News From Around The Bar
March 2023
Karuturi Named Chair at Houston Bar Foundation’s 2023 Annual
Luncheon
Monica Karuturi, executive vice
president and general counsel to CenterPoint Energy, was named the 2023
chair of the Houston Bar Foundation during the foundation’s annual
luncheon on February 9 in Houston. Karuturi succeeds Immediate Past
Chair Christian A. Garza, of Enterprise Products. The Houston Bar
Foundation, or HBF, established in 1982 as the charitable arm of the
Houston Bar Association, supports programs that provide legal
representation to the indigent, promotes community understanding of the
legal system, and fosters the administration of justice. “I am honored
to serve the Houston Bar Foundation as chair at such an exciting chapter
in the foundation’s history,” Karuturi said in a press release. “We just
celebrated a record-breaking Harvest Celebration in the fall, which
raised over $1 million to support pro bono provided through Houston
Volunteer Lawyers. The generosity of our fellows continues to thrive,
and the nominating process for a new class of fellows has already
begun.”
State Bar of Texas announces caselaw alert partnership with
Fastcase
Fastcase and the State Bar of Texas have extended their partnership to provide all active State Bar members with free access to Fastcase caselaw alerts in 13 practice areas. Since 2014, State Bar of Texas members have received unlimited access to Fastcase’s nationwide legal research content service as a bar member benefit. In renewing their long-term association with Fastcase, State Bar of Texas and Fastcase leaders committed to building out the member benefit to provide additional resources. The expanded Texas Case Law Alerts partnership provides bar members with daily alerts and case summaries in 13 practice areas including family law, business law, and personal injury law by drawing on Texas trial and appellate courts. In 2022, State Bar of Texas member access was expanded to include briefs, pleadings, motions, and orders sourced by Docket Alarm and within the Fastcase platform. Bar members can sign up for the Texas Case Law Alerts at go.fastcase.com/texascasealerts.
State Bar committee survey seeks to develop mentorship for
people with disabilities, caregivers
The State Bar of Texas Disability Rights and Issues Committee is asking members of the legal community to take a short survey as it works to create a mentorship program. The committee’s goal is to facilitate mentorship for people with disabilities and for those who are caregivers of people with disabilities, specifically within the legal profession. The committee created a short survey to help pair mentors and mentees and is circulating the survey throughout the legal community in hopes of connecting colleagues within the profession. To take the survey, go to surveymonkey.com/r/B3B5TCD.
State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section, Texas Access to
Justice Foundation raise more than $46,000 with 3rd annual ‘LAW’Tería
game night
Co-sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, or TAJF, the 3rd annual “LAW”Tería game night raised more than $46,000 to benefit the newly opened Uvalde office of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. The event, which was held via Zoom on November 1, 2022, included judges and lawyers from around Texas as participants. Texas Supreme Court Justice Brett Busby delivered remarks, and State Bar of Texas Immediate Past President Sylvia Borunda Firth served as the game night host. Donations can still be made on the game night’s homepage at teajf.org/donate/LawTeria.aspx. For more information about the Hispanic Issues Section, go to texashispanicissuessection.com, and for more information about TAJF, go to teajf.org.
State Bar of Texas offers free CLE webcast on succession
planning essentials
A TexasBarCLE webcast on succession planning essentials titled “Don’t Wait, Designate” is now available to all State Bar of Texas members to watch on demand, free of charge. Go to texasbarcle.com and click on “Free Online Classes.” (Note: You will be prompted to log in to texasbarcle.com, unless you are already logged in.) This webcast covers topics including: 1) essential file management and distribution policies for any transition; 2) planning for a targeted transition and exit (including rules governing the sale of a practice); and 3) planning for a sudden or unexpected cessation of practice under Rule 13.02 and new Rule 13.04 of the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. A lack of planning can impact the legacy attorneys leave for their families and clients. Go to texasbar.com/succession to quickly designate a custodian attorney and to texasbarpractice.com to find a wealth of law practice management resources, including information on closing a practice. “Don’t Wait, Designate” is the third free CLE webcast related to State Bar President Laura Gibson’s initiatives.TBJ
