After an extensive nationwide search, Houston attorney Vinh Ho will join the Houston Bar Association as its new executive director on May 13. Ho is an attorney with over 16 years of experience in immigration and family law, civil matters, and nonprofit leadership. He succeeds Executive Director Mindy G. Davidson, who will retire later this year after an orderly transition.

Ho is the senior director of legal services at the Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics at South Texas College of Law Houston. Ho also served as executive director of the Houston chapter of Boat People SOS, Inc., a nonprofit primarily serving the Vietnamese and Asian community, with branches across the United States and Southeast Asia. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards and State Bar of Texas Committees, including Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters and Laws Relating to Immigration and Nationality. Ho earned his joint J.D./MBA from Texas Tech University and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston with a BBA in Management Information Systems and a B.S. in Biology.

“I am thrilled to join the Houston Bar Association,” said Ho. “I have dedicated my career to public service and look forward to serving Houston lawyers in furtherance of our profession and the administration of justice.”

Ho will succeed Davidson, who has served the HBA as its executive director since 2019 after a more than 30-year legal career in Houston, focused on fiduciary responsibility and corporate governance. 

“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the HBA’s executive director and I am proud of all that our team has accomplished over the past five years. Vinh brings fresh perspective and I believe the future of the HBA will be very bright under his leadership.”

HBA President Diana Gomez said Ho’s experience and expertise will serve as a valuable resource as the organization continues to grow. 

“We greatly appreciate Mindy Davidson’s contributions and are very excited to have Vinh Ho join us as executive director at such an important time for the organization,” said HBA President Gomez. “Vinh’s background and experience will be pivotal as we continue to expand the HBA’s impact.”

We look forward to seeing you at the HBA Annual Dinner on Tuesday, May 14 at the River Oaks Country Club from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

We will welcome the leadership of incoming HBA President David Harrell, celebrate our award winners, and honor outgoing HBA President Diana Gomez.

Ticket sales will close on Tuesday, May 7.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

PURCHASE YOUR ANNUAL DINNER TICKETS HERE

Congratulations to the 2024 HBA Award Winners

Justice Eugene A. Cook Professionalism Award
Hon. Keith P. Ellison, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Christopher L. Tritico, Tritico Rainey, PLLC

Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award
Hon. Carolyn Dineen King, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Exemplary Service to the Legal Profession and the Community Award
Benny Agosto, Jr.

We invite you to support the 75th Annual Harvest Celebration, benefiting Houston Volunteer Lawyers. 

Be a part of this milestone celebration by pledging your commitment to the Harvest Celebration Campaign before Friday, May 17 to be recognized as an early supporter in HBA publications.

Pledge Online or Download a Printable Form Here

Every dollar donated is amplified into $4 of pro bono legal services provided to the greater Houston community. Join our village and make a difference today. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org or Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org.

Purchase your early bird tickets to the HBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee's 2024 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon, taking place Thursday, June 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the J.W. Marriot Houston Downtown. Ticket prices increase on May 15. 

This event is dedicated to celebrating, connecting, and honoring our DEI Program IL students and employers, as well as all Houston summer associates. There will be a panel discussion, "'Voices of Democracy:' The Power of the People in Democracies," featuring Judge Yvonne Ho of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, and Sergio Garza with Westlake Corporation. 

We will also recognize the recipients of the DEI Law Student Scholarships, Diversity Awards, and Law Day Contest.

Purchase Your Tickets Here 

We also welcome luncheon sponsors. Net proceeds benefit our DEI Law Student Scholarship Program for those hired in public interest or governmental positions. Thank you to our sponsors!

Sponsor the 2024 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon

Time is running out to submit your nominations for this year's HBA Diversity Awards! We invite you to nominate outstanding individuals and organizations you would like to recognize for their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the legal profession.

Nomination forms are available to download below. 

Individual Attorney Nomination Form

Organization Nomination Form

For questions or additional information, please contact Associate Executive Director Ashley Gagnon Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org or 346-471-3431.

Thank you to all who attended the 2024 Bench Bar Conference that took place on Friday, April 12!

Members of the Houston legal community gathered at the Hotel ZaZa – Museum District for the first-ever multi-practice Houston Bar Association and Houston Bar Foundation Bench Bar Conference, “Bridging the Bench & Bar: Forging Connections," bringing together state, federal, civil, criminal, appellate, and other practice areas. This premier event of President Gomez’s year brought together over 400 members of the bar, fostering relationships and connections, as well as discussion on significant developments in the legal profession.

Thank you to the nearly 60 members of the judiciary and practitioners who enthusiastically accepted the invitation to present. These speakers took part in panel discussions and led roundtable conversations with attendees. Panel topics included “Lawyering in the Modern World: Where Are We, Where Are We Headed, and How Do We Save Ourselves” and “The AI Train: Get Onboard or Get Run Over.”

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the HBA Bench Bar Conference Committee for your leadership producing this year’s conference, and we appreciate our 2024 Bench Bar Conference sponsors!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for "Bites & Beverages for the Bar" immediately after the Bench Bar Conference on April 12! 

The event brought together members of the bench and bar together in an informal, inviting environment with cuisine and libations from around the world to reflect Houston’s diversity. Guests mingled by the pool to celebrate our shared commitment to the administration of justice in the best legal community in the nation.

Thank you to our "Bites & Beverages for the Bar" sponsors!

View the "Bites and Beverages from the Bar" Photo Album

As a reminder, the HBA adopted the following policy for judicial campaigning at HBA events:

There should be no active campaigning, no literature distributed, no buttons worn, essentially nothing to indicate that a judge is in a contested race, and certainly nothing urging a favorable vote. Judges and judicial candidates may serve on HBA committee(s) and appear in HBA programs.

Stay engaged and informed with your legal community! Visit the HBA's online events calendar for upcoming CLEs, section and committee programming, and more. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

HBA Online Events Calendar

There's still time to purchase your tickets to watch the Houston Dash take on the Kansas City Current this Sunday, May 5 at 12:00 p.m.!

Tickets start at just $15. All HBA members and their families are welcome to join.

Ticket sales will close on Friday, May 3.

Thank you to the HBA Gender Fairness Committee for hosting this family-friendly event! 

Please note the committee interest form for the 2024-2025 bar year will reopen on Monday, May 6.

Complete your HBA Committee Interest form here to request appointment to an HBA committee for the 2024-2025 bar year! 

Please note that appointment to a committee is not guaranteed, and reappointment to a committee on which you currently serve is not automatic.

More information on each of the HBA committees can be found on hba.org/committees. If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org or 346-471-3431 or Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org or 346-471-3293.  

The HBA LGBTQ+ Committee will be holding their annual Pride Mixer on Wednesday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m. at Pearl Bar + Side Peace.

It is with PRIDE that we will honor Judge Steven Kirkland as the first recipient of the Houston Bar Association’s LGBTQ+ Committee’s Benny Agosto, Jr. Pride Award.

Connect with Houston-area law students, attorneys, and judges in a fun and relaxed setting! Colleagues, friends, members, non-members - everyone is welcome! 

RSVP for this Free Event Here

The committee will be walking with its 2nd Annual pride float in the Houston's New Faces of Pride parade on Saturday, June 22 in Downtown Houston. 

Sponsorship Opportunities

These CLE programs are FREE for HBA members to attend. Non-members may also attend most programs for $26 per person (unless otherwise noted). Register by noon the day of the program (unless otherwise noted) via the HBA website calendar.

Explore our new, searchable online CLE library!

Visit the New HBA On-Demand CLE Library Here

Questions? Contact HBA Education Coordinator Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org. 

 If you have good news you would like to share in the HBA Bulletin, please email HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.

Marcy Rothman, a director of Kane Russell Coleman Logan in Houston, will retire at the end of May after nearly 40 years of practice. Marcy was one of the first women to practice oil and gas law in Texas and was one of the first female partners of a major Texas law firm.
 

George Bernhardt has joined Eversheds Sutherland as real estate counsel in Houston.

Sorrels Law has added Raina Spielman Newsome as a partner to the law firm.

Mandy Nathan has joined Reynolds Frizzell LLP as of counsel.

Jeff Whittle, Houston office managing partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, has joined the firm's global board.

Kimberley Spurlock has joined Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner as of counsel.

Be a part of the HBA's Teach Texas project and inspire 7th grade students with judicial civics and court history this month. Dive into Texas court stories, lead hands-on activities, and make a lasting impact.

Volunteers will commit to teaching one class on two different days and can select from a list of schedules. 

Volunteer with Teach Texas Here

The HBA co-sponsored "Understanding the Impeachment Process in Texas," a CLE program held at South Texas College of Law Houston on April 23. Thank you to South Texas College of Law Houston and Dean Michael Barry for hosting the program and co-sponsoring, and thank you to the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library and the Harris County Attorney's office for also serving as co-sponsors. 

Introductions were given by HBA President Diana Gomez, Dean Michael Barry, and Jonathan Fombonne (Deputy County Attorney & First Assistant County Attorney). Andre Davison (Director, Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library) then provided a brief history of impeachment. Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee moderated the conversation with attorneys Rusty Hardin and Dan Cogdell. 

The recording of the program will be available in our Online CLE Library in a few weeks. 

Thank you to State Bar of Texas President Cindy Tisdale and HBA President Diana Gomez for a thoughtful conversation about civility and professionalism in the law, and for providing lessons from Ted Lasso that lawyers can apply to their practice. 

"Professionalism in the Law: What Would Ted Lasso Do?" is accredited for CLE and will be available in the HBA Online CLE Library in the coming weeks. 

Thank you to everyone who joined the HBA Habitat for Humanity Committee in April to help us build the HBA's 26th Houston Habitat Home! See our list of volunteers on our committee webpage here. 

In 2023, more than 5,400 volunteers worked over 27,000 hours on Houston Habitat for Humanity projects, including building homes. The HBA is proud to have contributed to Houston Habitat for Humanity's work and serve as the organization's longest serving partner for over 25 years! 

Want to help? We welcome contributions in any amount to support our 27th house, click here to make a donation. 

Thank you to all who joined the HBA and HBA Campaign to End Homelessness and Hunger Committee to take part in the Houston Food Bank's Annual Food from the Bar Campaign! 

Thanks you to your efforts, we provided volunteers, funds, and food for the Houston Food Bank during the campaign.

Visit the Food from the Bar page here to see how you helped the HBA serve our community. 

We appreciate the volunteers who teamed up with members of the HBA Special Olympics Committee to volunteer in April for several events!

We are grateful to all of our volunteers who joined the HBA Lawyers for a Beautiful Houston (L4BH) Committee on April 6 at Dawson Lunnon Cemetery to celebrate Keep Houston Beautiful Day and participate in a cleanup effort. Their contributions included planting native plants in a 'pocket prairie' design, re-mulching trails, distributing trees across the cemetery, planting two new cherry trees, removing trash from the park, refurbishing existing benches, installing two new concrete benches, trimming low tree branches, disposing of old debris, filling an entire container with trash and tree debris, outlining the church and grave sites, and creating new flower beds.

The HBA DEI Committee hosted its boot camp at BakerHostetler LLP on April 13. The event featured several presentations spanning litigation, transactional practice, criminal practice, the judiciary, and diversity and inclusion. Thank you to all who are participating in the 2024 DEI 1L Summer Clerkship Program. We look forward to seeing you all at the 2024 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon!

To report your hires, please contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org.

We thank our volunteering attorneys and Houston Volunteer Lawyers who assisted with the HBA LGBTQ+ Committee's End of Life Clinic on April 10 at the Montrose Center’s Law Harrington Senior Living Center. This second clinic day was focused on facilitating the execution of essential estate planning documents for residents, supported by volunteer notaries and witnesses. Our dedicated volunteers helped ensure peace of mind with important end of life planning for low income senior adults from the community. The HBA LGBTQ+ Committee spearheaded this community service project with the purpose of serving LGBTQ+ seniors with their legal planning needs. 

The HBA Professionalism Committee was honored for the second year to sponsor and attend the ADL's annual Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award luncheon on April 18. Shawn L. Raymond of Susman Godfrey, LLP was honored. Students from South Texas College of Law Houston, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and University of Houston Law Center joined us at our table.

The HBA Professionalism Committee welcomed all to the Houston Day of Civility in the Law program on April 4 at the 1910 Courthouse.  

The welcome, introductions, and overview of civility and professionalism in the legal profession were given by Professionalism Co-Chair Eric D’Olive and HBA President Diana Gomez.

Event chair William Hagans moderated a conversation with Hon. Manpreet Singh, reflecting on the Texas Lawyers’ Creed and its impact on the profession over the past 35 years. Shawn Raymond, this year’s ADL Karen H. Susman honoree, led a discussion with Chief Justice Terry Adams, Hon. Rebeca Huddle, and Hon. Cheryl Elliot Thornton, exploring the significance of civility within the courtroom. Ileana Blanco led the final panel with Hon. Audrie Lawton-Evans, Jeff Nadalo, and Arielle Pranger discussing civility toward non-lawyers & the public.

The free CLE program was followed by a reception, where attendees enjoyed treats and networking.

The HBA Professionalism Committee thanks our sponsors Bracewell LLP and Russell Ducoff, and our panelists for helping Houston celebrate its annual Day of Civility in the Law.

The HBA LGBTQ+ Committee joined forced with EPAH (Executive & Professional Association of Houston) and the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce on April 3 at Rich’s Houston for their first professional meet-up of the year, where the hard working members of our community came together to connect outside of their usual professional setting.

Click Here to View the Spring Mixer Photo Album

HBF Chair Linda Hester and the HBF Board of Directors hosted past chairs of the HBF on April 25 at Brennan’s of Houston in an annual celebration of the HBF’s leadership and successes. The HBF board enjoyed catching up with past chairs, including Debra Baker (2008), Glenn Ballard (2013), Susan Bickley (2020), Bill Buck (2015), Robert DeWitt (1988), Polly Fohn (2021), Chris Garza (2022), Mark Kelly (2001), Ron Lewis (2000), Michael Moehlman (1989), Barrett Reasoner (2018), Scott Rozzell (1993), Travis Sales (2017), Karl Stern (2007), and John Eddie Williams (2014).

Join the Texas Metro Bars on Tuesday, May 7 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a FREE virtual conversation with U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez and University of Michigan Law Prof. Barbara McQuade to discuss how Americans can address the threat of disinformation and renew our commitment to democracy. Accredited for 1 hour of MCLE credit. Click here to register.

Houston Lawyer Referral Service

HLRS truly values its members! See below for a testimonial from a dedicated, longstanding HLRS member:

"Our firm has been a member of the Houston Lawyer Referral Service (HLRS) since 2012. HLRS serves an important role in our community by helping the public find a vetted lawyer who suits their needs. The referrals they send are from people in genuine and immediate need of legal assistance and almost always ready to retain a lawyer. Due to our diverse practice areas and number of attorneys who are HLRS members, we receive numerous referrals daily. A reputable and reliable referral source is essential for solo or small firm practice.

If you're looking to start a new practice or grow your existing one, it's important to get the phones ringing, and enlisting with HLRS is a great way to do that! Below are some additional tips for attorneys looking to start or grow their practice:

Build Your Business Plan: Passion for law is great, but a solid business plan is essential. Outline your target market, marketing strategy, financial projections, and operational structure. This plan will not only guide your initial steps but also secure funding if needed.

Become a Marketing Machine: Gone are the days of clients simply walking through your door. Develop a marketing strategy that leverages online directories, social media, and content creation showcasing your legal expertise. Build a user-friendly website and establish yourself as a thought leader in your chosen niche.

Embrace Technology: Streamline your practice with legal practice management software. This will help manage client intake, scheduling, billing, and case documents, organizing your workflow and freeing you to focus on client service and strategy.

Network and Build Relationships: Connect with other lawyers, potential referral sources, and industry professionals. Attend bar association events, join relevant online communities, and build a strong network that can support your practice and generate referrals.

Karen Ramsey and her staff are always professional and easy to work with. I highly recommend joining HLRS!"

Become an HLRS member and help to make a difference for those in need of legal services! Join by visiting hlrs.org or contact Karen Ramsey at (713) 650-0470 or kramsey@hlrs.org for more information about HLRS membership.

Dispute Resolution Center  

Interested in volunteering with the Dispute Resolution Center? The DRC uses only qualified mediators who have completed training in accordance with Texas Civil Practices & Remedies Code, Sec. 154.052 and that meets or exceeds the guidelines set forth by the Texas Mediation Trainers Roundtable.

In addition, mediators must also complete the required family mediation training as dictated by Texas Civil Practices & Remedies Code, Sec. 154.052 and possess a J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school in order to mediate divorce cases for the Dispute Resolution Center.

Mediators used specifically for active civil cases (not divorce or credit card debt cases) must possess a J.D., have been licenses to practice in Texas for a minimum of five years, and be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

For additional information, visit drchouston.org and click on the 'Mediation' tab. Please provide a copy of your most recent resume, bio, and a copy of your mediation certificate(s). Feel free to contact the DRC directly at (713) 274-7100 or email@drchouston.org should you have any questions.

Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Attention all firms hosting summer associates this season! Don't miss out on the chance to enrich their experience with meaningful impact. Consider sponsoring one of HVL's Pro Bono Summer Associate Projects. Together, let's enhance our community while fostering the growth of legal talent. Explore available projects and sign up today for a summer of purpose and growth. Email Brittany Krohn at brittany.krohn@hvlp.org for more information. 

Thank you to these firms and companies who have agreed to assume a leadership role in providing equal access to justice for all Harris County citizens. Each has made a commitment to provide representation in a certain number of cases through the Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

The 100 Club

The Houston Bar Association 100 Club is a special category of membership that indicates a commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and the betterment of the community. The following law firms, government agencies, law schools and corporate legal departments with five or more attorneys have become members of the 100 Club by enrolling 100 percent of their attorneys as members of the HBA.