Awards Gala
2026 Awards Gala
An Evening of Distinction: Celebrating Our Impact and Influence
Saturday, October 3, 2026
2026 Recipients
Vicki Blanton
Louise B. Raggio Award .
AT&T
Kaleisha Stuart
OUTSTANDING CORPORATE COUNSEL
Dallas Cowboys
Sakina Foster
OUTSTANDING WOMAN LAWYER
Haynes & Boone
Nayelly Dominguez
RISING RAGGIO.
7-Eleven
Hon. Monica Purdy
OUTSTANDING JUDICIARY
Presiding Judge 95th Judicial District Court
Award Gala Tickets
If you have any issues with purchasing tickets, please contact in**@****************rs.org
Announcing our 2026 Award Recipients
Why Sponsor?
- Reach 400+ influential legal professionals from across North Texas.
- Increase brand visibility through event signage, printed materials, digital marketing, and social media.
- Demonstrate your commitment to advancing women in the legal profession.
- Network with judges, law firm leaders, and corporate counsel.
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Honoring Trailblazers
DWLA’s Annual Awards Reception honors trailblazers in the legal community. The prestigious Raggio Award is named for DWLA co-founder and Dallas legal pioneer Louise Raggio, who was the first female prosecutor in Dallas County history and helped develop the Texas Family Code. Each year, the organization presents the Raggio Award to someone who has demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism while making significant contributions to the advancement of women attorneys.
Past Recipients
Past Raggio Recipients
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Hon. Rhonda F. Hunter (Ret),
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Mey Ly Ortiz, Toyota North America
- Rising Raggio – Malissa Patel, Vistra Corp.
- Outstanding Judiciary – Honorable Maria Aceves, Presiding Judge of the 192nd Civil District Court of Dallas County, Texas District of Texas
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Hon. Robbie Partida-Kipness, Fifth District Court of Appeals
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Jessica Presnall, Big 12
- Rising Raggio – Haley Ablon, Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P
- Outstanding Judiciary – Honorable Rebecca Rutherford, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Liz Fraley, Baylor University
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Jennyfer Gray, Tuesday Morning
- Rising Raggio – Gracen Daniel, Crawford, Wishnew & Lang
- Outstanding Judiciary – Honorable Brenda Rhoades, Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Justice Dennise Garcia, Fifth Court of Appeals
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Jennifer Morris, AT&T
- Outstanding Woman Lawyer – Veronica Moye, Gibson Dunn Crutcher
- Rising Raggio – Raha Assadi, Jackson Lewis
- Outstanding Judiciary – Justice Erin Nowell, Fifth Court of Appeals
- James E. Coleman, Jr., Her Champion – John Torres, Lennox International
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Judge Irma Ramirez, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Lynne Puckett, Celanese
- Outstanding Woman Lawyer – Scarlett McNellie, Norton Rose Fulbright
- Rising Raggio – Haleigh Jones, Crawford, Wishnew & Lang
- Outstanding Judiciary – Judge Audrey Moorehead, County Criminal Court #3
- James E. Coleman, Jr., Her Champion – Paul Amiel, Haynes & Boone
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Hilda Galvan, Jones Day
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Sarah York, Hudson Advisors
- Outstanding Woman Lawyer – Samantha Crispin, Baker Botts
- Rising Raggio – Koi Spurlock, Lockheed Martin
- Outstanding Judiciary – Judge Bonnie Goldstein, 44th District Court
- James E. Coleman, Jr., Her Champion – Paul Genender, Weil
- Louise B. Raggio Award – Charla Aldous, Aldous\Walker
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Ellen Farrell, Toyota Motor North America
- Outstanding Female Lawyer – Angela Zambrano, Sidley Austin
- Rising Raggio – Nicole Munoz, Figari+Davenport
- Outstanding Director – Staci Glenn, Renwick & Associates, P.C.
- Outstanding Judiciary – Justice Lana Myers, Fifth District Court of Appeals
- James E. Coleman, Jr., Her Champion – David McAtee, AT&T Inc.
- Louise B Raggio Award – Mary Emma Karam, Jackson Walker
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Lisa Havens, Baylor Scott & White
- Outstanding Female/Large Firm – Shonn Brown, Lynn Pinker Cox Hurst
- Outstanding Female/Small Firm – Amber Reece, Figari+Davenport
- Rising Raggio – Anna Rupani, Mosaic Family Services
- Her Champion – Rob Walters, Gibson Dunn
- Louise B Raggio Award – Sarah Saldana, Retired Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Large Department – Michele Thatcher, Pepsico
- Outstanding Corporate Counsel – Small Department – Lori Dalton, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
- Outstanding Female/Large Firm – Angela Fontana, Sidley Austin, LLP
- Outstanding Female/Small Firm – Amy Elizabeth Stewart, Amy Stewart Law
- Rising Raggio – Jennifer Salim Richards, Stanton, LLP
- Outstanding Director – Gemma Descoteaux, Polsinelli
- Outstanding Jurist – Judge Martin Hoffman, 68th District Court
Expand to view
| 2025 | Honorable Rhonda F. Hunter |
| 2024 | Honorable Robbie Partida-Kipness |
| 2023 | Liz Fraley |
| 2022 | Honorable Dennise Garcia |
| 2021 | Honorable Irma Ramirez |
| 2020 | Hilda Galvan |
| 2019 | Charla Aldous |
| 2018 | Mary Emma Karam |
| 2017 | Sarah Saldaña |
| 2016 | Lisa Blue Baron |
| 2015 | Michael K. Hurst |
| 2014 | Sally Crawford |
| 2013 | Honorable Jane J. Boyle |
| 2012 | Michele Wong Krause |
| 2011 | Patricia Montes |
| 2010 | Honorable Nikki DeShazo |
| 2009 | Yvette Ostolaza |
| 2008 | Mary Alice McLarty |
| 2007 | Honorable Karen Gren Johnson |
| 2006 | Kathleen Wu |
| 2005 | J. Lee Baldwin |
| 2004 | Honorable Catharina Haynes |
| 2003 | Kim Askew |
| 2002 | Christina Melton Crain |
| 2001 | Maureen Armour |
| 2000 | Honorable Carolyn Wright |
| 1999 | Nina Cortell |
| 1998 | Honorable Elizabeth Lang-Miers |
| 1997 | Honorable Linda Thomas |
| 1996 | Harriet E. Miers |
| 1995 | Adelfa B. Callejo |
| 1994 | Jo Ann Peters |
| 1993 | Annette Stewart |
| 1992 | Honorable Barbara M.G. Lynn |
Award Nominations
2026 Nominations: Closed
To reveal the requirements for the category and the link to the nomination form, click the plus sign for the category you want to nominate.
The DWLA Louise B. Raggio Award recognizes a person demonstrating the highest level of professionalism and who has contributed significantly to the advancement of women attorneys. The recipient may be a woman or male attorney who has been practicing law for at least ten (10) years in the DFW area.
Submission Requirements:
- Two letters of nomination that describe the attorney’s
- Outstanding legal proficiency and the highest level of professional ethics; and
- Contributions to the advancement of women attorneys; and
- Any other documentation that reflects the attorney’s
- Outstanding legal proficiency and the highest level of professional ethics; and
- Contributions to the advancement of women attorneys; and
- High resolution photo of nominee.
DWLA has established the “Outstanding Corporate Counsel” Award to recognize an outstanding woman lawyer in the DFW area who has worked inside a corporate legal department for a minimum of five (5) years.
Submission Requirements:
- Two letters of nomination on behalf of the attorney that describe the attorney’s significant professional accomplishments and provide examples of her contributions to her corporate employer; and
- A resume of the attorney; and
- High resolution photo of nominee
DWLA has established the “Outstanding Woman Lawyer” award to recognize an outstanding woman lawyer in private practice in the DFW area.
Submission Requirements:
- Two letters of nomination on behalf of the attorney that describe the attorney’s significant professional accomplishments and provide examples of her mentoring in the community and/or her firm; and
- A resume of the attorney; and
- High resolution photo of nominee
DWLA has established the “Rising Raggio” Award to recognize an outstanding woman lawyer who has been practicing for less than eight (8) years as of June 1st and who has had significant professional accomplishments and acted as a leader in the Dallas community and/or her firm.
Submission Requirements:
- Two letters of nomination on behalf of the attorney that describe the attorney’s significant professional accomplishments and examples of leadership in the community and/or her firm;
- A resume of the attorney; and
- High resolution photo of nominee, and
- Date of the attorney’s admission to the Bar.