Kudos
Congratulations to Melissa Andrews, equity partner at Holland & Knight, on her appointment to the newly created Third Business Court Division in Austin. Andrews previously served as an attorney for Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Boyd and First Court of Appeals Justice Harvey. She is board-certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She is the Civil Appellate Section chair of the Austin Bar. She received a B.S. in Political Science and Business from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from UT Law.
Congratulations to Judge Scott Field, who has been appointed to serve on the newly created Fifteenth Court of Appeals. Judge Field currently serves as judge of the 480th Judicial District Court in Williamson County. Previously, he served as a justice on the Third Court of Appeals; was a partner at Butler Snow; was the managing partner of the Field Law Firm and York, Keller & Field; and was an attorney at Baker Botts. He is a longtime member of the Austin Bar and a life fellow of both the Austin Bar and Texas Bar foundations.
Congratulations to Jennifer Freel on being honored with the 2024 Outstanding Federal Lawyer Award from the Federal Bar Association’s Austin chapter. The award recognizes an Austin lawyer who has dedicated a significant portion of their career to federal practice, as well as someone who exhibits leadership, ethical behavior, mentors younger lawyers, and actively contributes to the legal and broader communities. Freel is a partner in the Investigations & White Collar Defense practice of Jackson Walker’s Austin office.
Congratulations to Scott Weatherford of Jackson Walker, who has been elected to the Austin Bar Civil Litigation Section’s board of directors. Weatherford’s practice focuses on intellectual property, trade secret, and technology-related commercial disputes.
40 Under 40
Congratulations to the Austin 40 Under 40 Award recipient and finalists in the Legal category! The 40 Under 40 Awards recognize Austin’s emerging professionals through a rigorous application process that takes both career achievements and community involvement into consideration .
Judge Denise D. Hernández is the 2024 recipient of the Austin 40 Under 40 Award in the Legal category, as well as the Austinite of the Year Award. Judge Hernández is the presiding judge of County Court at Law #6, where she leads the Transformative Youth Justice program, a youth diversion program focused on holistic, community-centered support for young people impacted by the justice system. She is committed to equity, mentorship, and community-building initiatives, and currently serves on the boards of The Contemporary Austin; Creative Action; The New Philanthropists; and The Rebel Fund. She has been recognized locally and nationally for her community work. She was honored as an Anne McAfee Leader of Cultural Change, recognized as a “racial justice champion” by Notley, and named the “People’s Judge” by Austin Woman magazine. Driven by her lived experience and humble beginnings, Judge Hernández continues to dedicate herself to increasing fair access in the courtroom, mentorship, and implementing collective care and healing-focused approaches in the justice system.
Emily Apte was named a finalist in the Legal category. She serves as counsel at King & Spalding, where she specializes in government investigations, privacy, and fraud matters involving the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and Congress. Her roles have included associate general counsel at Meta Platforms and associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting, in addition to community-focused service, including working in a rural Ugandan community for multiple years.
Katie Fillmore was named a finalist in the Legal category. A partner at Michael Best & Friedrich, her practice focuses on commercial litigation and government relations. For 14 years, she has held pivotal leadership roles in the legal community and is the longest-serving board member of AYLA. Fillmore has been actively involved in community justice programs, enhancing public understanding of the legal system, and motivating students to pursue legal careers.
Andrea Villarreal was named a finalist in the Legal category. She is a partner at Barnes Lipscomb & Stewart, where she specializes in estate planning, probate, and entertainment law. She serves on the board of Austin Classical Guitar and on the all-woman advisory board of Housing Opportunities for Musicians and Entertainers. She previously served on the board of the SIMS Foundation, which provides mental health and addiction recovery services for musicians.