For Immediate Release
Benny Agosto Jr. Takes Helm as 2026 Houston Bar Foundation Chair
HOUSTON – February 17, 2026 – Benny Agosto Jr., Managing Partner at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, assumed the role of Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation (HBF) during the Foundation’s Annual Luncheon and succeeds Sara Keith, Senior Legal Counsel at Shell USA, Inc.
During Keith’s tenure as Chair, the Houston Bar Foundation achieved several significant milestones, including:
- Awarding more than $100,000 in grants to 15 Houston-area projects addressing critical legal and community needs, including domestic violence services, civic education in grade schools, and stipends for law students participating in legal internship programs;
- Hosting a highly successful Harvest Party, which raised a net $869,000 for Houston Volunteer Lawyers, the Foundation’s primary beneficiary; and
- Strengthened its long-term sustainability and community impact through a substantial unrestricted grant from the Houston Lawyer Referral Service.
Agosto said that as Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation, he intends to lead by example.
“Giving back and supporting our community and the Houston Bar Foundation comes naturally to my wife, Nikki, and me. We come from humble families, and our parents taught us the importance of service. We have been blessed, and we believe it is our responsibility to pay it forward. Working together, the Foundation Board and I will continue to grow the Houston Bar Foundation and expand its reach by providing legal services to those in need and supporting scholarships for students. There is no better way to serve our community. It is a genuine honor to serve as Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation for 2026.”
Agosto devotes his career to representing individuals and families harmed by the negligence of others, handling cases involving catastrophic injury and wrongful death, including premises liability, workplace and industrial accidents, products liability, and commercial vehicle litigation. He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Texas.
A graduate of Houston Christian University and South Texas College of Law Houston, Agosto demonstrates an enduring commitment to legal education and leadership development. He donated more than $4 million to establish The Agosto Justice Center for Leadership and Empowerment at South Texas College of Law Houston, dedicated to expanding diversity and opportunity in legal education. His leadership service includes serving as President of the Houston Bar Association, President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, and as President and Founder of the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas Foundation, which raised more than $750,000 in scholarships for Hispanic law students attending Houston-area law schools.
(left: 2026 HBF Chair Benny Agosto, Jr. presents 2025 Chair Sara Keith with a plaque of service for her leadership.)
2026 Houston Bar Foundation Board of Directors
2024–2026 Directors
- Jennifer A. Hasley, Hasley Scarano, L.L.P.
- Stephanie Noble, Vinson & Elkins LLP
- Krisina Zuñiga, Susman Godfrey L.L.P.
2025–2027 Directors
- Sejal Brahmbhatt, Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP
- Angela Daniels, Kinder Morgan
- Andrew Edelman, LyondellBasell
- Denise Scofield, O’Melveny
2026–2028 Directors
- Alison Chen, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Hon. Eva Guzman, Wright Close Barger & Guzman, LLP
- Grace Ho, Chevron Corporation
- John Zavitsanos, AZA
Sara Keith will continue her service on the Board as Immediate Past Chair. Houston Bar Association President Daniella Landers will serve as Ex Officio, along with HBA Executive Director and Secretary of the HBF Board, Vinh Ho.
Awards Presented at the HBF Annual Luncheon
The Foundation also presented the 2026 James B. Sales Pro Bono Leadership Award to Travis J. Sales. Established in 2009, the award recognizes outstanding leadership and a sustained commitment to access to justice. Sales is an HBF Life Fellow and has demonstrated decades of service, including chairing Houston Volunteer Lawyers, supporting the Kay Sim Endowment, and launching the Veterans’ Legal Initiative during his tenure as HBA President, an initiative that became a statewide model. He remains actively involved in the Veterans Legal Initiative today. Sales also served in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Houston Bar Association, Director of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates, and Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation.
Additional awards presented:
Houston Volunteer Lawyers Pro Bono Awards
- Chevron – Corporate Law Department
- Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP – Law Firm
- Porter Hedges LLP – Law Firm
- DLA Piper LLP (US) – Law Firm
- Jeremy Berman – Individual
Dispute Resolution Center Awards
- June A. Mann and David Aaron DeSoto – Longevity of Exemplary Service
- LeRoy “Mac” Coleman – Outstanding Contribution
Outstanding Legal Article in The Houston Lawyer
- Alamdar S. Hamdani and Lucy Porter, authors of In the Crosshairs of Cybercriminals – Houston’s Infrastructure Industries Are Under Attack (May/June 2025)
Additional information about the Houston Bar Foundation and its programs is available at hba.org/foundation.
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The Houston Bar Foundation was established in 1982 as the charitable arm of the Houston Bar Association. Since that time, the Foundation has supported programs that help provide legal representation to the indigent, promote community understanding of our legal system and foster the administration of justice. Through the generosity of its contributors, especially its Fellows, the Foundation has been able to make a difference in the greater Houston community.
