To commemorate the first day of the largest charitable event of its kind in the world, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, The Texas Lawbook rounded up its general counsel Jeffrey Downing for a Q&A.
Downing joined the HLSR in October 2022, succeeding Sherry Hibbert, who held the post for a dozen years. With a diverse background as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, a solo practitioner, a senior in-house lawyer at companies including McDermott International, and a MBA, Downing is “using all the skills” in navigating the challenges presented by the HLSR’s unique breadth and scope.
In the following Q&A sourced largely by The Lawbook’s Houston-based reporters Michelle Casady and Claire Poole, the native Houstonian Downing shares his early HLSR memories, what he’s learned 18 months into the job, how he manages all of the logistics of an event serving more than 2 million people over 20 days, and why it’s the best job he’s ever had.
Texas Lawbook: How did you get the job?
Jeffrey Downing: My wife and I were working from home one day. I saw a LinkedIn post that HLSR was looking for a new GC. I thought there was no way in the world they would want a lawyer like me, but I applied anyway. Several months went by and I got a call from a recruiter. At first, I thought she was trying to get me to hire an attorney for my current company, but then realized I was being vetted for the HLSR GC role. A few months of calls, interviews and meetings, and I was offered the job. Pictured right: Downing with his wife Taneka.
The Lawbook: You’ve previously served as a HLSR volunteer on the Gatekeepers Committee from 2008 to 2012. Why that committee? When you were volunteering did you have any ambitions about becoming the HLSR GC?
Downing: I knew a few Gatekeepers and they had an opening on the committee, so I asked to join. I have always loved the Rodeo and thought it would be fun way to get involved. I had no plans or ambitions at that time to join the staff as a the GC. If fact, I do not think I was even aware of the professional staff at that time. I just wanted to volunteer with such an amazing organization.
The Lawbook: Did you ever participate in the rodeo in your youth?
Downing: I did not participate in the HLSR. I was in the Simonton goat scramble once as a kid, but never to the extent that these amazing kids are involved at HLSR.
The Lawbook: Being a native Houstonian, what are your earliest memories of attending the rodeo (favorite concert/favorite food, etc.)?
Downing: I can remember going to the Astrodome with my family and my grandfather. I remember loving the Rodeo, including the bull riding and the calf roping. Getting to see people like George Strait, The Judds and Clint Black was also pretty cool.
The Lawbook: Is it hard to explain what the HLSR is like to people who aren’t from Houston/Texas?
Downing: I think most people have an idea what a rodeo is or what one is like. What is surprising is the breadth and scope of the show. We get over 2 million visitors in our 20 day run. We use over 350 acres of space. We are the largest event in North America. And we are not just a rodeo, we are a livestock show, an educational event, an international exchange of ideas, a shopping and entertainment experience, a family event and, most importantly, here to benefit the students of Texas and their educational goals.
The Lawbook: Now a little over a year into the job, what are some of the lessons you’ve learned? Anything particularly noteworthy/novel/interesting that popped up that required a creative response?
Downing: The novel and interesting thing to try to learn is how to work with the volunteer base. Our show is the product of 35,000 volunteers. We are nothing without them and we would not be able to do what we do. Learning the names, the committees, the roles and all they do and how legal can support them in the efforts has been one of the more unique perspectives of the role.
The Lawbook: What’s it like going from serving as a prosecutor to a GC for energy/engineering/construction companies to GC of HLSR? What skills have translated, what skills haven’t?
Downing: So I went from being an assistant district attorney to hanging out my own shingle to being a GC in the energy and industrial construction and manufacturing fields to the Rodeo. I think what made me a preferred candidate for the role during the interview is the breadth of my experience. I have done a little bit of everything, from trials work to contracts to commercial and transactional work. And a GC is going to come across all of those things in their time. Everything that I have done before allowed me to be considered for HLSR GC and prepared me for this role. It may have been an unconventional path, but it lead me to where I belong.
The Lawbook: What’s been your best day on the job so far?
Downing: This is the hardest question of the entire set. Every day is different. Some days are hard and frustrating, sometimes you get set back and then there are days where everything falls into place and you move the needle on your goals in the right direction. If I had to choose just one day, it would have to be one the first days on the job when I had one on ones with all my fellow chiefs and Chris Boleman, the president and CEO of the HLSR. It was that day that I knew I was in the right place professionally. I work with such an amazing team of dedicated professional, from chiefs for strategy, marketing, revenue, mission, finance, HR and IT. They are amazingly talented, and their hearts are in the job. I am lucky to be a part of the team.
The Lawbook: The rodeo is bound to be a logistical nightmare. How do you manage it all, including the agreements and contracts with the venue, the talent and the amusements? How do you manage the liabilities involved as well? Does the rodeo have longtime institutional relationships with outside counsel?
Downing: I have an amazing partner in the legal department. Sidney Fuchs has been with the Rodeo since she graduated college (she even went to college on a HLSR scholarship). She is my touchstone at the show. And now, as my contracts and legal administration manager, we wade our way through the hundreds of contracts that come in annually. Our entertainment team is top notch and work with our main stage entertainers. The contracting and indemnification philosophy that the show implements helps to manage our risk and liabilities. When you invite 2 million people through gates for 20 days, there is risk. Some of that risk can be managed and mitigated, but there is a point when you say, we are here to put on a show and raise money for the kids of Texas and we can handle what comes our way.
We have great relationships with many firms here in town, notably Vinson & Elkins, Locke Lord and Ogletree Deakins. They are vital partners in not only show time operations, but in our day-to-day transactions and long-term planning.
The Lawbook: Please describe the philanthropy behind the rodeo. How much money has been raised for scholarships?
Downing: The HLSR works on four pillars: Western heritage, entertainment, education and agriculture. Everything we do is to further goals within those areas. Since 1932, our total educational commitment is over $600 million.
Downing with his family and “Howdy”
The Lawbook: What are you most looking forward to at this year’s rodeo?
Downing: I am looking forward to bringing my family out to the grounds, seeing all of our efforts coming together, seeing the HLSR team, both staff and volunteers, put on a show that we can all be proud of and to further our educational goals. And a Trill Burger.