On May 15, members gathered at Hotel ZaZa – Museum District to welcome the historic presidency of Daniella Landers as the 2025–2026 HBA President and to mark the beginning of a new Bar year. It was truly an evening to remember, including the success of our first-ever Afterglow reception. Music filled the room as we connected, celebrated, and embraced all that’s to come.

We are thrilled to welcome Daniella Landers as HBA President and look forward to her leadership in the year ahead. Thank you to Immediate Past President David Harrell for his remarkable service and dedication!

VIEW ANNUAL DINNER PHOTO ALBUM, SPONSORS, AND AWARD WINNERS

There are just 10 days left to purchase your tickets to the 2025 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon, happening Friday, June 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis!

This year’s luncheon will feature an engaging panel discussion on the 14th Amendment and its role in democracy, with insights from Prof. L. Darnell Weeden, Prof. Emily Berman, and Brian Klosterboer.

The program also includes a special presentation of the HBA Diversity Awards to this year’s honorees:

• Cisselon Nichols Hurd, Senior Legal Counsel at Shell USA, Inc.
• Spencer Fane LLP

Earn .5 hour of ethics credit while celebrating employers and their summer associates. We’ll also present Law Student Scholarships and Law Day Contest winners! All are welcome. Thank you to our sponsors!

REGISTER HERE

BECOME A SPONSOR

We are thrilled to announce the Houston Bar Association has won five State Bar of Texas Stars of Texas Bars Awards! They are:

Outstanding Partnership: 40th Annual HBA Eikenburg Fun Run – Pursuit Center

News Article: How Loper Bright Changed the Chevron Doctrine, Why it Matters, and What Happens Next by Fermeen Fazal

General Interest Story: Support in the Harris County Veterans' Treatment Court Program by Ciara Perritano and Julisa Rodriguez

Series of Articles–Substantive Law: Cybersecurity Law, articles written by Alamdar Hamdani, Lucy Porter, Lynn Sessions, Kimi Gordy, Jessica S. Johnson, Pierce Cox, and Laura L. Ferguson

Series of Articles–General Interest: What the Bill of Rights Means to Me by Rachael Thompson, Jill Yaziji, Anna De Maggio, John Ngunjiri, and Shannon Quadros

The HBA is incredibly proud of Houston Volunteer Lawyers’ very own Brittany Krohn for receiving the State Bar of Texas Pro Bono Coordinator Award. Congratulations! Click here to learn more.

VISIT THE SOLO & SMALL FIRM SECTION WEBPAGE

JOIN THE NEW SECTION

Congratulations to all of the winners of this year's HBA Law Day Contests!

The HBA holds an essay contest, poster contests, and photography contests where students interpret the theme of Law Day and submit their work to the Law Week Committee.
This year's theme was: "The Constitution's Promise: Out of Many, One."

We are also proud to share that five of the Houston area students who took first place in the HBA’s own Law Day Contest also placed on the statewide level. They are: 

• Aryan Singh, Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Care Professions (Houston ISD) – Essay/Editorial Contest, Harmony in Law
• Stephen Castro, Blanson Career and Technical Education High School (Aldine ISD) – Photography Contest, Working with the Constituents 
• Jonah Wan, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (Houston ISD) – Poster Contest (6^th-8^th grade), Rule of Law Fosters Unity and Diversity
• Wren Schumacher, Hayes Elementary School (Katy ISD) – Poster Contest (K-12), We the People
• Carlos Rosas, Bellaire High School (Houston ISD) – Poster Contest (Special Needs Class), Going to Court

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND LEARN MORE

Thank you for being a member of the Houston Bar Association. We look forward to continue serving you this coming bar year!

HBA membership dues renewal invoices for the 2025-2026 bar year have been sent (online renewal option is also available). Log into your HBA account to renew your membership quickly and easily via credit card. While renewing your membership dues online, please take a moment to review your online profile to ensure your contact information is accurate – including email address, phone number, mailing address, and employer.

***The deadline to renew your membership for the 2025-2026 Bar year is July 1, 2025.***

Contact the HBA Membership Department at membership@hba.org with questions.

 Stay connected and never miss a moment! Discover how our incredible members are making an impact with the HBA: 

Father’s Day is almost here, and what better way to celebrate than with a gift from the HBA Store? Whether Dad is at the office or out and about, we have everything he needs to represent the HBA in style.

From professional essentials to casual favorites, there’s something for everyone—including yourself, friends, and coworkers. Shop now and find the perfect gift that shows your support for the HBA!

VISIT THE HBA STORE TODAY

Looking to start the new Bar year with fresh employment opportunities? Visit the HBA Career Center, where we connect employers and job seekers. You’ll also find a Career Planning Portal offering resume writing services and professional coaching.

HBA CAREER CENTER

Questions about the HBA Career Center? Email HBA Marketing and Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.  

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

Just 1 day away! The HBA LGBTQ+ Committee will host their annual Pride Mixer on Wednesday, June 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at City Cellars.

It is with PRIDE that we will honor Brian Klosterboer, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Texas, as the recipient of the 2nd Annual Benny Agosto, Jr. Pride Award.

Connect with Houston-area law students, attorneys, and judges. Free food, drinks, and parking are included. Colleagues, friends, family, HBA members, non-members - everyone is welcome! 

RSVP FOR THIS FREE EVENT HERE

Need to catch up on CLE credits? Browse our online CLE video library and earn the hours you need—anytime, anywhere!

Visit the HBA On-Demand CLE Library Here

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

On May 12, the HBA co-convened with Texas Metro Bars and law schools from across the state for a virtual CLE program titled “A Conversation on the ABA Accreditation of Texas Law Schools.” The program explored the role and impact of the American Bar Association (ABA) in law school accreditation. The Texas Supreme Court is accepting public comments on whether to maintain, modify, or end ABA accreditation for Texas' law schools. The deadline for public comments is July 1, 2025. 

Thank you to our co-conveners and speakers. 

Missed it? The recorded CLE is available online for FREE to the public. The video is accredited for 3 hours of MCLE, including 0.5 hours of ethics.

WATCH NOW

Co-Conveners:

Baylor Law School
SMU Dedman School of Law
South Texas College of Law Houston
St. Mary’s University School of Law
Texas Tech School of Law
Thurgood Marshall School of Law
University of Houston Law Center
UNT Dallas College of Law

Earn .5 hour of ethics credit at the 2025 DEI Summer Associate Luncheon on Friday, June 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis.

This year’s program features a panel on the 14th Amendment and democracy with Prof. L. Darnell Weeden, Prof. Emily Berman, and Brian Klosterboer, plus a presentation of the HBA Diversity Awards.

SECURE YOUR SPOT

Alistair Dawson received the Attorney Professionalism Award from David J. Beck and the Garland R. Walker Chapter of the American Inns of Court.

O’Melveny is happy to announce that Meghan McElvy has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in its General Litigation Practice Group and Energy Industry Group.

Bernard Miller has joined Baker Donelson's Houston office as an associate.

Sorrels Law is thrilled to announce the addition of David James to their firm. He will be leading their new office in Beaumont, Texas.

The HBA Wellness Committee, in partnership with HYLA, is proud to present the next video in "The Many Faces of Wellness" series, featuring Emily Rohles, an associate at Baker Botts L.L.P., who serves on multiple HBA committees and is the 2025–2026 HYLA President-Elect. She also served as the 2024–2025 HYLA Secretary.

In the video, Emily shares her approach to wellness, including: engaging different parts of her brain outside of work, spending time outdoors and staying active, prioritizing and scheduling time for herself and her friends, and never feeling ashamed to lean on others or seek help when needed—and much more!

WATCH NOW

As the Bar year comes to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to The Houston Lawyer Editor in Chief Andrew Pearce for his outstanding leadership, and to our talented team of associate editors for their dedication and contributions throughout the year:

• Anna Archer, Associate Editor, Podcast
• Nikki Morris, Associate Editor, Articles
• Lane Morrison, Associate Editor, Legal Trends
• Sydney Huber Bateman, Associate Editor, Committee/Section Spotlight
• Braden Riley, Associate Editor, Off the Record
• Kyle Steingreaber, Associate Editor, Media Reviews

Click here to read the latest issue on Cybersecurity Law and listen to the newest podcast episode—available now.

On May 6, HBA members gathered for the Gender Fairness Book Club and to help raise awareness of domestic violence. The committee was joined by local author and lawyer Mekisha Jane Walker. Ms. Walker shared her story and presented her survival experience in her book, But, Why Did You Stay?: How I Survived Domestic Violence.

The HBA Special Olympics Committee hosted a free CLE program on May 9 that explored the challenges and opportunities faced by special needs families and their professional advocates in ensuring that individuals with disabilities receive adequate support under the law. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!

On May 14, the HBA Gender Fairness Committee hosted a virtual CLE on menopause, including related terminology, health risks, and treatment options. The program featured a discussion on how menopause can be accommodated—formally or informally—in the workplace, and how businesses can support women during this inevitable stage of life.

The HBA Professionalism Committee hosted its Professionalism Mentorship Breakfast on May 22, discussing How to Make the Most of Your Mentorship Relationship.

Thank you to all who attended, our amazing speakers, and King & Spalding for hosting the event!

On May 17, we proudly completed our 27th Habitat for Humanity home build! Thanks to the incredible dedication of our volunteers and teams, we were able to build a safe, welcoming home for a deserving family. A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this dream a reality!

Thank you to all the amazing participants who made our 77th Annual Golf Tournament, presented by Steno, an absolute hole-in-one success on May 5! And a special thank you to our generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers. 

The day was filled with friendly competition, camaraderie, and support for two fantastic causes: the Houston Bar Foundation and Houston Habitat for Humanity. Every swing and every putt contributed to making a difference in our community. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

Let's raise our clubs high to congratulate our outstanding winners:

A big thank you to John Ngunjiri for sponsoring the awards, ESi for sponsoring the Chipping Contest, and Veritext for sponsoring the Putting Contest!

See you next year for our 78th Annual Golf Tournament! 

The HBA LGBTQ+ Committee awarded four $2,000 scholarships in its name to students at the Out for Education Scholarship Ceremony on May 4. Presenting the scholarships were Chase Jones and Bonnie Simmons on behalf of the committee.

Congratulations to our recipients: Steven Soria, Christian Zelaya, Jack Nguyen and Madeleine Flett!

You are invited to join a virtual CLE presentation, “Tool Kit for Practicing in the Major Urban Counties in Texas – Part 2,” on Tuesday, June 10, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. This program is accredited for 1 hour of MCLE credit.

This is a valuable opportunity to hear directly from members of the judiciary and enhance your understanding of courtroom practices across Texas’ major counties.

REGISTER HERE

You are invited to join HYLA for their 2nd Annual Meet the Bar Presidents Breakfast on Friday June 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Empire Café. Join HBA President Daniella Landers and other bar leaders from the State Bar of Texas, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, and more! 

Houston Lawyer Referral Service

Now Accepting HLRS Membership Applications for 2025–2026

Join a trusted network that’s been connecting the public with qualified, pre-screened, and insured attorneys since 1958. Annual dues start at just $175! HLRS is looking for experienced attorneys who charge $200–$400/hour or work on a contingency fee basis. Let HLRS help grow your practice with reliable referrals tailored to your area of expertise. Apply or learn more at www.hlrs.org/for-attorneys.
 

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

Equal Access to Justice Champions

Congratulations to the individuals, firms, and corporate legal departments who met their case placement goals this past year! Your dedication to increasing access to justice for low-income Texans continues to make a positive impact. Keep an eye out for HVL newsletters and social media posts celebrating EAJ champions this month. Email probono@hvlp.org if you, your firm, or corporate legal department would like to become a champion. 

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.