Marissa Marquez has been named the 2026 Houston Corporate Counsel Senior Counsel of the Year for a Nonprofit/Governmental Agency by the Texas Lawbook and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston chapter. Marquez, who is labor and employment legal counsel at Houston Methodist Hospital, will be honored at an award ceremony in Houston May 28.
Randy Johnston has been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers list—marking his sixth consecutive selection—as well as the Texas Super Lawyers list. A co-founder and shareholder at Johnston Tobey Baruch in Dallas, he is recognized for his work in professional liability, legal malpractice, fiduciary litigation and investment fraud.
Robert Tobey, a shareholder at Johnston Tobey Barush in Dallas, has been included on the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers list—marking his sixth consecutive selection—and was named as Texas Super Lawyer. Board certified in consumer and commercial law, he is recognized for handling complex commercial litigation, professional liability and business disputes.
Alistair Dawson will be posthumously inducted as a Legal Legend by the Litigation Section of the State Bar of Texas. Dawson, who passed away in 2025, was a respected partner and trial attorney at Beck Redden, president of the Houston Bar Association, chairman of the Texas Bar Foundation, fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Jane Webre will receive the 2026 Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. Webre is a partner at Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP in Austin, where she focuses on civil appellate law and handles the majority of the firm’s appeals.
Fred Hagans will receive the 2026 Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation. The award, which is given annually to an active trial lawyer who demonstrates outstanding trial skills, ethical standards, and professional conduct, will recognize Hagans’ acclaimed career with his firm Hagans Law.
Becky Diffen has been named to Tamarindo’s Legal Power List 2026, which recognizes the 100 most influential lawyers in the clean energy and infrastructure sectors. A partner with Norton Rose Fulbright in Austin, Diffen is also an adjunct professor at Texas Law, teaching a course in wind and solar law.
Dustin Fillmore has been named a shareholder and director at McDonald Sanders in Fort Worth. His practice focuses on business transactions with an emphasis on real estate, energy, and finance. Fillmore has experience in both litigation and transactional matters and continues to support clients across a wide range of industries.
Richard Orsinger was honored with the John F. Sheehy Jr. Distinguished Attorney Award at the Texas Board of Legal Specialization 51st annual induction ceremony. The award recognizes dedication to public service, professionalism, and excellence in the legal profession. Orsinger, who also was the keynote speaker at the event, has spent decades advancing family law through scholarship, teaching and mentorship across Texas.
Mark Taylor, a director with Kane Russell Coleman Logan in Austin, has been selected to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy and Restructuring guide, which recognizes leading lawyers in several areas of financial restructuring. Taylor dedicates his practice to complex bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation and commercial litigation.
David Kitner received the 2025 Luther “Luke” H. Soules III Award for Excellence in Litigation from the State Bar of Texas. Kitner is senior counsel at Clark Hill in Dallas, representing clients in civil litigation matters involving business and commercial disputes and professional liability.
Kassi Gonzalez has been named as a 2026 finalist in the legal category of the Austin Under 40 Awards. She currently works as a senior attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Kayvon Rashidi has been named a 2026 finalist in the legal category of the Austin Under 40 Awards. Board-certified in family law, he currently serves as a partner for Powers Kerr & Rashidi, PLLC.
Kathy Richardson will be honored at the Austin Black Lawyers Association Foundation’s 2026 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon. The CEO and founder of HR Legal Search with 30 years of experience in career services, Richardson spent several years as the assistant dean of career services at Texas Law.
The Honorable Velva Price will be honored at the Austin Black Lawyers Association Foundation’s 2026 Andrea Pair Bryant Legacy Luncheon. She has served as the Travis County district clerk since 2015—the first African American to hold this position—after practicing law for 25 years. Price also was the first African American woman to serve as president of the Austin Bar Association.
Jonathan Harmon has been named to the 2026 Virginia Black Business Leaders Hall of Fame. A West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran, he was elected the first Black chairman of McGuireWoods after leading the firm’s Business Securities Litigation Department.
Scott Young will be recognized by the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter and The Texas Lawbook with a 2025 Corporate Counsel Award for Achievement in Pro Bono and Public Service. He currently serves as managing counsel for Toyota North America.
The Honorable Wallace B. Jefferson has been elected as the next president of the American Law Institute, effective at the conclusion of the Institute’s 2026 Annual Meeting in May. Jefferson served on the Supreme Court of Texas from 2001 to 2013, including as Chief Justice from 2004 through the end of his tenure. He also previously served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices, representing chief justices from all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Kim McMath has served as president of the Eanes ISD Board of Trustees since May, 2025. McMath, who was first elected to the school board in 2020 and spent two years as vice president, is general counsel for Madison Industries entities, a private company with international holdings.
Craig Ball has been announced as a 2025 finalist for the Gayle O’Connor Spirit Award. He serves as an adjunct professor at Texas Law and general counsel of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model. The award celebrates members of the e-discovery and legal technology communities based on “singular energy, enthusiasm and verve.”
Chris Kratovil was named to D Magazine’s “Best of Dallas Hall of Fame.” An attorney at Dykema who specializes in commercial litigation, Kratovil has been named a “Best Lawyer in Dallas” by the publication for 15 consecutive years.
Jared P. Harrell has been named to the Top 50 Undergraduate Business Directors of 2025 by Poets & Quants for Undergrads. He is an associate professor of practice and director of the Center for Real Estate at the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University.
Mary Goldsmith has been selected for inclusion in Marquis “Who’s Who,” which is a biographical collection covering leaders and achievers from around the world. She is the owner of the Law Office of Mary A. Goldsmith in Port Aransas, Texas, as well as Mary Goldsmith Photography and Art in Nature.
Russ Hollenbeck has been promoted to managing partner of Wright Close Barger & Guzman. A member of the firm for over 23 years, he previously served as a partner before his election to this leadership role.
Annie Holland Miller has been inducted into the University of Texas at Austin Recreational Sports Hall of Honor for 2025. She currently serves as chief business and operations manager of Holand Investments, LTD, and remains involved with RecSports as a member of the department’s Leadership Team.
Brian Haley has been inducted into the University of Texas at Austin Recreational Sports Hall of Honor for 2025.The co-founder of CB Capital, he served as the student government president during the 2003–04 academic year, and was appointed the first student on The University of Texas System Board of Regents in 2006.
Milam Newby has been inducted into the University of Texas at Austin Recreational Sports Hall of Honor for 2025. He served on the ad hoc committee that developed the initial design concepts for the Gregory Gym Aquatic Complex, and he currently works as a partner at Vinson & Elkins in Austin and heads the firm’s technology practice.
Dean Greenwood has been inducted into the University of Texas at Austin Recreational Sports Hall of Honor for 2025. One of four individuals to earn All-Intramural Team honors in four sports within a single academic year, he served in the U.S. Army for four years before law school, where he continued his intramural career playing flag football with the Legal Eagles.
Samuel G. Encarnacion has been chosen to receive the A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Minority Bar Committee, recognizing his outstanding contributions to justice, leadership, and service throughout his career. Encarnacion is senior trial counsel at Haggerty Silverman & Justice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Nancy Carlson, trustee emeritus for The University of Texas Law School Foundation, has been named a 2026 TACA Silver Cup Award honoree. She serves as a partner at the investment firm Carlson Capital, LP and is heavily involved in the Dallas art community.
Veronica Gonzales has been named the 2025 Woman of the Year by the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. Gonzales, who is the senior vice president for governmental and community relations at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, also serves on Texas Law’s Alumni Association Executive Committee.
A downtown plaza in Austin will be named to honor the late Pike Powers, former state representative and longtime contributor to Austin’s technology sector. The “Old” Red River Street will become a pedestrian-oriented space named Pike Powers Plaza.
Chris Stewart of Caldwell Cassady & Curry has earned a spot on the 2025 Texas Rising Stars list as one of the state’s top young lawyers for intellectual property and patent trials. Stewart is a trial lawyer who focuses on patent and general commercial litigation as a principal at the firm.
John Summers has been selected to the 2025 Texas Rising Stars list of the state’s top intellectual property and patent trial lawyers. Summers is a principal at Caldwell Cassady & Curry in Dallas.
Brad Caldwell has been named to the 2025 Texas Super Lawyers list for his work in intellectual property and patent trials. Caldwell, who is a principal at the Dallas trial firm Caldwell Cassady & Curry, also was recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Barrett Robin has earned selection on the 2025 Texas Rising Stars list of the state’s top young attorneys for his successful work in high-stakes personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Robin is a partner at Hamilton Wingo in Dallas.
Chris Hamilton of Hamilton Wingo in Dallas has earned selection on the 2025 Texas Super Lawyers list based on his work in high-stakes personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Hamilton, the firm’s founding partner and owner, also has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Judge Hilda Tagle Knebel, the first Hispanic woman in Texas to become a federal judge, will be honored at Texas Woman’s University with the official opening of the Judge Hilda Tagle Collection on Oct. 1, 2025. This archive will include a comprehensive collection of documents and other materials that chronicle her historic judicial career, community engagement, and civic leadership.
William G. Hagans has been named to the Top 100 Houston Super Lawyers list for 2025 by the Thompson Reuters publication Texas Super Lawyers. He currently serves as an attorney and president of the firm Hagans.
Andres Contreras has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America directory in recognition of his legal excellence in two categories: Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation–Defendants and Product Liability Litigation–Defendants. He is an associate in the Houston office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Kelly Wise has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America directory in recognition of her legal excellence for two categories: Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation and Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants. Wise is a shareholder in the Dallas office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Scott Clark has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in high-stakes intellectual property and patent trials. He is a partner at Alavi Anaipakos PLLC’s Houston office.
Mitchell McFarland has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America directory for his legal excellence in the Commercial Litigation category. He is a shareholder in the Houston office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Stuart Miller has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America directory for his legal excellence in the Health Care Law category. He is a shareholder in the Houston office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Jim Bettis has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his legal excellence in the Insurance Law category. He is a shareholder with the Houston office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Michael McBride has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in high-stakes intellectual property and patent trials. He is a partner at Alavi Anaipakos PLLC’s Houston office.
Mason Hester has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America directory for his legal excellence in the Construction Law and Litigation-Construction category. He is a shareholder in the Houston office of Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Mike Hatchell, appellate counsel at Haynes Boone in Austin, received the 2025 Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award by the Texas Center for Legal Ethics in recognition of his unwavering professionalism and integrity in appellate law.
Ashley Morgan, an attorney and lobbyist at Erben & Yarbrough in Austin, received the 2025 Lumberjack Pride Award by Stephen F. Austin University. This award honors alumni who demonstrate Lumberjack pride and spirit.
Nicholas Lowrey has been honored in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. He is of counsel at Klasko Immigration Law Partners, LLP.