FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2024
Contact: Rebecca Johnson
Public Affairs Director, State Bar of Texas
512-427-1714, rebecca.johnson@texasbar.com
State Bar of Texas announces 2024 Texas Minority Counsel Program award winners
AUSTIN — The State Bar of Texas today announced the recipients of the 2024 Texas Minority Counsel Program awards, which honor outstanding attorneys for their impact on diversity in the legal profession.
The Texas Minority Counsel Program, or TMCP, is the premier client development, networking, and continuing legal education event for attorneys in Texas. The program, which is open to all attorneys, aims to bolster the amount and significance of legal work obtained by minority, women, and LGBTQ+ attorneys, and attorneys of other historically underrepresented groups.
Recipients of the 2024 TMCP awards appear below along with a description of each award. Past award recipients and more information on the program can be found at texasbar.com/tmcp.
Corporate Counsel of the Year Award — honors an in-house counsel who has opened doors by promoting diversity within their department or company; by consistently hiring diverse attorneys in private practice to perform legal work on behalf of their company; or by engaging in mentorship and volunteerism with the bar or community to foster diversity in the legal profession.
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Winner: Arthur L. Bryan, II; Cedar Park; Hellas, a TenCate Company
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Finalist: Amanda Arriaga, Austin, Texas CASA
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Finalist: Clay Allen, Houston, Houston Rockets
Trailblazer of the Year Award — honors an outside counsel who has promoted diversity within the legal profession through their hiring, retention, and mentoring practices; partnering with minority, women, and LGBTQ+ owned law firms; and involvement with bar or community activities designed to promote diversity within the legal profession.
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Winner: Caroline Harrison, Fort Worth, Pham Harrison
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Finalist: James Phillips, Houston, BakerHostetler
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Finalist: Tiffanie Clausewitz, San Antonio, Clausewitz & Reyes
Rising Star Award — recognizes an attorney who has made strides early in their practice to promote diversity in the legal profession through involvement with bar or community activities.
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Winner: Lena Silva, Houston, Beck Redden
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Finalist: Paige Wright, Dallas, Vinson & Elkins
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Finalist: Sophia George, Houston, Phillips 66
Lifetime Achievement Award — honors an attorney who has demonstrated extraordinary support and advocacy for the advancement of diversity in the legal profession over the course of their legal career.
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Winner: Laura Gibson, Houston, Dentons US
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Finalist: Chief Justice Dori Contreras, Corpus Christi, 13th Court of Appeals
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Finalist: Hon. Vanessa Gilmore, Houston, Roberts Markland
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The State Bar of Texas is a public corporation and an administrative agency of the judicial department of state government that provides educational programs for the legal profession and the public, administers the minimum continuing legal education program for attorneys, and manages the attorney discipline system. For more information, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @statebaroftexas, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/statebaroftexas, or visit texasbar.com.
