Award Winners

2021 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest: Laura Bates

Contribution to Minority Community: Pooja Sethi

Advancement of Women’s Interests: Lessie Gilstrap

Government Service: Sarah Holland

Pro Bono: Ifeoma Ibekwe

Litigation/Appellate: Alessandra Ziek Beavers

Corporate/Transactional: Laura Frederick

Criminal Justice: Beth Payan

2020 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest: Honorable Tamara Needles

Contribution to Minority Community: April Glass Griffin

Advancement of Women’s Interests: Jolsna John Thomas

Government Service: Honorable Chari Kelly

Pro Bono: Caitlin Haney Johnson

Litigation/Appellate: Melissa Lorber

Corporate/Transactional: Natalie Lynch

Criminal Justice: Krista Chacona

Firm/Organization/Govt Entity: Ruffner Schoenbaum Murphy Banaszak

Outstanding Achievement: Diane Hebner

2019 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest: Beth Stevens, Texas Civil Rights Project

Government Service: Leela Fireside, City of Austin

Pro Bono: Susan Allison Kidwell, Locke Lord LLP

Contribution to Minority Community: Daniella Lyttle, The Lyttle Law Firm P.L.L.C.

Criminal Justice: Darla D. Davis, Attorney at Law

Corporate/Transactional: Erin Fonté, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Litigation/Appellate: Amanda Taylor, Butler Snow LLP

Advancement of Women’s Interests: Jessie Neufeld, Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Outstanding Achievement: Justice Eva Guzman, The Supreme Court of Texas

Outstanding Firm: The Travis County Attorney’s Office

2018 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest: Trish McAllister

Contribution to Minority Community: Kathy Richardson

Advance of Women’s Interest: Amber MacIver

Government Service: Catherine Reyer

Pro Bono: Kelly Ausley-Flores

Litigation/Appellate: Kennon Wooten

Corporate/Transactional: Sujata Ajmera

Criminal Justice: Claire Carter

Outstanding Achievement: Cynthia Smiley

Firm: Enoch Kever

2017 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest: Elizabeth Henneke

Contribution to Minority Community: Claire Marie Bow

Advance of Women’s Interest: Lauren Kalisek

Government Service: Katy Gallagher Parker

Pro Bono: Kate Lincoln-Goldfich

Litigation/Appellate: Shelley Dahlberg

Corporate/Transactional: Ann Benolken

Criminal Justice: Bianca Bentzin

Firm: Munsch Hardt

Outstanding Achievement: Hon. Aurora Martinez-Jones

2016 Attorney Award Winners

2015 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest:  Mary Christine Reed

Contribution to Minority Community:  Elizabeth Branch

Advancement of Women’s Interest: Dana Nelson

Government Service: Judge Karen Sage

Pro Bono: Amy Warr

Litigation/Appellate: Marcy Greer

Corporate/Transactional: Melissa Fruge

Criminal Justice: Patricia Cummings

Outstanding Achievement: Susan G. Morrison

Firm: Scott, Douglass & McConnico

Special Recognition for Karnes Pro Bono Project:  Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld

2014 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement
BRENDA STRAMA, BEATTY BANGLE STRAMA PC

Outstanding Firm
HUTCHESON BOWERS LLLP

Advancement of Women’s Interests
AMIE RODNICK, LAW OFFICE OF AMIE RODNICK

Contribution to Minority Community
ELISE HARRIGER AND SARAH WOELK, CASA MARIANELLA

Criminal Justice
KELSEY MCKAY, ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR TRAVIS COUNTY

Government Service
PAMELA LEGATE, ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL,
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION

Litigation/Appellate
SABRINA L. STREUSAND, STREUSAND, LANDON & OZBURN, LLP

Pro Bono
BARBARA ELLIS, LOCKE LORD LLP

Public Interest
ANDREA MARSH, TEXAS FAIR DEFENSE PROJECT

Corporate/Transactional
M’LOU PATTON BELL, MUNCSH HARDT KOPF & HARR P.C.

2013 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – Alexandra Prentice Saenz
Contribution to Minority Community – Leslie Dippel
Government Service – Denise Davis
Pro Bono – Deena Kalai
Litigation/Appellate – Jane Webre
Transactional – Valerie Luessenhop
Criminal Justice – Amber Vasquez Bode
Outstanding Achievement –  Ranelle M. Meroney
Outstanding Firm – Jackson Walker, L.L.P.
Advancement of Women’s Interests (NEW) – Linda Chanow

 

2012 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – Ann Foster
Contribution to Minority Community – Vanessa Gonzalez
Government Service – Anne Morgan
Pro Bono – Karen Crump & Amy Welborn
Litigation – Karen Burgess
Transactional – Ariane Chan
Criminal Justice – Amber Farrelly
Outstanding Achievement – Honorable Harriet O’Neill
Outstanding Firm – Fulbright & Jaworski LLP
Advancement of Women’s Interests(First Year Awarded) – Amy Beckstead
President’s Award – Jana Terry

2011 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – Karrie Key
Contribution to Minority Community – Kelly Howard
Government Service – Judge Deborah Richardson
Pro Bono – Heidi Bloch
Litigation – Catherine Mauzy
Transactional – Diane Senterfitt
Criminal Justice – Jeannette Kinard
Outstanding Achievement – Lulu Flores
Outstanding Firm – Winstead, PC President’s Award – Natalie Niles Argüello

2010 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – Andrea March
Contribution to Minority Community – Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch
Government Service – Rosemary Lehmberg
Pro Bono – Mary Evelyn McNamara
Litigation – Julie Springer
Transactional – Laurie Pompa
Criminal Justice – Judge Nancy Hohengarten
Outstanding Achievement – Martha Dickie
Outstanding Firm – TSTA

2009 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – Cameron Vann
Contribution to Minority Community – Monica Ingram
Government Service – Nelly Herrera
Pro Bono – Sara Saltmarsh
Pro Bono – The Fowler Law Firm
Litigation – Joey Moore
Transactional – Jackie Rixen
Criminal Justice- Dayna Blazey
Outstanding Achievement – Judge Byrne
Outstanding Firm – Walsh Anderson

2008 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – Kristine A. Huskey
Contribution to Minority Community – Gloria Leal
Government Service- Alicia G. Key
Pro Bono- Beverly Stringer
Litigation- Beverly Reeves
Transactional- Karen J. Bartoletti & Christine Sweeney
Outstanding Achievement- Nancy Matchus
President’s Award- Elizabeth Branch
Firm – Casey, Gentz & Magness, L.L.P.

2007 Attorney Award Winners

Litigation – Mary Kay Sicola
Government – Laurie Eiserloh
Outstanding Achievement – Phyllis Schunck
Contribution to Minority Community – Edna Yang
President’s Award – Rande Herrell
Pro Bono – Denise Hyde
Public Interest – Lucy Wood
Firm – Henslee, Fowler, Hepworth & Schwartz, L.L.P.

2006 Attorney Award Winners

Litigation – Lori Erwin Thompson
Government – Sylvia Hardman
Outstanding Achievement – Beryl Crowley
Contribution to Minority Community – Judge Elena Diaz
President’s Award – Conny Kohler Ruthven
Pro Bono – Cathy Fryer
Public Interest – Patricia McAllister
Firm – Cole & Powell, PC

2005 Attorney Award Winners

Litigation – Nicole W. Stafford
Government – Judge Darlene Byrne
Outstanding Achievement – Myra A. McDaniel
Contribution to Minority Community – Veronica Rivera
President’s Award – Laurie Higginbotham
Pro Bono – Nancy Hagquist
Public Interest – Eden Harrington
Firm – Merica & Bourland, PC

2004 Attorney Award Winners

Firm – Taylor & Dunham, L.L.P
Government Service – Christine Monzingo
Litigation – Michelle Cheng
Contribution to Minority Community – Elena Cablao
Outstanding Achievement – Judge Jan Breland
President’s Award – Lia Edwards
Pro Bono – Kendyl Hanks Darby
Public Interest – Alicia Ryan

2003 Attorney Award Winners

Public Interest – MariBen Ramsey
Litigation – Mary Dietz
Contribution to Minority Community – Janet Monteros
Outstanding Achievement – Hon. Jan Patterson
Government Service – Allison Wetzel
Firm – Reeves & Brightwell
Pro Bono – Cynthia Bast
President’s Award – Nancy Hohengarten

2002 Attorney Award Winners

Litigation – Linda Icenhauer-Ramirez
Government – Judge Evelyn McKee
Outstanding Achievement – Judge Margaret Cooper
Contribution to Minority Community – Keitha Butler
President’s Award – Bree Buchanan
Pro Bono – Sara Leon
Public Interest – Ann Forman
Firm – Munsch, Hardt, Kopf & Harr

2001 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Justice Deborah Hankinson
Litigation – Nancy Olinger
Public Interest – Heather Way
Contribution to Minority Community – Elizabeth Garcia Baird
Government – Judge Brenda Kennedy
Pro Bono – Paula J. Salinas
Law Firm/Organization – Solicitor General Gregory Coleman
President’s Award – Susan G. Morrison

2000 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Karen Kretschman
Litigation – Heidi Bloch & Susan Goodman
Public Interest – Denise Brady
Contribution to Minority Community – Achkhine Baroyan
Government – LaRu Woody
Pro Bono – Victoria E. Touchet
Law Firm/Organization – Gilman, Nichols, Hebner & Rixen, P.C.
President’s Award – Barbara Marquardt

1999 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Hon. Bea Ann Smith
Litigation – D. Esther Chavez
Public Interest – Jeana Lungwitz
Contribution to Minority Community – Maria Pabon Lopez
Government – Nancy N. Lynch
Pro Bono – D’Ann Johnson
Law Firm/Organization – Hilgers & Watkins
President’s Award – Ana Mejia Dietche

1998 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Regina Rogoff
Litigation – Linda Secord
Public Interest – Laura Martinez
Contribution to Minority Community – Linda Von Quintus
Government – The Hon. Marilyn Aboussie, Justice Third Court of Appeals
Pro Bono – Cecilia Wood
Law Firm/Organization – Texas Association of School Boards
President’s Award – Karen D. Lee

1997 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Andrea Pair Bryant
Litigation – Connie Ode
Public Interest – Shelia Enid Cheaney
Contribution to Minority Community – Velva Price
Government – Martha Terry
Pro Bono – DeDe Hebner
Law Firm/Organization – Legal Department, Advanced Micro Devices
President’s Award – Barbara Brown

1996 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Diane Henson
Litigation – JoBetsy Lewallen
Public Interest – Cynthia Bryant
Contribution to Minority Community – Michele Dunkerly
Government – Rose Spector
Pro Bono – Ann Clarke Snell
Law Firm/Organization – Legal Aid of Central Texas
President’s Award – Amie Rodnick

1995 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Jan Soifer & Orlinda Naranjo
Litigation – Eva Ramos
Public Interest – Betty Balli Torres
Contribution to Minority Community – Lulu Flores
Government – Elaine Carpenter
Pro Bono – Belinda Herrera
Law Firm/Organization – Travis County District Attorney

1994 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Diane Henson
Litigation – Connie Ode
Public Interest – Leslie Hume
Contribution to Minority Community – Karen Kennard
Government – Amy Johnson
Pro Bono – Ginny Agnew
Law Firm – Perlmutter & Reagan
President’s Award – Amie Rodnick

1993 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Hon. Jeanne Meurer
Litigation – Alice London
Public Interest – Julie Oliver
Contribution to Minority Community – Tricia Tingle
Government – Toni Hunter
Pro Bono – Connie Touchstone
President’s Award – Sarita Hudson, VLS

1992 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Lora Livingston
Litigation – Betty Blackwell
Public Interest – Deborah Hiser
Contribution to Minority Community – Harriet Murphy
Government – Mary Keller
Pro Bono – Susan Burton
Law Firm – Bickerstaff, Heath & Smiley

1991 Attorney Award Winners

Outstanding Achievement – Martha Smiley
Litigation – Martha Dickie
Public Interest – Cascell Noble
Contribution to Minority Community – Angelita Mendoza-Waterhouse
Government – Harriet Burke
Pro Bono – Holly Gilman
Law Firm – Scanlan & Buckle