defense of the rule of law.
“The rule of law is sacrosanct. Without the rule of law, there is injustice, inequality and incompetence,” Flanigan said. “This award, this prestigious honor, recognizes advocates who provide legal aid to those with no voice. Today is no time to lose our voice.”
The Harry M. Reasoner Justice for All Award was presented to Fred Krasny, who has been a “tireless advocate” for those in need, Busby said. Krasny’s legal career has included stints at the Texas Attorney General’s Office of Child Support Enforcement and the Lone Star Legal Aid Family Law Section. Now in “semi-retirement,” Krasny donates his time, knowledge and expertise, Busby said.
By the night’s end, Toyota North America Chief Legal Officer Sandra Phillips volunteered to co-chair next year’s gala committee, for which she received resounding applause.
Dallas Dines with Purpose for Ukrainian Civilians
Dallas law firm Rogge Dunn Group recently hosted an intimate wine dinner with retired four-star Army general and former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus to raise funds for Mental Help Global, a nonprofit organization that provides mental health care to Ukrainian civilians impacted by the war with Russia.
The April 30 dinner raised $101,750 for the nonprofit that Petraeus has championed. The amount includes a $50,000 donation from the Rogge Dunn Group.
Dunn, for whom the firm is named, attributed his concern for Ukraine to his interest in history, military and geopolitics. Dunn is traveling to attend the Kyiv Security Forum on May 8 and 9. Petraeus is scheduled to speak during the program about technological innovation’s ability to outpace authoritarian aggression and help democracies win future wars.
“[Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky’s courage, grit, and leadership is inspirational. I see history repeating itself and I hope the rest of the world will fully stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin — just like the Allies stood up to Hitler,” Dunn said.
Remembering Fallen Heroes
Carry the Load, a Dallas-based national nonprofit veteran and first responder organization, kicked off its Memorial May campaign Monday. The fundraiser, lasting through Memorial Day, features hundreds of events across the country to connect communities while honoring fallen service members. The signature event, the Dallas Memorial March, takes place over two days, May 25 and 26. The march begins at Reverchon Park at 3505 Maple Ave., Dallas, TX, 75219. More information about Memorial May and how to participate can be found here.
Since its inception in 2011, Carry the Load has gotten help from Aaron Rigby, a mergers and acquisitions and private equity partner in Sidley Austin’s Dallas office. Rigby, a co-chair of the firm’s Dallas pro bono and interest law committee, is a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he befriended Carry the Load founders Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley. Rigby helped the organization obtain its 501(c)(3) status and has assisted in most of its legal matters.
Rigby, who, while on active duty, served as an officer in two deployments to the Middle East, now serves on Carry the Load’s board of directors. His firm, Sidley, is a corporate partner of Carry the Load.
Celebrating Excellence: Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation to Honor 2025 Scholarship Recipients
The Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation will honor its 2025 scholarship recipients during its annual Amanecer Luncheon on Thursday at the Arts District Mansion in Dallas. Each year, the foundation raises funds to provide scholarships, stipend-paid judicial internships and bar study grants to Hispanic students. This year, motivational speaker Chris Lee of Puerto Rico will give the keynote address.
Dallas boutique law firm Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann is the presenting sponsor. Gold sponsors include Vistra Corporation, Baker & McKenzie, Vinson & Elkins, Paul Hastings, Sidley Austin and T-Mobile.
Toyota, Texas A&M School of Law and firms Lyons & Simmons, Bell Nunnally, Weil, Foley & Lardner, Haynes Boone and Barnes & Thornburg are silver sponsors.
Bronze sponsors are Akerman, Southern Methodist University School of Law, K&L Gates, Garcia Firm, Alston & Bird, Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, Akin, Spencer Fane and the Dallas Bar Association.
Other sponsors are Jillian Keith, ADR, Chris Luna, Judge Martin Hoffman, Judge Dale Tillery and Judge Tonya Parker.