Good Apple Dinner

Good Apple Award 2019

Dawn Estes, Texas Appleseed Board Member, presents the 2019 Good Apple Award to David R. McAtee II.

It was an amazing night to celebrate Texas’ legal heroes. David R. McAtee II received our 2019 J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award. We were proud to honor David with our highest accolade for his commitment to the community, his leadership in the bar, and his philanthropic impact. Two luminaries received our 2019 Pro Bono Leadership Awards. Keri Brown and Ellyn Haikin Josef work tirelessly to not only meet the pro bono needs of Texans across the state but also to elevate the importance of pro bono in the legal community. Their work directly with Texas Appleseed and furthering other important issues has helped countless Texans over the years.

Thank you to everyone who supported and attended this special evening.

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2019 Good Apple Award

2019 Good Apple Honoree

The Texas Appleseed Board of Directors is pleased to name David R. McAtee II as the 2019 Good Apple. Based in Dallas, David is Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of AT&T Inc, where he is responsible for all legal matters at AT&T. As General Counsel, David has elevated and furthered AT&T's commitment to pro bono, putting great legal minds to work to help those in need. David also serves as a Commissioner for the Texas Access to Justice Commission, which is dedicated to increasing access to justice for low-income Texans. In addition, David is a trustee of The University of Texas Law School Foundation and a director on the board of the Methodist Health System, a leading not-for-profit hospital system in North Texas. 

2019 Pro Bono Leadership Award Recipients

Keri Brown, a partner at Baker Botts LLP, is an ardent supporter of Texas Appleseed whose extensive knowledge, efficiency, and passion aided us immensely as the team leader behind the production of our online toolkit for financial caregivers. Brown continues to support Texas Appleseed at every turn, frequently raising awareness of our work to other firms and companies. 

Ellyn Haikin Josef, Pro Bono Counsel at Vinson & Elkins LLP, is a constant advocate and fantastic friend to Texas Appleseed. Josef's devotion to providing equal access to justice through pro bono initiatives is an essential element to organizations like ours, including the crucial work of helping with Hurricane Harvey recovery and a youth homelessness policy report.

Host Committee

Co-Chairs
Randall M. Ebner
Dawn Estes
Leslie Thorne 
Angela C. Zambrano

Doug Bland • George Butts
Patrick Cantilo • Edward F. Fernandes
R. James George, Jr. • Susan Hartman
Layne Kruse • Elizabeth Mack
Keri McKenzie • Ann Marie Painter
Harry M. Reasoner • Robb L. Voyles
Dale Wainwright • Robert C. Walters
James L. Waters • Mark Wawro
David Whittlesey

Sponsors

CHAMPIONS

AT&T

O’Melveny & Myers LLP 

ADVOCATES

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Baker Botts LLP • Haynes and Boone, LLP

H-E-B • King & Spalding

Mayer Brown LLP • Norton Rose Fulbright

Reese Marketos LLP • Sidley Austin LLP

Tillotson Law • Vinson & Elkins LLP

BENEFACTORS

Arnold & Porter • Cantilo & Bennett, L.L.P.

Carter Arnett PLLC • Crowell & Moring LLP

Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc. 

Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC

Exxon Mobil Corporation 

Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP • Jones Day 

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Littler • Locke Lord LLP

Paul Hastings LLP

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 

Susman Godfrey & Mark Wawro

The University of Texas School of Law 

WilmerHale 

PATRONS

Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP

BakerHostetler • Beck Redden LLP 

Bevan, Mosca & Giuditta, P.C

Edna and George Butts / Kent Caperton PC

Compliance Discovery Solutions

Deloitte • Fleming Endowment • Frost

FTI Consulting Inc. • Cheryl and Jim George

Gibbs & Bruns LLP • Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Halliburton • Susan Karamanian

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP • Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Latham & Watkins LLP • McKool Smith

Sherry and Gerald Merfish • Perkins Coie LLP

Pulman, Cappucio & Pullen and Justice Peter M. Kelly

Regina Rogers • Scott Douglass and McConnico

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Thompson & Knight Foundation

Waller • Winstead PC

SPECIAL THANKS

DLA Piper LLP (US) • BVA Group • Jefferson Cano

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP / Wendy and Paul Genender

Dennis P. Duffy • The Focal Point

Amin, Turocy & Watson LLP

Guntin & Gust, PLC • Kenneth M. Jastrow, II

Cissy and T. John Ward