Austin Bar Foundation Announces 2022 Honorees

During the 19th Annual Austin Bar Foundation Gala, held April 22 at the Austin Country Club, distinguished lawyers and award winners were recognized for excellence in their field, and for contributions to the legal community and community at large.

DISTINGUISHED LAWYERS

ASHTON CUMBERBATCH, JR.

Ashton Cumberbatch, Jr. is widely recognized for his commitment to healthcare issues and racial equity in the community. He is president and co-founder of Equidad ATX, a catalyst of holistic, equitable, and transformative neighborhood revitalization and the disruption of systemic poverty in Austin’s Eastern Crescent. Equidad, the Spanish word for “equity,” was founded in 2018 and envisions an Eastern Crescent full of thriving communities. To achieve its vision, Equidad utilizes worldclass education—cradle to career; mixed-income housing; and community health and wellness.

Cumberbatch also serves as special counsel at McGinnis Lochridge. He was a partner at McGinnis Lochridge prior to his service as the Austin police monitor; the vice-president of advocacy and community engagement at Ascension Health; and a volunteer policy advisor for Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

LAURA BELLEGIE SHARP

Laura Bellegie Sharp possesses a deep concern about issues affecting the legal community and community at large. With over 30 years of experience as a trial attorney, Sharp has a reputation for providing compassionate representation for her clients. She devotes her practice to helping victims of medical negligence, dental malpractice, and serious personal injury. Nationally, she is a member of the American Bar Association Board of Governors.

Sharp is not only a gifted trial lawyer but someone who gives back to the legal community. She is recognized for her ability to galvanize others and fundraising. Sharp has served as president of the Austin Bar and served as chair for the first-ever Austin Bar Foundation Gala. She also chaired the Civil Litigation Section. Additionally, Sharp served as a director on the State Bar of Texas board of directors.

KAREN KENNARD

Karen Kennard is known for her investment into the community and ability to seamlessly navigate from government to big law firms. She’s the co-managing shareholder of the Austin office and a shareholder in the Government Law and Policy Group at Greenberg Traurig. Kennard focuses her practice on government law, policy, and regulatory matters with an emphasis on municipal local government issues. Her experience spans more than two decades and includes positions as city attorney for the City of Austin and general counsel for the Texas Municipal League.

Kennard’s practice at Greenberg Traurig provides legal advice and counsel to individuals, local government entities, private businesses, and non-profits on a range of issues including procurement/government contracts, economic development, transportation, public infrastructure, land use, land development, and legislative advocacy.

DAVID WALTER AWARD

LEAH BHIMANI BURATTI

Leah Bhimani Buratti has a longstanding history of supporting asylum seekers and low-income communities by providing pro bono legal services and considers it a meaningful aspect of her practice. Since 2014, Buratti has served on the board of directors of American Gateways, a nonprofit providing legal services to asylum seekers. Buratti possesses experience in technology-based legal issues in the tech industry. She is a partner at Wittliff Cutter. Buratti focuses on complex IP and commercial litigation. She has handled all phases of litigation— including four jury trials and an ITC hearing. She has extensive experience representing technology companies and has also represented clients in the oil and gas, telecom, and banking industries. Before joining Wittliff Cutter, Buratti practiced with McKool Smith for a decade, focusing on high-stakes patent infringement cases and other technology-related litigation. She previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable Carl E. Stewart, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Honorable Jorge A. Solis, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

JOSEPH C. PARKER, JR. AWARD

KENNON WOOTEN

Kennon Wooten shares a passion for community enrichment and matters of diversity and inclusion. Her focus on ensuring equity for marginalized communities is paramount in her work. As Austin Bar president, Wooten spearheaded the resolution condemning racism for the Austin Bar and AYLA, created the Equity Committee, and was vital in bringing forth the first Equity Summit. She is a partner at Scott Douglass & McConnico. Wooten’s law practice focuses on general civil litigation and complex commercial litigation. She also handles appeals periodically and advises clients on rule-related matters, including ethical obligations. She has represented a broad range of clients, including governmental entities, businesses (foreign and domestic), lawyers, judges, and individuals. Wooten joined Scott Douglass & McConnico in 2011, after working as the rules attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas, an associate at Baker Botts, and a law clerk to former Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson of the Supreme Court of Texas.

LARRY YORK MENTOR AWARD

COLLEEN SULLIVAN

Colleen Sullivan believes mentorship makes a difference and serves as a mentor for the UT Law Mentoring Program. She has been on the Advisory Committee for the program since its inception in 2016. While at the Third Court of Appeals, she assisted former Chief Justice Jeff Rose with the court’s intern program. Sullivan is the mandamus attorney at the Supreme Court of Texas. She joined the Court in April 2021 after working as a staff attorney at the Third Court of Appeals in Austin for 11 years. Sullivan is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She previously worked for Baker Botts in Austin in the trial section with Joe Greenhill, former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court; Bob Shannon, former Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals; and Larry F. York, the office’s managing partner.

Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners! AL