The Texas Access to Justice Commission and its co-sponsor, the State Bar of Texas, honored veterans throughout the state at the Champions of Justice Gala Benefiting Veterans Wednesday night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. This year’s gala marked a record-breaking year in terms of funds raised, with over one million dollars brought in by a long list of sponsors – all to help provide civil legal services to low-income Texas veterans.
This year’s event was chaired by David R. McAtee II, senior executive vice president and general counsel for AT&T Inc., and Van H. Beckwith, executive vice president and chief legal officer at Halliburton. Supreme Court of Texas Justice Brett Busby, who is also the Court’s liaison to the Texas Access to Justice Commission, served as the master of ceremonies and throughout the evening emphasized the significant civil legal needs among veterans. All of the Supreme Court of Texas’ Justices were in attendance at this year’s gala.
The Macey and Harry M. Reasoner Access to Justice Lecture Series Keynote Speaker was Bryan Stevenson, the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. He has argued and won multiple cases at the United States Supreme Court and has initiated significant new anti-poverty and anti-discrimination efforts that challenge inequality in America. Mr. Stevenson is also the author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy, which became a major motion picture starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. His work has won him numerous awards, including the MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Prize, the ABA Medal, and the National Medal of Liberty from the American Civil Liberties Union.
This year’s gala brought in sponsorships from 18 different companies and 23 law firms, as well as foundation and individual and supporters. The Presenting Sponsor was Paul Hastings. Champion-level sponsors contributing $35,000 each included AT&T; Baker Botts LLP; BakerHostetler; CenterPoint Energy; Chevron; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Greenberg Traurig; Halliburton; H-E-B; King & Spalding; Kirkland & Ellis; Latham & Watkins LLP; The David & Cristy McAtee Family Fund; The Moody Foundation; The Sullivan & Cromwell Foundation; Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) & Toyota Financial Services (TFS); Troutman Pepper Locke; and Vinson & Elkins LLP. Other corporate sponsors included Atmos Energy; ConocoPhillips; Coterra, Diamondback Energy; Frost Bank; Meta Legal Pro Bono & Community Service Committee; NYSE Texas; Oracle; Phillips66; Plains All American Pipeline; Texas Instruments, and USAA. Other Foundation, law firm or individual sponsors having contributed at least $5,000 include Bartlit Beck; Baylor Law School; Beck Redden; Hon. Jane Bland and Doug Bland; Blank Rome; Crowell & Moring LLP; Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc.; Gibbs & Bruns; Johnston Tobey Baruch, PC; Harriet E. Miers; Norton Rose Fullbright; O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Perkins Coie; Scott Douglass & McConnico; Sidley Austin; Kay Sim; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; State Bar of Texas Corporate Counsel Section; The University of Texas School of Law; The Patricia Villareal, Thomas Leatherbury & The Dorothea L. Leonhardt Foundation; and Paul & Patti Yetter.
Two awards were presented at this year’s gala. Justice Busby presented the 2025 James B. Sales Boots on the Ground Award to Rebecca Flanigan. Ms. Flanigan was nominated by many colleagues, all of whom expressed appreciation for her dedication and advocacy. Throughout her time with TRLA, Ms. Flanigan has demonstrated her ability to navigate the ever-changing legal landscape by challenging institutions and fighting for relief for those facing adversity. She is a mentor, a “guiding force” in her community, and enjoys training the new generation of legal aid attorneys.
Justice Busby presented the 2025 Harry M. Reasoner Justice for All Award to Fred Krasny. Mr. Krasny was nominated by several colleagues, all from various organizations. A semi-retired legal aid advocate, Mr. Krasny served as the Fort Bend Bar Association president and vice president of Fort Bend Lawyers Care, as well as holding other volunteer positions within the legal community. His philanthropy continues today as he volunteers for Interfaith Ministries, Meals on Wheels through the Jewish Community Center, and the Japanese Garden at Hermann Park.
David McAtee celebrated the success of the evening, stating “because of tonight, hundreds, if not thousands, of Texas veterans with life-impacting legal needs will soon find a lawyer standing up for them, just as our veterans have stood up for us.” Harriet E. Miers, of Troutman Pepper Locke, formerly Locke Lord, chairs the Texas Access to Justice Commission. The commission’s executive director is April Faith-Slaker. The proceeds from this event will be distributed by The Texas Access to Justice Foundation to support civil legal services for low-income veterans across Texas.
Original source can be found here.