Houston Bar Association

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Local bar associations

Houston’s legal community is bigger than any one bar. These affinity, practice-area, and geographic associations work alongside the HBA, and their leaders are glad to hear from you. Find a group, then reach out to the people running it this year. You’ll also find organizations for paralegals and other legal professionals toward the end of the list.

Please note: some of this information may not be current. Leadership was compiled in October 2026 from each association’s website and HBA records. Officers change every bar year, and terms vary by association, so confirm details with the association before relying on them.

Affinity and diversity bars

Houston Lawyers Association (HLA)

Houston’s African American bar, serving Black lawyers, judges, and law students in the greater Houston area since 1955.

Leadership 2026–27 bar year

  • PresidentMarkia BordeauxHarris County Attorney’s Officepresident@houstonlawyersassociation.org
  • President-electFallon Hamilton VaughnLone Star Legal Aid
  • TreasurerJoseph DumasThompson Coe
  • Recording secretaryElizabeth LockettEarl Carl Institute
  • ParliamentarianJhanalyn BlountNextEra Energy
  • Immediate past presidentElan Moore JonesMoore Jones Law
More board members

Directors, 2025–27: Vanesti Brown (Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer), Cawlyn Robinson (The Hudgins Law Firm), Vernique Hutchinson (McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen)

Directors, 2026–28: Kourtney Benton (Federal Government), Che Bonner-Walton (Roven Camp), Mariah Gorom (Lone Star Legal Aid)

Hispanic Bar Association of Houston (HisBA)

A nonprofit founded in 1987 to advance Hispanics in the legal profession, with scholarships for Houston-area high school and law students.

Leadership 2026–27 bar year

  • PresidentDubraska Jaramillo
  • Immediate past presidentRuth T. Mendez
  • Executive directorDaniel Rodriguez
More board members

2026–27 officers also include: Gustavo Torres Jr., Eric Muñoz, Krisina Zuñiga, and Lena Silva

Mexican American Bar Association of Houston (MABAH)

Founded in 1972 to serve Hispanic attorneys and the Hispanic community; general meetings are usually held the second Monday of each month.

Leadership 2026–27 (March–March term)

  • PresidentPatricia (Pati) Limón de Rodríguez
More board members

2025–26 officers as last posted online: Daniela Fuentes-Sarkis (president), Aimara Flores (vice president), Diana Davila (treasurer), Stephanie Diaz (corresponding secretary), Audris Ponce (recording secretary), Hon. Joe Villarreal (parliamentarian)

Asian American Bar Association of Houston (AABA)

Founded in 1984 for attorneys, judges, and law students of Asian heritage or with Asian American interests, offering CLE, mentorship, and pro bono work.

Leadership 2026 officers

  • PresidentJeffrey KuoPolsinellipresident.aabahouston@gmail.com
  • President-electElizabeth GallioFoley & Lardner
  • SecretaryAlishan AlibhaiYetter Coleman
  • TreasurerJohn HwangSulzer
  • Board chairFlorence ChenChevron U.S.A. Inc.
More board members

Vice presidents: Yenmi Tang, Development (Jackson Walker); James Nguyen, Solo & Small Firm (Integrity Law Group); Jay Zhang, Community Relations (Littler Mendelson); Anh Nguyen, Programs (Shell USA, Inc.); Julia Vann, Membership (Winstead); Amelia Zhang, Nominations (Norton Rose Fulbright)

South Asian Bar Association of Houston (SABA Houston)

The Houston chapter of the South Asian Bar Association of North America and the largest SABA chapter in Texas.

Leadership 2026–27 bar year

  • PresidentMaha Ghyas
  • President-electMaryam Ghaffar
  • SecretaryShruti Modi
  • TreasurerHina Halepota
  • Immediate past presidentAbdul Farukhi

Houston Association of Women Attorneys (AWA)

Founded in 1976 to promote women in Houston’s legal community through CLE, networking, judicial screening, and law student programs.

Leadership 2026–27 program year

  • PresidentMaricela Alvarado
  • President-electJordyn Emmert
  • Vice president of membershipBrianna Zook
  • Vice president of communicationEvelyn Garcia
  • TreasurerShelby Tahtouh
  • SecretaryAdriana Merlan
  • Immediate past presidentGlenda Duru
More board members

Historian: Anna Archer

Board members at large: Audrey Momanaee, Hon. Dawn Rogers (judicial), Patricia Limon de Rodriguez, Jireh Davis, Brizza Ortiz, Jennifer Hasley

Stonewall Law Association of Greater Houston (SLAGH)

Houston’s LGBTQ+ bar association for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and ally attorneys, judges, paralegals, and law students.

Leadership 2026–27 (July–June term)

  • PresidentCameron K. Rivers
  • Vice presidentDeborah Lawson
  • SecretaryDavid Miller
More board members

Board: Stephany Alvarez, Danielle Healey (director), Vonda Covington (director), Christiana Childers (law student liaison)

Muslim Bar Association of Houston (MBAH)

Provides networking, education, and community service opportunities for Muslim attorneys, judges, and law students in Houston.

Leadership 2026–27 (February–February term)

  • President-electJoseph JaroudiJaroudi Law

Houston Young Lawyers Association (HYLA)

Founded in 1937 as the Houston Junior Bar Association, HYLA serves lawyers in their first twelve years of practice and law students.

Leadership 2026–27 bar year

  • PresidentEmily RohlesBaker Botts L.L.P.
  • President-electTrevor DeasonJones Day
  • TreasurerDavid GutierrezYetter Coleman LLP
  • SecretaryCallie CopelandGermer
  • Immediate past presidentLena SilvaSteptoe LLP
  • Executive directorLucy Fisher Cain(281) 685-9929
More board members

Directors: Paola Barbieri, Simrita Chamdal, Callie DeCort, Miguel Escobar, Thomas Frashier, Erica Fauser, Trey Gifford, Baker Howry, Chuck Matula, Jaime Payne-Holt, Janet Oyeteju, Austin Paalz

Houston Young Lawyers Foundation: Brooksie Boutet (Shipley Snell Montgomery LLP), chair-elect

Practice-area and court bars

Houston Trial Lawyers Association (HTLA)

A community of more than 1,400 attorneys dedicated to the civil justice system and the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial.

Leadership 2026–27 (September–August term)

Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (HIPLA)

Intellectual property lawyers, patent agents, and law student affiliates; co-hosts the annual Fall Institute on IP Law with the UH Law Center.

Leadership 2026–27 bar year

Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)

The largest local criminal defense bar in the country, with more than 600 active members practicing in Harris County.

Leadership 2026–27 bar year

  • PresidentDamon Parrish II
  • President-electVik Vij
  • Vice presidentSylvia Escobedo
  • SecretaryWade Smith
  • TreasurerJustin C. Harris
  • Past presidentBrent Mayr
  • Executive directorChristina Appelt(713) 498-9649

Federal Bar Association, Southern District of Texas Chapter (FBA SDTX)

Chartered in Houston in 1959, the chapter serves federal practitioners and the bench across all seven divisions of the Southern District.

Leadership 2026 officers

  • PresidentAnna Archer
  • President-electNelson Ebaugh
  • Vice presidentLee Whitesell
  • TreasurerTiffany Lewis
  • SecretaryMarjan Batchelor
  • Immediate past presidentTina Q. Nguyen

Tex-ABOTA, Houston Chapter

The Houston chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only association of experienced civil trial lawyers on both sides of the docket, dedicated to preserving the civil jury trial.

    Leadership 2026 (term ends December 31, 2026)

    • PresidentDwaine M. Massey
    • President-electPaul Smith

    Texas General Counsel Forum, Houston Chapter (TGCF Houston)

    The Houston chapter of the Texas General Counsel Forum, a professional organization for general counsel and senior in-house lawyers.

    Leadership 2026 (term ends December 31, 2026)

    • PresidentJennifer GallagherSasol
    • Vice presidentJeff KaplanLyondellBasell

    Energy Bar Association, Texas Chapter (EBA Texas)

    The Texas chapter of the Energy Bar Association, for lawyers practicing energy regulation, transactions, and litigation.

    Leadership 2026–27

    • President-electScott GailleGaille Law

    Houston Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (HACBA)

    A local association of attorneys who represent consumer debtors in bankruptcy in the Houston area.

    Leadership 2026–27

    • PresidentGenevieve GrahamGraham PLLC

    Geographic bars

    Fort Bend County Bar Association (FBCBA)

    A nonprofit association of attorneys practicing in Fort Bend County. Officers serve one-year terms; directors serve two-year terms.

    Leadership 2026 (term ends December 31, 2026)

    More board members

    Board members: Chidi Anunobi, Larry McDougal Jr., Heather M. Bachman, Lynn Foster, Cheranda Robertson, Mackenzie Yeager, Bri Holcombe, Betsy Grubbs, Michael Hanson, Jamie Jordan, Richard Murad, Angela Nicewonder

    Montgomery County Bar Association (MCBA)

    Founded in 1932, the largest bar association in Montgomery County, with more than 350 members.

    Leadership 2026–27 (May–May term)

    • PresidentDonna Owen

    The Woodlands Bar Association (WBA)

    Founded in 2006 to support the roughly 700 lawyers who live or work in The Woodlands through networking, CLE, and community service.

    Leadership 2026 (term ends December 31, 2026)

    Galveston County Bar Association (GCBA)

    Dating to 1846, the oldest bar association in Texas, with monthly luncheons, CLE, community service, and a young lawyers section.

    Leadership 2026 (term ends December 31, 2026)

    • PresidentRob Musemeche
    • President-electEmilio Longoria
    • SecretaryLeslie Burgoyne
    • TreasurerMegan Jones
    • Immediate past presidentHon. Jeff Brown

    Brazoria County Bar Association (BCBA)

    Formed in 1941 and based in Angleton, with a charitable arm, the Brazoria County Bar Foundation.

    Leadership 2026–27 (July–June term)

    • PresidentPatton Ritter
    • President-electClaudia Sullivan
    • TreasurerToni Kersey
    • SecretaryJayne Griffin
    • Immediate past presidentRachel Aguilar

    Katy Bar Association (KBA)

    Serves attorneys who live or practice in Katy, with CLE, scholarships, and an attorney referral directory.

    Leadership 2026–27

    Legal professional organizations

    These organizations serve paralegals, legal administrators, legal marketers, and law librarians who work alongside Houston’s attorneys.

    Houston Paralegal Association (HPA)

    A professional association for paralegals in the Houston area, offering education, networking, and career development.

      Leadership 2026–27 (May–June term)

      • PresidentDenise Leiva

      Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (HMPA)

      A Houston-area paralegal association focused on professional development and networking for paralegals.

        Leadership 2026–27 (May–June term)

        • PresidentShellee Rodriguez

        Association of Legal Administrators, Houston Chapter (ALA Houston)

        The Houston chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators, for professionals who manage the business operations of law firms and legal departments.

          Leadership 2026–27 (April–April term)

          • President-electKimberly Newman

          Legal Marketing Association, Houston (LMA Houston)

          The Houston group of the Legal Marketing Association, for marketing and business development professionals in the legal industry.

            Leadership 2026–27 (May–June term)

            • ChairRainatu Conteh
            • Chair-electAleksandra Pimenides

            Houston Area Law Librarians (HALL)

            A professional association for law librarians and legal information professionals in the Houston area.

              Leadership 2026–27 (May–May term)

              • PresidentRod Hall

              More local bars

              These associations are active in the Houston area but don’t publish their current leadership online. Contact them through their websites or pages.