This committee reviews entries and selects the winners of the annual Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards. The awards recognize outstanding pro bono work performed during the previous year through any recognized legal services provider or through direct legal representation on behalf of any nonprofit that serves the community.
2024-2025 Chair:
David Harrell, Locke Lord LLP
Questions about this committee? Email HBA Marketing & Communications Director Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org.
2024 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards
We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards, given to outstanding law firms and individuals in recognition of their outstanding pro bono work performed during the previous year through any recognized legal services provider or through direct legal representation on behalf of any nonprofit that serves the community. The awards were presented at the HBF Annual Luncheon on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
- Corporate Law Department - Shell USA, Inc. (L to R) Former HBF Director Travis Torrence, Katherine Baehl, Aselda Thompson, and HBF Director Sara Keith.
- Large Law Firm - Bracewell LLP and Small Firm - Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP (Bracewell LLP Partner and HBF Director Richard Whiteley (R) poses with Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP (L to R) Alex Rodriguez, Amy Snell, George Shipley, Xperanza Uviedo, and Kaitlyn Dawson).
- Mid-Size Law Firm - Winston & Strawn LLP (L to R) Caitlin E. Gernert, Madison K. Haueisen, Sean Beecroft, Madison L. Bennett, Brandon Duke, and HBA Past President Denise Scofield.
- Individual - Jeremy Northum
For questions or additional information, please contact Maggie Martin at maggiem@hba.org or 346-471-3428.
2023 Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Award recipients
Winners were recognized at the HBF Annual Luncheon on February 9, 2023
2023 Corporate Law Department Winner
LyondellBasell
2023 Large Law Firm Winner
Baker Botts L.L.P.
2023 Mid-Size Firm Winner
Beck Redden LLP
2023 Small Law Firm Winner
Diggs & Sadler
2023 Small Law Firm Winner
Martin RG Marasigan Law Office
2023 Individual Winner
Jane L. Ray
2023 The Heart of Pro Bono
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Hillary Holmes, and The Pro Bono Squad
Harris County Heart of Pro Bono Award
In 2022, the HBA Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards Committee presented a special award to posthumously recognize Zenobia Harris Bivens, an outstanding member of the Houston community.
The Harris County Heart of Pro Bono Award was presented to Ms. Bivens' mother, sister, cousin, husband, and son by Justice J. Dale Wainwright (former Texas Supreme Court Justice, Greenberg Traurig, LLP) and Kenneth Wayne Bullock II (Member-in-Charge, Frost Brown Todd LLC). Attendees gave a standing ovation when Justice Wainwright and Mr. Bullock presented the award to Ms. Bivens' family.