Committees

The Allyship Committee works to actively promote and advance a culture of equity and inclusion for young lawyers in the legal profession through the delivery of intentional, positive, and thoughtful programming highlighting the intersections of race, gender, and related social injustice issues.

Co-Chairs: 

Cassie Maneen and Lena Silva (Board Liaison)

The CLE Committee curates continuing legal education presentations and events for members specifically tailored for attorneys in their first twelve years of practice on relevant topics useful for attorneys litigation and transactional practices. The committee also identifying speaking opportunities for young lawyers in the Houston bar. 

Co-Chairs: 

Megan Mitchell and Harriet Wessel; Kelly Hanen (Board Liaison)

Hylights is a podcast that spotlights issues affecting young lawyers in Houston, providing a platform for conversations with members and discussion of relevant topics and shared experiences, while fostering community.

Highlights aims to partner with local affinity and diverse bar associations in Houston to provide a platform to discuss issues unique to their practice and experiences.  

Co-Chairs:

Patrick Aana and Marissa Contreras; Nga Tran Medina (Board Liaison)

The Judiciary Committee organizes events and programs to provide opportunities for young attorneys to engage with the judiciary in Houston and Harris County, Texas. This includes fireside chats and lunches with members of the judiciary and other programs focused on understanding the judiciary and its role in the practice of law. The Committee collaborates with the judiciary in Texas civil district courts, Texas appellate courts, federal courts, and specialty courts (family, probate, bankruptcy). 

Co-Chairs:

Brandi PIkes and Katherine Raunikar; Honorable Ravi Sandill and Lisa Luz Parker (Board Liaisons)

LEAD

The Leadership Academy Committee organizes HYLA"s signature leadership program for young lawyers. The Committee coordinates the application and selection process for Leadership Fellows and organizing programming for the incoming cohort for the year designed to prepare young attorneys for leadership roles in HYLA and other organizations through a service-oriented leadership training model.

Learn more about HYLA's Leadership Academy at www.hyla.org/Leadership-Academy.

Co-Chairs: Bailey Bridges, Trevor Deason, Shahnoor Khuwaja, Lisa Luz Parker (Board Liaison), Seepan Parseghian, and Ciara Perritano (Board Liaison).

The Mentorship Committee organizes events with practical information to assist new attorneys and law students as they prepare for the transition to practicing law and facilitate connecting over shared experiences in law school, in practice, and beyond. Programming and events include networking, CLEs, and similar programs with a focus in developing the next generation of strong, confident, and resourceful attorneys in the Bar.

Co-Chairs:  Barbara DePeña , Aditi Deal  (Board Liaison), and Elliot Wright.

The Criminal Practice Committee works to improve the practice of criminal law for young attorneys through substantive CLEs and networking opportunities to promote dialogue and strengthen relationships between lawyers, the judiciary, and the public. The Committee welcomes judges, public defenders, private defense lawyers, and prosecutors. 

Chair: Michael Mendoza; Brittny Mandarino (Board Liaison)

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee was established in 2016 to promote engagement of lawyers of color, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and lawyers of non-traditional sexual orientations and gender identifications. The Committee works to encourage all members of the Houston Young Lawyers Association and the greater Houston legal community to acknowledge the importance of equity and to promote greater inclusion of diverse members of the profession. HYLA aims to facilitate greater access to programs, services, and employment opportunities for diverse members of the profession.

Co-Chairs:  Terrelle Bynum and Urvi Morolia; Honorable Ravi Sandill (Board Liaison)

The Energy Counsel Committee caters to energy law practitioners and others in the energy sector to share resources for career-building and networking for young attorneys in the Houston bar. This is a prime opportunity for those who work in corporate legal departments, firms, and related organizations and divisions serving Houston's expansive energy sector. 

Co-Chairs: Alisha Wood and Chauntelle Wood; John Ngunjiri (Board Liaison)

The First Generation Attorneys Committee provides a community of support to those who are the first in their family to attend law school or the first in their family to become practicing attorneys. The Committee celebrates the achievements and share the stories of the attorneys and future attorneys who have overcome various obstacles to become a first generation lawyer.

Co-chairs: Pati Limón de Rodriguez Anita Liu, Farhan Mohiuddin and Fanny Turcious; Ally Arias (Board Liaison)

The Government and Non-Profit Attorneys Committee aims to connect lawyers in the government and non-profit sector, through networking, service, CLEs, and related events in the Houston area. The committee welcomes attorneys in local legal aid and service-oriented organizations, federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and attorneys supporting these entities. 

Co-Chairs: Anthony Franklyn and Charles Shaw; Brittny Mandarino (Board Liaison)

The International Law Committee explores legal issues that stem from international law and influence US domestic law and policy. The Committee also explores and compares different legal systems and their unique differences and best practices. The committee brings together lawyers and law students interested in international law and issues with an international breadth, including international business transactions, commercial arbitration, and human rights. 

Co-Chairs: Erin Fornby and Francesca Gottardi; Mariame Aana (Board Liaison)

Co-Chairs: Human Daas (South Texas College of Law Houston); Mackenize Caldwell (University of Houston Law Center), Nga Tran-Medina (Thurgood Marshall School of Law) 

The Networking Committee coordinates social and membership engagement events along with any other networking events that promote opportunities for HYLA members to meet and connect in meaningful ways. 

Co-Chairs: Simrita Chamdal; Lori Ding, and Emily Mott; Brigette Dechant (Board Liaison)

Family Engagement: Nikki Morris and Benjamin Ritz

The Signature Events Committee plans and executes HYLA’s signature social and networking events, including the Annual Membership Party (fall), Evening with the Judiciary (fall), and Crawfish Boil (spring). The volunteers on this committee secure venues, sponsors, and support the day-of with registration and check-in and welcoming HYLA members and guests.

Co-Chairs: Ally Arias, Ryan Frankel, Chris Mahfouz, John Ngunjiri, and Ciara Perritano (Board Liaisons) 

The Solos and Small Firm Committee supports solo and small firm attorneys in growing their businesses and navigating the challenges of a small practice, including the business side of practicing law. The committee also coordinates to offer CLEs specific to solo and small firm practitioners and to provide networking opportunities for these HYLA members.

Co-Chair: Christiana Childers; Chris Mahfouz (Board Liaison)

The Sports Engagement Committee coordinates HYLA's organized sports leagues for HYLA members as well as group physical fitness and outdoor activities and events. 

Basketball League: Joey Hance, Nate Walton and Earl Spencer;

Clay Shoot: Peyton Craig and Gunner West

Run Club: Humam Daas and Josh Upham.

The Wellness Committee serves as a collaboration of lawyers supporting and helping young attorneys in the Bar to identify fun and social ways to improve their physical and mental wellness through various events throughout the year. 

Co-Chairs: 

Katherine Raunikar and Sydney Rupe; Sherles Durham (Board Member)

The Women Lawyers Committee aims to address issues facing female-identifying young lawyers, providing for social, networking, wellness, and service programming for its members. 

Co-Chairs: Katie Harrington and Elizabeth Nevle; Aditi Deal (Board Liaison)

SERVE

The Chili & Pie Cook-Off Committee organizes HYLA's participation for  the annual HBAA chili and pie cook-off every January, which raises money to award scholarships to local law students.

Co-Chair: Alexis Boyd; Mariame Aana (Board Liaison)

The Military and Veterans Affairs Committee seeks to foster a sense of community for military veterans and their families and between veterans and the broader HYLA community by providing networking opportunities and support for local military and veterans in need of pro bono legal aid and other resources. 

The HYLA Military & Veterans Affairs Committee is a joint initiative with the Houston Bar Association. 

Co-Chair: Jens Sandberg; Mackenzie Caldwell (Board Liaison)

The Pro Bono Committee collaborates with Houston Volunteer Lawyers and other local legal aid organizations to increase participation of young attorneys in pro bono volunteerism. 

Co-Chairs: Chris Caudill; Samantha De Hoyos (Board Liaison)

The Service Committee coordinates and promotes various service and volunteer opportunities for young lawyers in the Houston bar to support community non-profits and related organizations in need. 

Co-Chairs: Miranda Chaves and Maryam Ghaffer; Emily Rohles (Board Liaison)

The Young Lawyers in Schools committee provides oversight and support to HYLA's programs in local schools, such as the Know Your Rights and TAPP programs. The committee also comes up with new ways for young lawyers to support local Houston students and potential future lawyers.

The Know Your Rights program provides age-appropriate presentations to educate high-school students on their Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights in school and in the community in an effort to reduce conflict and promote healthy relationships with law enforcement.

The award-winning Tomorrow’s Attorney Pipeline Program (“TAPP”) focuses on increasing diversity in the legal profession by providing underserved middle and high school students with concrete, motivating opportunities to learn about the legal profession.

Co-Chair: Marcus Carter; Brittny Mandarino (Board Liaison)