The Texas General Counsel Forum recently honored 10 chief legal officers and senior in-house counsel with the 20th annual Magna Stella Awards, which recognizes success and leadership.
The awards ceremony, held Nov. 20 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio, unveiled the lifetime achievement award in honor of GC Forum CEO Lynn Bozalis, a beloved leader in the Texas corporate law community.
The Lynn Bozalis Lifetime Achievement Award went to Crow Holdings General Counsel Kevin Bryant, who has been the top in-house attorney for the Dallas-based real estate investment firm for 28 years.
The GC Forum recognized Bryant for expanding Crow Holdings into new business sectors, including industrial development, renewable energy and oil and gas. In 2023, Bryant oversaw the 2023 recapitalization of a $2.2 billion retail portfolio and closed the firm’s 10th flagship real estate fund, which raised over $3 billion.
“Kevin believes, fundamentally, that education is a powerful tool for change,” said Paul Genender, co-managing partner of Paul Hastings’ Texas operation. “For years, he has been a steadfast supporter and dynamic leader for Uplift Education, a nonprofit that runs 45 college preparatory public charter schools in the DFW area. Through his service as the former chair of the board, he has strengthened Uplift’s ability to provide quality learning experiences and advocate for equality in education for thousands of students of all backgrounds.”
Bryant is actively involved in hunger relief programs and the annual “Christmas in the Park” through the S.M. Wright Foundation.
The winner of the Magna Stella Award for Major Transaction went to Houston-based WM Chief Legal Officer Charles Boettcher for guiding the company’s transformative acquisitions of Stericycle and Advanced Disposal. WM was previously known as Waste Management.
Charles Boettcher, WM
“Chuck is receiving an award not only for his outstanding legal intellect but also for his role as a dynamic business leader — and for being an incredible person,” said former Lucis Energy GC Liz Seabury. “Chuck builds strong, inclusive teams that deliver creative and practical solutions to complex corporate challenges. He is highly valued for empowering his colleagues to speak up, push back and take ownership, ensuring strategic plans are executed efficiently. His ability to rapidly digest vast quantities of information, identify key trends and issues, and guide substantive discussions makes him a forceful and effective leader at a company the size and scope of WM.”
The Major Litigation award went to SolarWinds GC Jason Bliss, who has played a critical role in the IT management software company’s growth from $60 million to more than $1 billion.
“He is an individual who demonstrates unparalleled skill, integrity and leadership,” said WorkShield CEO Jared Pope. “His legal and strategic leadership has been instrumental in executing SolarWinds’ aggressive expansion, which included two IPOs, two take-private transactions and over 30 technology acquisitions.”
“Most notably, Jason led the company’s legal and administrative response to the company’s nation-state cyberattack, one of the most sophisticated intrusions in modern history,” Pope said. “He successfully navigated multiple global investigations, significant investor litigation and a nearly five-year investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, securing highly favorable resolutions in these matters.”
The Magna Stella Award for Outstanding Senior Managing Counsel for a Small Legal Department went to Visionworks of America GC Lisa Hill.
Nicola Hobeiche, vice president of legal affairs at Taxwell, said Hill is “a pragmatic, business-minded legal partner.”
“Her direct involvement in major business negotiations has yielded significant financial and strategic wins for her organization,” Hobeiche said. “Beyond driving results, Lisa is a critical, forward-thinking business partner to her colleagues, ensuring legal solutions align with company objectives while proactively mitigating risk. She is deeply committed to mentoring her direct reports and promoting their professional growth.”
The award for Outstanding Senior Managing Counsel for a Large Legal Department went to Siva Barnwell Adams, who is vice president and general counsel for Chevron.
Holland & Knight partner Mark Melton pointed out that Adams has been the lead in-house lawyer for Chevron’s acquisitions of Hess Corporation, PDC Energy, Renewable Energy Group and Noble Energy.
“Siva’s successful, thoughtful leadership style involves leveraging internal and external best practices to develop her teams,” Melton said. “She keeps lawyers engaged by understanding their motivations, utilizing their strengths and supporting their growth. Furthermore, she bridges the gap between frontline teams and senior leadership, ensuring alignment on goals and keeping management informed of key progress and challenges.”
The Magna Stella Award for Outstanding General Counsel for a Nonprofit or Government Agency went to Southwest Research Institute GC Monica Ramirez Trollinger.
NTT Data Services Vice President for Commercial Litigation Chris Stidvent said Trollinger is “responsible for a vast and complex breadth of legal areas” at “one of the country’s most respected and dynamic nonprofit research institutions.”
“Monica is at the forefront of issues ranging from intellectual property and labor and employment law to complex government and private contracting, personal injury defense, and stringent governmental security requirements,” Stidvent said. “She navigates high-stakes issues with agility, sound and consistent judgment and a clear, sharp intellect that earns the trust of senior leadership and outside counsel alike.”
“But what truly sets Monica apart is not just her legal expertise, but her exceptional leadership style and her commitment to others,” he said. “She leads her team with grace, clarity and respect, fostering a collegial environment that encourages growth. Beyond the Institute, she ‘pays it forward’ through significant community involvement.”
The GC Forum recognized FleetPride GC Barron Oursler with the Outstanding Solo General Counsel Award. FleetPride is the nation’s largest independent distributor of aftermarket heavy-duty truck parts and service.
“In addition to his primary responsibilities as General Counsel for a major member company, Baron plays a pivotal volunteer leadership role within the Auto Care Association,” Dena Stroh, general counsel for the North Texas Tollway Authority. “He [is] leading its members to synthesize business issues, foster collaboration and develop unified industry advocacy positions.”
“Baron is regarded as an exceptional communicator with strong instincts, allowing him to know when to act decisively, show restraint or simply listen,” Stroh said. “His skills are attributed to his perceptive abilities, business sense and background as a trial lawyer. His ability to effectively communicate both the practical business impacts
The Magna Stella Award for Outstanding General Counsel for a Small Legal Department went to Michael Cavalier, the general counsel at Cinemark Holdings — a position he has held since 1997.
“Mike’s legal and strategic expertise has been central to Cinemark’s evolution from a small, visionary company into an industry powerhouse,” WorkShield’s Pope said. “He is a strategic leader with excellent litigation instincts, guiding the defense of complex cases ranging from wage and hour class actions to Department of Justice lawsuits. Through all these challenges, Mike has acted fairly, honorably and strategically, contributing significantly to Cinemark’s many litigation successes.”
The GC Forum honored Crown Castle GC Edward “Teddy” Adams, Jr., with its award for Outstanding General Counsel for a Large Legal Department.
Seabury said that Adams has provided “steady and knowledgeable leadership is the product of years of institutional experience, having served in multiple key roles since joining the company.”
“But what truly distinguishes Teddy is his principled approach to leadership,” Seabury said. “Teddy operates with a known mantra of ‘doing the right thing.’ He is celebrated for his collaborative spirit, trusting and fair-minded nature, and for treating outside counsel as true partners. His decision-making is rooted in what is best for the company and its long-term success, built on a foundation of respect and earned trust.”
Adams serves on the boards of the Memorial Hermann Hospital System, the Texas Bar Foundation and the Coalition for the Homeless Houston/Harris County.
The Magna Stella Award for Pro Bono went to Galderma Laboratories Associate General Counsel Devon Sharp.
Lennox International Deputy General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer Betty Ungerman said Sharp’s “professional achievements are extensive, it is her leadership outside of her firm that truly sets her apart.”
“Devon demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the Dallas-Fort Worth community,” said Ungerman. “She has chaired Attorneys Serving the Community, where she led the organization to unprecedented success — raising over $460,000 net in a single year for local charities benefiting women and children. This outstanding philanthropic effort underscores her ability to mobilize the legal community for a shared purpose.”
“Furthermore, within her corporate role at Galderma, she champions corporate social responsibility, most notably by implementing a paid volunteer time-off policy for U.S. employees, making service a core part of the company culture,” Ungerman said. “Devon embodies the spirit of using one’s position and influence to create positive change. Her dedication to serving women and children in need is truly inspiring.”