Honors and Awards:

• Hispanic Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award 2010;  Men of Style Honoree, 2008;  Diversity First Award, Texas Diversity Council, 2007;  Alumni of the Year, South Texas College of Law, 2006;  Leadership Houston 25 Distinguished Alumni, 2006 Cadillac Legends Award 2005;  AAMA Hero Award, 2004International Brotherhood Award, Bikur Cholim Hospital Jerusalem 2003;  Texas Monthly Super Lawyers Award 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009;  Savvy Award 2003;  Honorary Family, March of Dimes, December 2002;  Dorothy F. Caram Leadership Award, United Way, Project Blueprint, 2002;  Commendation for Meritorious Service, Houston Independent School District 2002;  NAACP Houston, ALEX Award, Award in Legal Excellence, 2002;  Volunteer of the Month, Aspiring Youth of Houston, 2001;  Leadership Award, Center for Houston's Future, September 13, 2001;  Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award, National Philanthropy Day, Greater Houston Chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives 1999;  Commendation for Meritorious Service, Houston Independent School District 1999;  Baylor University Outstanding Young Alumni Award 1998;  AAMA (Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans) Achiever Award, 1997;  One of the Most Influential Hispanics in Texas Award, Texas Hispanic Magazine, 1996;  Certificate of Citation, the State of Texas House of Representatives, 1993;  Five Outstanding Young Houstonians, Houston Chamber of Commerce and Houston Junior Chamber of Commerce, June 10, 1993;  Outstanding Board Member, Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, January 14, 1993;  Presidential Citation, State Bar of Texas, 1992;  Profile of the Week, KTMD TV Channel 48 and The Houston Chronicle,  April 8, 1992;  Texas Young Lawyers Association Certificate of Outstanding Achievement - 1991;  Houston Bar Association's President's Award - 1990;  Texas Young Lawyers Association President's Award - 1988;  David Donnelly Memorial Award - 1986;  Who's Who in Law School - 1986;  Moot Court First Place Best Brief Award, South Texas College of Law - 1985;  Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities - 1979-80, 1980-81 

Special Licenses/Certifications:

• United States Supreme Court;  Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals;  United States District Court, Southern District of Texas; United States District Court, Northern District of Texas; United States District Court, Western District of Texas;  United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Past President, Houston Bar Association; Past President, Texas Young Lawyers Association; Past President, Hispanic Bar Association;  Past President, Dispute Resolution Center; Past Director, State Bar of Texas; Past Trustee, Texas Bar Foundation; Advisory Board, Public Interest Law Program and Blakely Advocacy Institute; Fellow, American Bar Foundation;  Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation;  Fellow, Houston Bar Foundation; Texas Supreme Court's Judicial Selection Task Force; Texas Supreme Court's Gender Fairness Task Force; Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Chairman, Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Board;  Mayor's Transition Committee for the City Legal Department;  Past Board Member, Executive Committee, Harris County-Houston Sports Authority;  Board Member,  Greater Houston Partnership;  Board Member, Memorial Hermann Continuing Care Corp.;  Board Member, Harris County Hospital District Foundation; Past Trustee, Houston Independent School District Foundation; Advisory Board, Aspiring Youth of Houston;  Advisory Board, Taipei Society;  President, Houston YET Center, Inc.;  Houston Super Bowl Host Committee;  Past Committee Member, Houston Challenge 2000;  Leadership Houston;  American Leadership Forum;  Past President,  Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA);  Past Board, Mental Health Association;  Past Member, HISD Task Force on Magnet and Vanguard Programs;  Past Member, Community Commission of the Houston Community College System; active in local, state and national politics, served on numerous finance and steering committees of office holders and candidates

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Author, "Texas Judges, Tough Choices: System Needs Changing-Now," Houston Chronicle § C,1, March 24, 1996;  Co-Author, "Contribution and Indemnity in Maritime Litigation, 30 South Texas Law Review 215, 1989;  Co-Author, "The New Discretionary Review Powers of the Texas Supreme Court," 50 Texas Bar Journal 1201, 1987;  Presenter, "Ethical Consideration When Preparing a Witness," Harris County Attorney's Office, Houston, November 12, 2009;  Presenter and Author, "Testimony From Your Own Witnesses: Direct Examination Strategies," University of Houston Law Foundation, The Jury Trial, Houston, Texas, August 7, 2008, Dallas, Texas, August 14, 2008, Houston, August 6, 2009, Dallas, August 13, 2009;  Presenter and Author, "Direct Examination Strategies: Getting Testimony From Your Own Witnesses So That It Is Clear and Persuasive," University of Houston Law Foundation, The Jury Trial, Houston, November 29, 2007, Dallas, December 6, 2007;  Presenter and Author, "Direct Examination Strategies," University of Houston Law Foundation, Litigation and Trial Tactics Seminar, December 1, 2006, Dallas, December 8, 2006, Houston;  Presenter and Author, "How to Win the Big Case," State Bar of Texas, Minority Lawyers Conference, April 28, 2006, Houston;  Presenter and Author, The Intersection of Law, Business and Ethics, Leadership Houston, November 14, 2002;  Presenter and Author, Discovery About Experts, Litigation and Trial Tactics, University of Houston Law Foundation, Dallas, December 7, 1995, Houston, December 14, 1995;  Presenter and Author, Discovery Strategy Under the New Rules - How to Get Information; How to Protect It, Litigation and Trial Tactics, University of Houston Law Foundation, Dallas, July 2, 1999, Houston, July 9, 1999;  Presenter and Author, "Federal Civil Reform Act of 1990 and Federal Court Practice," South Texas College of Law Advanced Litigation Course, Houston, Texas, June 8, 1992;  Presenter and Author, "Update on Texas Indemnity Law," Hispanic National Bar Association, San Antonio, Texas, September 13, 1991;  Presenter and Author, "Ethics in Corporate Law," American Corporate Counsel Association, Houston, Texas, August 16, 1988

Educational Background:

• South Texas College of Law, J.D., May 1986, Assistant Editor, South Texas Law Review, Phi Delta Phi Honorary Fraternity, First Place Moot Court Best Brief Award;  Baylor University, B.B.A. May 1981, Graduate of the Honors Program with Distinction; cum laude, Beta Gamma Sigma, Gamma Beta Phi, Beta Alpha Psi, Omicron Delta Epsilon, Phi Eta Sigma Honorary Fraternities