It seems to be award season for Texas lawyers and law firms. In this edition of P.S., we report on national spotlights, local honors and pro bono achievements. Norton Rose Fulbright and Alston & Bird were named to Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Women, while Efrén Olivares of the National Immigration Law Center earned a spot on Time’s 2025 TIME100 Next list. The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program reported $700,000 raised so far in its Equal Access to Justice Campaign and recognized this year’s pro bono award recipients. Attorneys Serving the Community announced details for its 5th Annual Holiday Bazaar benefitting Shared Housing Center. The State Fair of Texas and The Friends of the Juanita Craft House Civil Rights Museum presented its Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards to two members of the legal community. The Dallas Women Lawyers Association also prepares to honor outstanding women in law at its annual gala, and several firms across Texas were recently spotted providing pro bono assistance.
2 Law Firms Named FORTUNE’s Best Places to Work for Women
Houston-based Norton Rose Fulbright is a top place to work for women, according to Fortune magazine.
The law firm was recently named to Fortune’s Best Workplaces for Women list, which uses confidential third-party surveys to determine organizations that excel at fostering positive, inclusive and engaging work environments.
Survey participants praised the firm’s flexibility, benefits and supportive culture, according to Fortune. Responses noted the firm has allowed remote work while hosting enjoyable in-office events, and that the firm increased its parental leave.
“My team is spectacular. My direct supervisors are also fabulous people to work for and under; they understand personalities, outside lives, strengths and weaknesses, boundaries, and how to challenge us,” one respondent was quoted saying. “I do feel like my managers hear me and respect a healthy work/life balance.”
Norton Rose ranked 91st in the list of 100 large companies. Only one other law firm – Atlanta-based Alston & Bird – made the list, placing 68th.
This was Norton Rose’s first year participating in the surveys, said Jeff Cody, global and U.S. managing partner.
“We value our people and continually look for ways to make their work experience both positive and fulfilling,” Cody said in a news release.
NILC’s Efrén Olivares of McAllen Named to TIME100 Next
Efrén Olivares, the McAllen-based vice president of litigation and legal strategy at National Immigration Law Center, has been named to Time Magazine’s 2025 TIME100 Next, which recognizes emerging leaders across a range of fields.
Olivares, who began his legal career at the Houston office of then-Fulbright & Jaworski, joined the NILC earlier this year after serving with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Texas Civil Rights Project.
“For years, Efrén has championed human dignity,” wrote Kerry Kennedy, president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, which is suing the federal government alongside NILC and other organizations over the Trump administration’s immigrant registration requirement.
Olivares’ personal story reflects the ideals the organizations advocate for, Kennedy added.
“His own immigration story shows the promise of an America where everyone has the opportunity to realize their ancestors’ dreams,” she said. “Efrén is my hero.”
Holiday Shopping for a Cause
Attorneys Serving the Community will host its 5th Annual Holiday Bazaar on Nov. 8 at FlexEtc in Plano from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shoppers can browse more than 50 local vendors and artisans offering handcrafted gifts and seasonal items while supporting Shared Housing Center, ASC’s 2025-2026 beneficiary. Twenty percent of sales will be donated to the nonprofit, which works to end homelessness in Dallas.
“The space FlexEtc has donated has given this event the room to grow to a record number of vendors, up from 24 last year, which means that much more can be raised for Shared Housing Center,” said Maria Machado, executive director of Shared Housing Center. “Local business owners like those participating thrive off the opportunity to be in front of shoppers and are happy to support our cause while also bringing the community together for the holidays.”
Each year, ASC selects a beneficiary from an application process and raises funds throughout its fiscal year, which runs from July to June. Most recently, ASC raised more than $586,000 for POETIC, a nonprofit serving youth who have survived maltreatment, sexual exploitation and trafficking.
ASC’s unique model routes every dollar raised through events, membership dues and corporate sponsorships directly to the selected beneficiary.
With ASC’s support, Shared Housing Center plans to expand its child enrichment programs, provide an agency van to families without reliable transportation and hire an employment coach.
A list of Bazaar vendors and additional event information may be found at this website. More information about Shared Housing Center’s planned initiatives may be found here.
DVAP Honors Pro Bono Leaders, Reports $700K Raised for Justice Campaign
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program held its Pro Bono Awards event last Friday and announced that its Equal Access to Justice Campaign has raised more than $700,000 since launching in July. The campaign continues through January with a goal of raising $1.25 million.
The following is a list of the awards and recipients:
Lawyer of the Year: John Walker, Sidley Austin
Law Firm of the Year: O’Melveny & Myers
Pro Bono Appreciation Award: Vicki Blanton, AT&T
Pro Bono Coordinator of the Year: Fernando Avelar, Dorsey & Whitney
Chris Reed-Brown Pro Bono Award: John VanBuskirk
Outstanding Clinic Sponsor: SMU Dedman School of Law
Outstanding Support Volunteer: Molita Powell, Dallas County
Outstanding Clinic Coordinator: David Cabrales, Foley & Lardner
Outstanding Law Student Volunteer: Homero Perez, UNT Dallas College of Law
Outstanding Sole Practitioner: Jan Holeywell-Smith
Outstanding Virtual Clinic Attorney: Brennan Wong, O’Melveny & Myers
Outstanding Veterans Clinic Attorney: Mike Regitz, RegitzMauck
Outstanding Corporate Clinic Sponsor: Goldman Sachs
Outstanding Clinic Attorney South Dallas: Jack Manning, Manning & Meyers
Outstanding Clinic Attorney West Dallas: David Floyd Jr., GreaterWorks Legal
Outstanding Wills Clinic Attorney: Laura Smith, O’Melveny & Myers
Gold Award for Pro Bono Service:
Fish & Richardson
Hunton Andrews Kurth
Haynes Boone
Silver Award for Pro Bono Service:
DLA Piper
Sidley Austin
Kirkland & Ellis
Bronze Award for Pro Bono Service:
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Baker Botts
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
State Fair, Juanita Craft Museum Honor Legal Community Members
Two members of the legal community were honored this month with 2025 Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards presented by the State Fair of Texas and The Friends of the Juanita Craft House Civil Rights Museum. Craft was a civil rights activist whose advocacy was pivotal in expanding the NAACP in Texas and desegregating the State Fair.
Reid Porter, founder and CEO of ACT (Advocates for Community Transformation) received the Visionary Award. Now in its 16th year, ACT is a Christian-based justice organization that connects residents with attorneys to use civil courts to combat neighborhood crime. A former trial lawyer, Porter founded ACT in 2009 after practicing at Walters, Balido & Crain and volunteering in historically underserved areas of West Dallas.
Kristi Lichtenberg, executive director of Cornerstone Crossroads Academy, received the Legacy Award. Lichtenberg, currently a law student at UNT Dallas College of Law, previously spent 15 years with Garland ISD as a bilingual teacher and middle school assistant principal.
DWLA to Celebrate Award Honorees at Annual Gala
Next Saturday, the Dallas Women Lawyers Association will host its annual awards gala, “Luminosity – Honoring Women Who Light the Way,” recognizing exceptional leaders in the legal community.
“This year’s recipients embody the very heart of DWLA’s mission,” Association President Chelsea Hilliard said. “Their leadership, integrity and commitment to empowering others have left a lasting impact on the legal community and beyond. We are honored to celebrate their remarkable contributions.”
The 2025 Award recipients are:
Louise B. Raggio Award: Retired Judge Rhonda Hunter
Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award: Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz
Rising Raggio Award: Malissa Patel
Outstanding Judiciary Award: 192nd Civil District Court Judge Maria Aceves
The organization will also present the Karen D. McCloud Memorial Grant, which supports women attorneys in solo or small firm practices. The grant’s namesake served as DWLA president in 2004. McCloud died in 2020 following a battle with cancer.
The 2025 Karen D. McCloud Memorial Grant recipients are:
Melissa Gray
Ashley Moreno
Donna Wood
Pro Bono Work Spotted
The following firms were recently spotted providing pro bono assistance across Texas.
Attorneys from family law firm Noelke Maples St. Leger Bryant and Baker Botts volunteered at a Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas clinic in southeast Austin, offering legal help in a variety of areas.
In Houston, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom partnered with Lone Star Legal Aid for its New Associates Day of Service, assisting pro se clients with divorces involving no property and no children. Lone Star Legal Aid is currently planning its 2026 series of simple divorce clinics.
Meanwhile in San Antonio, lawyers from Dykema and Honeywell teamed up with the San Antonio Legal Services Association for its 1102 Guardianship Assistance Clinic. Six families were helped with obtaining guardianships for loved ones with disabilities.
Has your firm done pro bono work lately? We’d love to shine a spotlight on your efforts. Share your story by emailing krista.torralva@texaslawbok.net.
Elle Grinnell contributed to this report.