Record columnist receives Texas Bar Foundation award

Southeast Texas Record columnist John G. Browning has been named the winner of the Texas Bar Foundation’s 2013 Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award.

The award is presented annually to a recipient who “exemplifies the qualities of an accomplished legal writer and researcher, is a talented and dedicated practicing lawyer, a servant of the profession as a volunteer and an advocate on its behalf, and who exhibits an unreserved commitment to clients and to the practice of our profession and demonstrates dedication to the Bar and service to the public with the same commitment, dedication, and zeal which defined Dan Price’s life and work,” according to a press release.

Browning, a partner in the Dallas office of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, writes the weekly “Legally Speaking” column for the Record and several other newspapers in Texas.

According to the Lewis Brisbois website, Browning has more than 21 years of experience representing individuals and businesses in state and federal courts throughout Texas and Oklahoma and on a pro hac vice basis in other jurisdictions.

He has experience in trials, arbitration and summary judgments in such areas as wrongful death, breach of contract, product liability, consumer protection, patents, medical liability and employment-related litigation.

According to the website, Browning has successfully defended physicians, hospitals and practice groups in malpractice cases as well as defended doctors and nurses in disciplinary proceedings before state boards.

Throughout his legal career, Browning has received many accolades including designation as a Texas Super Lawyer (2005-2010), and membership in the Litigation Counsel of America (trial lawyer honorary society, 2007-present) and a fellowship from the Texas Bar Foundation. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and the American Law Institute.

Browning also received the Burton Award for Distinguished Achievement in Legal Writing (2009, 2010).

He is the author and co-author of several books, including “The Lawyer’s Guide to Social Networking: Understanding Social Media’s Impact on the Law,” “Strategies for Successful Arbitration,” “The Biggest Legal Mistakes Physicians Make and How to Avoid Them,” and numerous articles.

Since 2005, Browning has authored the weekly syndicated newspaper column “Legally Speaking;” he also serves as a contributing editor for DCEO magazine, and has been a legal columnist for the Dallas Business Journal and Houston Business Journal.

His work has garnered numerous journalism awards, including the Clarion Award for Outstanding Newspaper Column; the Suburban Newspaper Association’s Best Column Writing Award; the Texas Press Association’s Outstanding Column Award; the Press Club of Dallas’ Katie Award for Best Specialty Reporting; the Houston Press Club’s Lone Star Awards for Outstanding Commentary/Criticism in a Newspaper (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and Print Journalist of the Year (2009); 5 Philbin Awards for Excellence in Legal Reporting; and in 2007 he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Journalism.

A graduate of Rutgers University with bachelor's degrees in history and comparative literature, Browning earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1989.

The Dan Rugeley Price Memorial Award, along with the Outstanding Jurist Award, Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award and Outstanding Law Review Article Award, will be presented at a black tie gala on June 21, 2013, during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting.