The Houston Bar Foundation (HBF) has announced its annual awards for pro bono service, volunteerism and legal writing. The HBF is the charitable arm of the Houston Bar Association (HBA) that enables the organization to fund crucial programs that provide legal services and support the administration of justice for all Harris County citizens.
Awards are given for outstanding contributions to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (HVLP), which provides pro bono legal services to low-income residents; for volunteer service to the Dispute Resolution Center, which provides free alternatives to formal litigation; and for legal writing in the HBA's professional journal.
The law firms of Vinson & Elkins LLPand Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.shared the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program by a Large Firm. Haynes and Boone, LLPreceived the award for Outstanding Contribution to the HVLP by an Intermediate Firm. Adams & Reese LLP received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the HVLP by a Mid-size Firm. Weycer, Kaplan, Pulaski & Zuber, P.C. received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the HVLP by a Small Firm, while Abrams Scott & Bickley, L.L.P. earned the award for Outstanding Contribution to HVLP by a boutique firm. Marathon Oil Corporationreceived the award for Outstanding Contribution to HVLP by a Corporate Law Department, and Terry L. Hart was honored for Outstanding Contribution to HVLP by a solo practitioner.
David Verbit,president and managing partner of David M. Verbit & Associates, was honored for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the Dispute Resolution Center, and Achille Arcidiacono, a real estate broker and investor, was honored for Longevity of Exemplary Service to the Dispute Resolution Center.
Hon. Georgia H. Akers, associate judge for Harris County Probate Court No. 3, was honored as the author of the outstanding legal article published during 2010 in The Houston Lawyer, the HBA's professional journal.