2026 Categories: Texas Legal Awards 2026

Attorney of the Year

This award goes to the lawyer who, over the past 12 months, had the biggest impact on the law or the Texas legal community or did the most to advance the cause of justice.

Please submit a 500-word essay describing why this nominee deserves to win, as well as a color portrait headshot. Mention at least one or two cases or deals over the past 12 months that exemplify the impact and significance of this attorney’s work. Be specific—include info such as dates, names of the company or client represented, and award or deal amounts. Or, if the attorney instead oversaw a big project over the past 12 months, share the details and impact of that project.

Best Mentors

This category is designed to recognize lawyers or legal professionals who have helped less-experienced colleagues become better lawyers. The relationship between mentors and mentees need not be formal. We are looking for someone who passed along valuable knowledge to younger attorneys or legal professionals, paving the way for advancement and stellar contributions to the profession.

Please submit a 500-word essay describing why this nominee deserves to win. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

Dealmakers of the Year

This award highlights major transactions in Texas. Areas can include, but aren’t limited to, corporate, M&A, venture capital, bankruptcy, tax, and real estate.

Please mention at least one or two cases or deals over the past 12 months that exemplify the impact and significance of this attorney’s work. Be specific—include info such as dates, names of the company or client represented, and deal amounts. Explain why the deal was significant.

Please submit a 400-word nomination explaining why this person was the best dealmaker in Texas. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected.

Energy Attorney of the Year

This award recognizes Texas-based lawyers who achieved impressive results over the past 12 months in the field of energy law.

Submit a 400-word essay describing why the nominee deserves to win. Please mention at least one or two cases or deals over the past 12 months that exemplify the impact and significance of this attorney’s work. Be specific—include info such as dates, names of the company or client represented, case outcomes, and award or deal amounts. Explain why the case or deal was significant.

Please submit a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected.

Influential Woman of the Year

This award honors Texas’ best women lawyers who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession. We honor the trailblazers, advocates and leaders who have demonstrated exceptional skill in their fields and dedication to advancing equality. From breaking barriers in the workplace to championing important causes in our communities, these remarkable women inspire us.

Please submit a short essay (400 words or less) about why this nominee deserves recognition in this particular category. Mention at least one case, deal, or project over the past 12 months that exemplifies the impact and significance of this attorney’s work. Explain why the case, deal, or project was significant.

We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

In-House Impact Award

Open to Texas-based lawyers from public or private companies and organizations

The work of in-house lawyers is often unheralded, but those lawyers have an outsized impact on the practice of law, and those around them, every day. This honor recognizes a general counsel, legal department or in-house attorney who had a significant accomplishment over the past 12 months.

Please submit an essay of up to 500 words that describes the nominee’s skills, strategies and results, as well as a color portrait headshot. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected.

Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year

This award recognizes lawyers who are leaders in the field of IP law and/or had major successes over the past 12 months in the field of IP law. Please detail a specific case or cases that proved this person deserves recognition. Be specific—include info such as dates, client names, case outcomes, and verdict or settlement amounts. Explain why the case or deal was significant.

Please submit a 400-word nomination explaining why they deserve to win, focusing on accomplishments from the past 12 months and highlighting cases that have stood out. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

Law Firm of the Year

This prestigious award goes to the law firm that had a stellar year in the Texas legal community. To be a strong contender in this category, firms should enter submissions across multiple categories including (but not limited to): Attorney of the Year, Lifetime Achievers, On the Rise, Best Mentors, Best Legal Innovation, Legal Innovators/Most Innovative Firm, Litigation Departments or Dealmakers categories.

Please submit a 500-word essay explaining why you believe special recognition is deserved. To qualify, the firm’s work over the past 12 months had an impact in the field of law or the legal profession. Please mention at least one or two cases or deals in 2025 that exemplify the impact and significance. Be specific—include info such as dates, names of the company or client represented, and award or deal amounts. Or, if the law firm implemented a big project in 2025, share the details and impact of that project.

Legal Innovators

Open to Anyone in the Texas Legal Community

This award seeks to honor innovative efforts by individual lawyers and legal professionals. Their innovation could be technology-oriented, but it doesn’t have to be. We want to hear about attorneys and legal professionals who have come up with game-changing ideas for their practices or organizations and who were then able to turn that vision into reality. Please submit an essay of up to 500 words describing why this person is a legal innovator. We also request a color portrait headshot and a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected.

Lifetime Achievement

Nominees for the Lifetime Achievement award will be recognized for having a significant impact on the practice of law in Texas over a notable legal career. Mention at least two landmark cases or deals from any time period that exemplify the impact and significance of this attorney's career.

If Texas Lawyer has given an individual this award in the past, the same individual cannot win this award a second time.

Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.
We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected.

Litigation Departments of the Year: General Litigation

Litigation Results
Describe, in 500 words or less for each result, six to eight litigation results that demonstrate your department’s excellence. This list can and should include trial and appellate results, including the month and year it was resolved, and could include pro bono results. For each result, please include the names of the parties involved. Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant.

Litigation Department 500-Word Essay
Write an essay, in 500 words or less, explaining why your firm should be recognized, such as overcoming specific challenges and achieving specific goals.

Litigation Department Q&A
There is an additional response section to several questions – this section will be published if the nominee is selected. Please log into the awardsportal to view the Q&A.

Litigation Departments of the Year: Specialty Categories

We will be accepting nominations in these practice categories:

Real Estate
Finance
Intellectual Property
Products Liability/Mass Torts
Labor and Employment
Insurance
Professional Liability
Class Action

You may submit nominations for more than one litigation subcategory, but separate submissions will be expected for each. The nomination will include:

Litigation Results
Describe, in 500 words or less for each result, six to eight litigation results that demonstrate your department’s excellence. This list can and should include trial and appellate results, including the month and year it was resolved. For each result, please include the names of the parties involved. Descriptions of results should include specific dollar amounts where relevant.

Litigation Results 500-Word Essay
Write an essay, in 500 words or less, explaining why your firm should be recognized, such as overcoming specific challenges and achieving specific goals.

Litigation Department Q&A
Short responses provided by the practice leader.

The competition is open to any law firm with a Texas presence; Texas lawyers must have had a significant impact on the work being presented, though the work can extend beyond Texas.

Maritime Attorney of the Year

This award recognizes lawyers who are leaders in the field of maritime law and/or had major successes over the past 12 months in the field of maritime law. Please detail a specific case or cases that proved this person deserves recognition. Be specific—include info such as dates, client names, and verdict or settlement amounts.

Please submit a 500-word essay describing why this nominee deserves to win and a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected.

Most Promising Newcomer

Open to anyone in Texas with 1-3 years of experience as an attorney

This award honors an individual in their first years as an attorney who has shown exceptional potential, work ethic and legal acumen. We’re looking to recognize newly qualified lawyers who have made a major impact on their businesses and communities, demonstrating the qualities necessary for them to quickly climb the career ladder. Nominations should provide specific examples of how they have proven themselves. Include any projects/initiatives they have led or helped launch.

On the Rise

This award recognizes Texas’ most promising lawyers under the age of 40 as of the nomination deadline. Please tell us, in up to 400 words, about folks who have wielded influence in their practice areas in Texas and beyond. They should be innovators, developing unique practice niches, amassing robust books of business, demonstrating strong leadership qualities, showing expertise in litigation, in-house or transactional work and committing themselves to pro bono, charitable and professional volunteer work. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

Managing Partner of the Year

These are the leaders of the Texas offices who seem to do it all. They balance their caseloads with management of their firm’s day-to-day affairs, while keeping an eye on the firm’s long-term strategic vision. To qualify, the bulk of the relevant work should have been completed over the past 12 months, and the nominee must be Texas-based.

Please submit a 500-word essay describing why this nominee deserves to win, as well as a color portrait headshot. Give data and details about how the law firm grew, improved, or succeeded thanks to this person’s leadership.

We request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected. Please also include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

Pro Bono Attorney of the Year

How has this attorney excelled in the area of real estate law? We welcome nominations for cases on any and all aspects of real estate law in the state, including titles, deeds, zoning, estate planning, property taxes, land use, ownership, etc.

Please mention at least one or two cases or deals over the past 12 months that exemplify the impact and significance of this attorney’s work. Be specific—include info such as dates, names of the company or client represented, and award or deal amounts. Explain why the case or deal was significant.

Please submit a 400-word nomination explaining why they deserve to win, focusing on accomplishments from the past 12 months and highlighting cases/transactions that have stood out. We also request a short Q&A from the honoree that will be published if they are selected. Please include a high-resolution color photo of the nominee, at least 200 dpi.

Real Estate Attorney of the Year