Foley & Lardner LLP announced today Scott Ellis, partner and vice chair of Foley’s national Energy Litigation Practice, as well as hiring partner for Foley’s Houston office, was awarded two President’s Awards from the Houston Bar Association during its annual dinner on July 15.
The HBA’s President’s Award recognizes outstanding service, professionalism and leadership in Houston’s legal community. Ellis received two President’s Awards, one for his leadership as co-chair of the HBA’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and another for his service on the Implicit Bias Task Force.
As co-chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Ellis designs and implements programs to assist diverse law students and young attorneys succeed in their new careers. As a member of the Implicit Bias Task Force, which was created in the summer of 2020, Ellis is helping to develop an educational training program to address implicit bias in the legal profession and the justice system.
“I am honored to receive these two awards from the Houston Bar Association,” said Ellis. “DEI initiatives and bias training are critical for helping our legal system evolve and create practices that foster inclusive environments. I look forward to continuing my work with the HBA to create a better environment for all lawyers.”
Ellis is an experienced trial attorney, handling high-stakes litigation throughout Texas and the United States for domestic and international clients in the energy, construction, industrial gas, banking and financial sectors. Ellis is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center, where he teaches Trial Advocacy. Ellis also teaches Trial Advocacy to undergraduates through the University of Houston’s award-winning Pre-Law Pipeline Program, which is designed to increase the diversity of law school applicants by providing law school preparatory resources for students who are first generation, low income, or members of groups underrepresented in the legal profession. Ellis is a Trustee of the Henry David Thoreau Foundation and a Board Member of Scenic Houston.
In addition to this recognition by the HBA, the Houston Business Journal named Ellis to its 40 Under 40 Class of 2020, which honors the top 40 business and community leaders under 40 in Houston; and Texas Lawyer awarded Ellis with its Best Mentor Award in 2020, recognizing his commitment to mentoring the next generation of Texas lawyers.