The Houston Bar Association welcomed its new president, T. Mark Kelly, a partner with Vinson & Elkins LLP, at the association's annual dinner meeting May 20 at the River Oaks Country Club.
Other new HBA officers are Denise Scofield of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, president-elect; M. Carter Crow of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., first vice president; Laura Gibson of Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall, L.L.P., second vice president; David A. Chaumette of De la Rosa & Chaumette, secretary; and Brent Benoit of Locke, Lord, Bissell & Liddell, treasurer. Mr. Kelly succeeds Barrett H. Reasoner, who will serve on the board as immediate past president.
New directors for 2010-2012 are Benny A. Agosto, Jr., of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend; Todd M. Frankfort of Fullenweider Wilhite PC; Warren W. Harris of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP; and John K. Spiller of Strasburger & Price LLP.
Mr. Kelly chaired the HBA's Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, which provides pro bono legal services to low-income Houstonians, and the Houston Lawyer Referral Service, Inc., a community service of the legal profession that provides referrals to private practice attorneys who have been screened and selected on experience in specific areas of the law.
He chaired the HBA Harvest Party, the major fundraising event for the Houston Bar Foundation and chaired or co-chaired the HBA Law Week Committee, the Habitat for Humanity Committee, and the Judicial Polls Committee.
As Global Business chair for Vinson & Elkins, Mr. Kelly serves on the firm's management committee. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, public financings and private placements.