Wishing you a bright and prosperous 2025!

Mark your calendars for the HBF Annual Luncheon, taking place on Thursday, February 13 at the Hotel ZaZa - Museum District from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Outgoing HBF Chair Linda Hester will present the Foundation's highlights from the past year, and will welcome incoming chair Sara Keith of Shell Oil Company and introduce the 2025 HBF board members. Hon. Sofia Adrogué will give the keynote address. We'll also have a special presentation of the James B. Sales Pro Bono Leadership Award to 2025 recipient Denise Scofield.

Tickets are $160 per person or $1,600 for a table of 10. Prices will increase on January 25. Purchase your tickets NOW! 

Click here to see the luncheon menu. For questions, contact Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org or Alli Hessel at allih@hba.org.

Kick off the year by joining the HBA Senior Lawyers Committee for their upcoming forum on Tuesday, January 28 at Brennan's of Houston, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

David Furlow and Hon. Ken Wise will present on 'Early Texas Justice,' with commentary by Hon. Mark Davidson.

HBA members of all ages welcome. Don't miss the chance to catch up with friends and earn 1 hour of CLE credit, with lunch included!

REGISTER HERE

Whether you're an experienced runner or a beginner, the 40th Annual HBA Eikenburg 8K Fun Run is a chance to do something fun with friends and colleagues while supporting a Houston organization! The event will take place at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston on Saturday, February 15. Registration is open to everyone!

Net proceeds go to The Center for Pursuit, a local nonprofit which provides housing, education, job opportunities, and resources for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. To date, the HBA Fun Run has raised over $1.8 million for The Center for Pursuit. 

Want to take your support one step further? Consider becoming a sponsor! Learn more about the benefits of sponsoring the Fun Run here. Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, 100% of the registration fees benefit The Center for Pursuit. 

Questions? Contact Bonnie Simmons at bonnies@hba.org or (346) 471-3418.

SIGN UP OR SPONSOR

Dive into the critical issues shaping journalism and law at the 37th Annual Law & the Media Seminar: "Protecting Access to Information in the Modern News Gathering Landscape." Join us on Saturday, February 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at South Texas College of Law Houston for this impactful event, co-sponsored by the Houston Bar Association and the Society of Professional Journalists Houston Pro Chapter.

Check-in with breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. Onsite registration will be limited (space permitting), so pre-event registration is encouraged. Registration for HBA members and attorneys is $52. Journalists, communications professionals, and law students are welcome to register for free.

Leading experts in law and media will discuss the day-to-day issues and problems journalists face in their work, recent cases where these issues are at the forefront, and practical advice for journalists to overcome these challenges. Don't miss it! 

CLE credit to come. 

For questions or more information, contact Maggie Martin at 346-471-3428 or maggiem@hba.org.

SEE PANEL TOPICS AND SPEAKERS HERE

SECURE YOUR SPOT

Petitions for nomination to the HBA Board of Directors are now available, with a filing deadline of Friday, February 28, 2025. 

Each petition must designate the officer or director position sought by the candidate and must be signed by at least 10 current members of the Houston Bar Association. A biographical form and a current photograph must accompany each petition. Biographical data will be limited to 200 words. Each candidate will be asked to read and sign the HBA guidelines governing campaigns for officer and director positions.

To request a petition, please contact HBA Executive Director Vinh Ho at vinhh@hba.org or (713) 759-1133.

Do you know a Houston-based individual, law firm, or organization who has demonstrated exceptional commitment and achieved significant progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession? 

Submit your nominations for the 2025 HBA Diversity Awards by clicking the links below.

INDIVIDUAL ATTORNEY NOMINATION FORM

ORGANIZATION NOMINATION FORM

Nominations are due Thursday, March 20, 2025. Recipients will be recognized at the HBA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee's 2025 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon in June.  

For questions or additional information, please contact HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org or at 346-471-3428.

Justice Cook Professionalism Award

The Justice Eugene A. Cook Professionalism Award is presented by the Houston Bar Association to a lawyer or judge who exemplifies the highest level of professionalism and legal ethics. A nominee must have demonstrated, by conduct and character, a longstanding commitment to professionalism and a record of exemplary service in the areas of professionalism, legal ethics, and legal excellence. The nominee must be a role model for younger or less experienced lawyers who make the bar proud of the legal profession. Lawyer nominees may be from a transactional or litigation practice, and nominees must be a member of the HBA.

View Past Recipients

Please send the nominee's resume and three to five letters of support by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025 to HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.

Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award

The Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award is presented by the Houston Bar Association to a woman lawyer or judge for exceptional achievement and leadership in the law. This award recognizes a record of outstanding accomplishments by a woman attorney. The award was established in 2019 and is named in honor of Justice Sondock, the first recipient, who was a trailblazer in the legal profession as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court of Texas and the first woman District Court Judge in Harris County. A nominee must have demonstrated, by conduct and character, a record of exceptional service as a role model, mentor, and advocate in the legal profession, and a lifelong commitment to professionalism. Nominees may be from a transactional or litigation practice, and nominees must be a member of the HBA.

View Past Recipients

Please send the nominee's resume and three to five letters of support by 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 28, 2025 to HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.

The HBA Bar Builds Campaign is a fundraising competition supporting the 27th and 28th Habitat for Humanity home builds. 

Registration for the 1st Annual HBA Bar Builds Campaign is OPEN! Once you register your team, you will receive your team’s custom donation link and can begin raising dollars for the HBA Habitat houses. 

Want more information? We can schedule a time with your firm/organization for a quick meeting to explain how the campaign works. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Joseph Holloway, jholloway@huntonak.com, Catherine Rankin, crankin@huntonak.com, or Charles Shaw, charles.shaw@harriscountytx.gov. 

The latest issue of The Houston Lawyer, the HBA's award-winning bimonthly magazine, features HBA members who are making an impact on the legal profession and the communities they serve. Featured in this issue are:

- Hon. Keith P. Ellison, United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas; 

- Hon. Sofia Adrogué, Judge of the Eleventh Business Court Division; 

- Hon. Christopher V. Phan, Judge of the Houston Greenspoint Park Immigration Court;

- Hon. Gregg Costa, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; and

- Shawn Raymond, partner, Susman Godfrey LLP. 

This issue also features resources for Houston-area veterans and the attorneys who serve them, as well as a conversation with attorney and veteran Matthew J. Hefti of Looney, Smith & Conrad, P.C., and perspectives from attorneys who volunteer as court-appointed special advocates.

The HBA also thanks YOU, our members, for making a difference! Flip through this issue to view photos from the 75th Annual Harvest Celebration and a list of all of our generous sponsors.100% of net proceeds benefit the Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

You can also relive memorable moments from this year's event by looking through the photo album here. 

Click Here to Read the Current Issue of "The Houston Lawyer"

Don’t miss a special episode of Behind The Lines: The Houston Lawyer Podcast, commemorating the 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education with legal icon Kelly Frels, who was directly involved in the historic effort.

Be sure to also listen to the latest full episode, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year to Give Back: Houston Pro Bono Spotlights and Opportunities," which explores some of the ways Houston lawyers have been giving back to people in the Houston area who need legal help. 

DOWNLOAD THE NEW PODCAST EPISODES HERE

HBA Executive Director Vinh Ho and Education Coordinator Alli Hessel were proud to attend a reception on December 19 honoring Mariann Sears to celebrate her retirement, hosted by Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee. Mariann served as the law library director of the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library for 10 years, during which the law library became a part of the Harris County Attorney's Office. 

The HBA thanks Mariann for her partnership to the Bar and service to the greater Houston community! 

As we kick off 2025, please take a moment to visit your HBA membership profile to ensure your information is up to date. Keeping your profile up to date helps you stay connected to the HBA's digital communications, The Houston Lawyer magazine, and more. You can also update your online payment information. 

Visit the MyHBA today to log onto your HBA membership profile. 

The HBA office will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Beginning January 2025, the HBA will no longer accept cash as a form of payment. We accept credit card and checks only.

In order to comply with HBA accounting policies and procedures, please have any and all payments mailed to the following address:

Houston Bar Association 
DEPT. 192 
P. O. BOX 4346  
HOUSTON, TX 77210

Houston Bar Foundation 
DEPT. 340 
P. O. BOX 4346 
HOUSTON, TX 77210

The HBA office will accept deliveries in office before 2:00 p.m. on an emergency basis. Please call before delivering or dropping off payments.  

Are you starting off the new year with a job hunt? Or an employer looking to fill a job opening? Visit the HBA Career Center to learn how you can make connections today. 

Whether you're interested in getting CLE, attending a section event, or making connections to enhance your practice, the HBA has something for everyone! 

Click on the event you would like to register for below to secure your spot in just a few clicks.

Looking to build stronger connections this year? Follow us on social media and show how you’re getting involved with the HBA! Don’t forget to tag us—your post could be featured in our network!

 Here are some of our members' latest posts! 

Tuesday, January 7, 4:30 p.m.: Justice-Elect Susanna Dokupil cordially invites you to her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 1st Court of Appeals, Place 9. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the 1910 Courthouse (301 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77010).

Thursday, January 9, 4:00 p.m.: Judge-Elect Nicole Perdue cordially invites you to attend her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 133rd District Court. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 9 at 4:00 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom.

Friday, January 10, 4:30 p.m.: Justice-Elect Jennifer Caughey cordially invites you to her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 1st Court of Appeals. The ceremony will take place on Friday, January 10 at 4:30 p.m. in the 1910 Courthouse (301 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77010). A reception will immediately follow, hosted by Jackson Walker LLP. 

Monday, January 13, 3:00 p.m.: Judge-Elect Nathan J. Milliron cordially invites you to his investiture ceremony, where he will be sworn into the 215th District Court. The ceremony will take place on Monday, January 13 at 3:00 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom.

Tuesday, January 14, 1:30 p.m: Judge-Elect Emily Detoto cordially invites you to her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 177th Criminal District Court. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Criminal Ceremonial Courtroom (20th floor).

Friday, January 17, 12:00 p.m.: Judge-Elect Erica R. Hughes cordially invites you to attend her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 151st  Civil Court. The ceremony will take place on Friday, January 17 at 12:00 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom. 

Monday, January 20, 3:00 p.m.: Judge-Elect Lillian Alexander cordially invites you to attend her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 507th Family District Court. The ceremony will take place on Monday, January 20 at 3:00 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom. 

Tuesday, January 21, 3:00 p.m.: Judge-Elect Bruce Bain cordially invites you to his investiture ceremony, where he will be sworn into the 165th District Court. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 21 at 3:00 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom. 

Thursday, January 23, 4:00 p.m.: Justice-Elect Tonya McLaughlin cordially invites you to attend her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 14th Court of Appeals, Place 4. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 23 at 4:00 p.m. in the 1910 Courthouse (301 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77010).

Sunday, January 26, 3:00 p.m.: Judge-Elect TaKasha Francis cordially invites you to attend her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 52nd District Court. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 p.m. at the Ensemble Theatre.

Thursday, January 30: Judge-Elect Lee Kathryn Shuchart cordially invites you to her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 61st Civil District Court. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 30 at 4:00 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom. 

Friday, January 31, 1:30 p.m.: Judge-Elect Tracy D. Good cordially invites you to attend his investiture ceremony, where he will be sworn into the 333rd Civil District Court. The ceremony will take place on Friday, January 31 at 1:30 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom.

Friday, February 7, 4:30 p.m: Justice-Elect Andrew Johnson cordially invites you to attend his investiture ceremony, where he will be sworn into the 1st Court of Appeals. The ceremony will take place on Friday, February 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the 1910 Courthouse (301 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77010).

Monday, February 10, 3:30 p.m: Judge-Elect Bruce Bain cordially invites you to attend his investiture ceremony, where he will be sworn into the 165th Civil District Court. The ceremony will take place on Monday, February 10 at 3:30 p.m. in the Harris County Civil Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom.

Tuesday, February 25, 4:30 p.m.: Justice-Elect Katy Boatman cordially invites you to her investiture ceremony, where she will be sworn into the 14th Court of Appeals, Place 6. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, February 25 at 4:30 p.m. at the 1910 Courthouse (301 Fannin St., Houston, TX, 77010).

Mark you calendars for these upcoming events! Click on the events for more details.

2025 LGBTQ+ Mardi Gras Party - Wednesday, February 26, 2025

2025 Golf Tournament - Monday, May 5, 2025

2025 Houston Bar Association Annual Dinner - Thursday, May 15, 2025

VISIT THE HBA ON-DEMAND CLE LIBRARY HERE

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

Looking to earn or renew your Guardianship Ad Litem certification? We offer a convenient CLE webinar course that meets the certification requirements.

EARN YOUR GUARDIANSHIP AD LITEM CERTIFICATION

Congratulations to Reynaldo “Rey” Anaya Valencia on his appointment as the President and Dean of South Texas College of Law Houston, starting July 2025. Dean Valencia comes to STCL Houston from Capital University, where he has served as dean and professor of law since 2020. The HBA looks forward to collaborating with Dean Valencia and continue its longstanding partnership with South Texas College of Law Houston.

HBA Immediate Past President Diana Gomez is the recipient of the 2025 Fellows Award from the National Conference of Bar Presidents. NCBF will celebrate Diana and her award at its Awards Luncheon on Friday, January 31 in Phoenix. 

Norton Rose Fulbright has announced Carter Dugan as the Houston office’s new partner-in-charge and Robert Morris as its administrative partner.

Norton Rose Fulbright has elected the following attorneys to its Houston office: Abraham Chang, Amelia Zhang, Jesika Silva Blanco, Kate Ergenbright, Brad Rutledge, and Jeremy Albright. 

Beck Redden is pleased to welcome Nicholas Bruno, Parth S. Gejji, and Joshua S. Smith to the partnership.

Yetter Coleman LLP promoted Mollie Bracewell and Justin Rowinsky to partner.

Kane Russell Coleman & Logan's Houston office has promoted Kari Lutringer, Catalina Booth, and Meggan Crow to director. 

Ben Smolij has been elevated to partner in Winston & Strawn LLP's Houston office.

King & Spalding promoted Kaleb Walker to a partner in Houston.

Victoria Narezo joined Spencer Fane as an associate in the firm's Houston office.

BakerHostetler has announced its new partner class for 2025, which includes William Geise and Nikki Morris in the Houston office.

Volunteers are needed for HBA's LegalLine Powered by HVL to provide legal advice to low-income individuals. Whether you choose to sign up individually or as part of a group, your help is invaluable.

Volunteer attorneys will be assigned 4-8 consultations to call. Each volunteer will be  matched with an HVL Staff Attorney for guidance and mentorship, as needed. Volunteer attorneys will have access to online legal resources and telephonic language interpreters, if needed. Volunteers will be able to discuss the cases with their HVL mentor attorney prior to and/or during their calls. 

Opportunities to volunteer are available on certain Wednesdays from 5-8 pm or Fridays from 1-5 pm. Click the link below to learn more and sign up. 

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER

For questions, please email probono@hvlp.org.

Breathe, stretch, and unwind with the HBA and HYLA Wellness Committees for yoga on Saturday, January 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at OSO Yoga.

SPACE IS LIMITED! SECURE YOUR SPOT

The HBA Gender Fairness Committee invites you to register for an upcoming discussion about the laws, regulations, and best practices to support new mothers in the legal profession.

The event will be held at the Harris County Law Library on Tuesday, January 21, 12-1:15 p.m. 

Presenters

Moderator: Diana Gomez (Shareholder and Labor & Employment Chair, Chamberlain Hrdlicka)
Megan Mitchell (Associate, Shook, Hardy, and Bacon)
Angeles Garcia Cassin (Partner, Sheppard Mullin)
Akilah Craig (Associate, Locke Lord)

Accredited for 1 hour of CLE. 

Thank you to our generous sponsors: the Asian American Bar Association, Steptoe LLP, and Akin Gump for providing lunch. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

Start the new year with a focus on wellness by joining the HBA Wellness Committee for its first Wellness CLE program of 2025! This engaging event will take place on Wednesday, January 29 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Winstead.

Featuring an insightful presentation, "How the Practice of Gratitude Bolsters your Duty of Competency," from Melanie Bragg of Bragg Law PC and Samantha Torres of Okin Adams Bartlett Curry LLP, this program offers a chance to earn 1 hour of CLE credit, including 1 hour of ethics, while prioritizing your well-being.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance both your personal and professional growth as you step into the new year. 

REGISTER NOW

The HBA Gender Fairness Committee invites all women attorneys in their 1st to 5th year to attend their 11th Annual Speed Mentoring event on Wednesday, February 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Delve into discussions covering career, business, mentorship, and breaking stereotypes, while also seizing the opportunity to connect with legal experts. Limited spaces available.

SIGN UP TODAY

Thank you to everyone who adopted a family to support a local, low-income, HIV/AIDS-impacted family for the 2024 holiday season. See the list of donors and photos on the HBA AIDS Outreach Committee webpage here.

Thank you to all who participated and donated towards the 2024 Veterans Holiday Gift Bags, led by the HBA Campaign to End Homelessness and Hunger Committee. 

View a list of our donors and additional photos on the HBA Campaign to End Homelessness and Hunger Committee webpage here. 

The HBA and HYLA Wellness committees joined forces for a special holiday edition of their monthly Cookbook Club on December 1. Attendees enjoyed swapping festive holiday cookies while connecting with one another.

Thank you Lena Silva for hosting! And thank you to everyone who participated!

Night Court is Houston's all-lawyer theater company that produces an original musical comedy show at the Hobby Center each year. This year, you're invited to the open house for their latest production, Law's Anatomy!

Join the Night Court directors, cast, and crew to learn more about this exciting show. It's not too late to be part of the cast—showcase your singing and dancing talents, have fun with fellow peers, and make a difference in our community.

Proceeds from the production benefit Houston-area charities that provide free legal services to those in need, including Houston Volunteer Lawyers.

RSVP

Houston Lawyer Referral Service

Join the Houston Lawyer Referral Service (HLRS) to boost your law practice with pre-screened client referrals. HLRS members typically earn an average of $20,000 annually from these referrals. Membership dues start at just $175 per year and are prorated. For more details or to see if HLRS is the right fit for you, contact Executive Director Karen Ramsey at kramsey@hlrs.org, call (713) 650-0470, or visit www.hlrs.org/for-attorneys today!

Dispute Resolution Center 

Interested in volunteering with the Dispute Resolution Center?

The Dispute Resolution Center 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 5 years, and be in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

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

Houston Volunteer Lawyers

Happy New Year from Houston Volunteer Lawyers!

As we step into 2025, Houston Volunteer Lawyers would like to thank you for your incredible support and dedication to pro bono service. Your work transforms lives and strengthens our Houston community. HVL is excited to announce that several volunteer opportunities are ready for sign-ups—this is your chance to make an even greater impact in the year ahead!
Visit makejusticehappen.org to explore how you can get involved and continue making justice accessible for all. Here's to another year of making a difference!
 

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.