Lynne Liberato
Lynne Liberato has argued before the United States Supreme Court, met with a former president in the Oval Office regarding judicial appointments, and lobbied Congress for funding of legal services for the poor. A commissioner on the Texas Legislature's Judicial 2020 Selection Commission, she also received the 2022 Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award, 2020 Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award from the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists and the 2019 Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Texas Appellate Lawyer Award.
Among other examples of her success in the courtroom, she won reversal of a closely-watched public information act case before the Texas Supreme Court, won a summary judgment awarding her client $21 million in an insurance coverage case and upheld in the 5th Circuit a take-nothing judgment in a multi-billion dollar False Claims Act and OCSLA appeal. She represented the NFL during the Houston Super Bowl.
Lynne includes among her proudest achievements her selection as "Volunteer of the Year" for the United Way of Greater Houston, winning the Karen H. Susman ADL Jurisprudence Award, her election as president of the State Bar of Texas, and her selection as a participant in the 59th Annual Security Forum of the Air Force War College. She also was the chair of the board of the United Way of Greater Houston and chaired its community campaign.
A prolific speaker and legal writer, Lynne co-authors "Summary Judgments in Texas," often called the "bible" of summary judgments. Versions of this article, most recently published in 2023, have appeared in nine law reviews since 1989. It has been recognized as one of the 10 most-cited articles by appellate courts nationwide.
- President, State Bar of Texas (2000-2001)
- Commissioner, Texas Legislature's Commission on Judicial Selection (2019-2020)
- President, Houston Bar Association (1993-1994) (first woman)
- President, Texas Supreme Court Historical Society (2011-2012)
- Certificate of Appreciation (for her on-going role in disaster recovery on behalf of the United Way of Houston, including chair of its Hurricane Harvey Recovery Taskforce, 35th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards for Exemplary Community Service (2018)
- Chair, Appellate Section, State Bar of Texas (1997-1998)
- Community Campaign Chair (first practicing lawyer) (2013-2014), United Way of Greater Houston; Chair of the Board (2005-2007); Board of Trustees (2003-2011, 2012-present); Alexis de Tocqueville Society (2001-present); Chair, Hurricane Harvey Recovery Task Force; Chair, THRIVE Committee; Chair, Hurricane Ike Task Force; Chair, Community Goal Task Force; Chair, Hurricane Katrina/Rita Task Force; Chair/Founder, Law Firm Initiative
- Member, Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Partnership (2005-2010, 2012-2017)
- Executive Committee, South Texas College of Law Board of Directors (2005-2007); Trustee (2005-2007)
- Volunteer, Houston Bar Veterans Administration Clinic and Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
- Board of Directors, United States Naval Academy Parents' Club of the Texas Gulf Coast (2005-2007)
- 2022 Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award from the Texas Center for Legal Ethics (2022)
- Lifetime of Excellence in Advocacy Award Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS) (2020)
- Houston Bar Association 2020 Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Award recipient for outstanding accomplishments in the legal industry
- Texas Bar Foundation Gregory S. Coleman Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award (2019)
- "Local Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation, Euromoney Institutional Investor, PLC (2019)
- Louise B. Raggio Award, The Women and the Law Section of the State Bar of Texas (recognizing an attorney who has actively addressed the needs and issues of women in the legal profession and the community) (2018)
- Recognized by Chambers USA, Chambers and Partners, as one of the leading practitioners in Texas for Appellate (2009-2023)
- Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
- Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award, given by the Anti-Defamation League to honor a lawyer who exhibits an exceptional commitment to equality, justice, fairness and community service (2013)
- Civilian participant, 59th Annual National Security Forum, Air Force War College (2012)
- JA Hall of Achievement Laureate, Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas (2012)
- Leon Jaworski Award, community service award named for the famed Watergate special prosecutor (2010)
- Robert Kneebone Award for Volunteer of the Year (2008) and Woman of the Year (2004), United Way of Greater Houston
- Award for Outstanding Law Review Article (two-time winner) for "Summary Judgments in Texas" (2007) and for "Reasons for Reversal in Texas Courts of Appeals" (2004), awarded by the Texas Bar Foundation
- Exemplary Article Award, Texas Center for the Judiciary ("for contribution to judicial excellence") (2005-2006)
- Gene Cavin Award, State Bar of Texas (highest award for excellence in continuing legal education) (2006)
- Recognized in 2018 for having been included in Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, top-attorney lists for 10 years or more
- Top 100 Texas Super Lawyer (2003-2017, 2021-2022), Top 50 Female Lawyer (2003-2023), Top 100 Houston Super Lawyer (2003-2023) and Appellate Super Lawyer, Thomson Reuters (2003-2023)
- Recognized in Texas Super Lawyers Women's Edition, Thomson Reuters, 2023.
- Top Notch Appellate Lawyer, Texas Lawyer (recognized as one of the top five appellate lawyers in Texas) (2002 and 2007)
- Named one of The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., for Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation (2005-2024); Litigation - Intellectual Property (2011-2024)
- Martindale Hubbell Law Directory with a Peer Review Rating of AV Preeminent
- Member, American Law Institute
- Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Moderator of Supreme Court Chief Justices panel, “Compare and Contrast the Texas Supreme Court and Appellate Practice Across Modern Eras,” Advanced Appellate Practice, State Bar of Texas, Austin, Sept. 2022.
- Moderator/panelist, “Summary Judgment,” Advanced Trial Strategies Course, State Bar of Texas, New Orleans, March 2022.
- “Conversation with Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht,” moderator, The Texas Lawbook, webinar, November 2, 2021.
- Commencement speaker, South Texas College of law, May 22, 2021.
- Panelist, “The Rule of Law,” TYLA Law Day Luncheon May 7, 2021.
- Panelist, “Leading the Legal Community,” HYLA Leadership Program, May 6, 2021.
- “The Past, Present and Future of Women in the Law,” Houston Bar Association, April 13, 2021.
- Moderator, “The Modern Court: Chief Justices Hecht, Jefferson & Phillips,” moderator, State Bar of Texas Supreme Court History and Procedure Course, Apr. 14, 2021.
- Moderator & speaker, Report on Texas Commission on Judicial Selection Recommendations, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, Jan. 2021.
- “Summary Judgment Practice,” Advanced Civil Trial Course, State Bar of Texas (Presented virtually 3 times in Summer 2020)
- “Effective Persuasion When Moving or Opposing Summary Judgment,” HBA Appellate Section luncheon meeting, Feb. 2020 (with Judge David Hittner)
- Advanced Trial Strategies--Speaker, “Summary Judgment Practice: An Overview”; Moderator, “Summary Judgments: Strategic Use and Effective Opposition.”
- “The Ethics of Dealing with Opposing Counsel in a Contentious World,” moderator, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists Meeting, January 17, 2019.
- Keynote Address, Naturalization Ceremony (for 2,204 new Americans from 116 countries), United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Dec. 12, 2018.
- “Summary Judgments in Texas: State and Federal Practice,” 605 S.Tex.L.Rev. 1, (Spring 2019).
- “The Ethics of Dealing with Opposing Counsel in a Contentious World,” moderator, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists Meeting, January 17, 2019.
- Keynote Address, Naturalization Ceremony (for 2,204 new Americans from 116 countries), United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Dec. 12, 2018.
- "Objecting to Summary Judgment Evidence in State Court: Recent Clarifications and Remaining Complications," co-author, Houston Lawyer, October 19, 2018.
- “Summary Judgment in Collections Cases,” presenter, Handling Your First (or Next) Collections Case course hosted by the State Bar of Texas, Austin, Texas, Oct. 16, 2018.
- "Strategic Use of Motions," presenter, 6th Annual Advanced Trial Strategies Course hosted by the State Bar of Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2017.
- "Complex Cases," presenter, 6th Annual Advanced Trial Strategies Course hosted by the State Bar of Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, February 9, 2017.
- "Trends in the Texas Supreme Court," co-author, Appellate Lawyer, June 27, 2016.
- "How To Convince Calif. And Texas High Courts To Hear A Case," co-author, Law360, May 25, 2016.
- "History Revisited," Texas Bar Journal, Vol. 79, No. 5 (May 2016)
- "Texas Supreme Court Update: Focus on Business, Energy and Interesting Cases," Presentation to the Association of Corporate Counsel Houston (April 22, 2016)
- "The Justices Devine," Journal of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society (Fall 2015)
- "Texas Practice Guide: Civil Appeals," ProView (Thomson Reuters’s eReader) (2015)
- "Summary Judgments in Texas: State and Federal Practice," 52 Houston L. Rev. 773 (2015)
- "A Brief History of the Journal of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society," Journal of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society (Winter 2013)
- "How To Support Attorneys Fee Claims in Texas," Law360 Guest Article (Oct. 31, 2013)
- "How To Seek Permissive Interlocutory Appeals in State Court," The Appellate Advocate (State Bar Appellate Section Report), Vol. 26, No. 2 (Winter 2012)
- "Reasons for Reversal in the Texas Courts of Appeals," 48 Houston L. Rev. 993 (Winter 2012)
- "Hubert W.: The Beginning of a Green Family Tradition," Journal of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society (Spring 2012)
- "Telling History by Telling Stories," Journal of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society (Spring 2012)
- "Summary Judgments in Texas: State and Federal Practice," 46 Houston L. Rev. 1379 (2010)
- "Not Just for Toxic Tort Cases: Strategic Use of Multidistrict Litigation Consolidation," 71 Tex. B.J. 98 (2008)
- "Summary Judgments in Texas," 47 S. Tex. L. Rev. 409 (2006) (winner of 2007 Law Journal Article of the Year awarded by the Texas Bar Foundation)
- "Summary Judgments in Family Law Cases," 69 Tex. Bar J. 444-447, (2006)
- "All in the Family, Tribute to U.S. District Judge David Hittner," 46 S. Tex. L. Rev. 573 (2005)
- "Evaluating Appeals by the Numbers," 66 Tex. Bar J. 768 (October 2003)
- "Reasons for Reversal in the Texas Courts of Appeals," 44 S. Tex. L. Rev. 431 (2003) (winner of 2004 Law Journal Article of the Year awarded by the Texas Bar Foundation)
- "Meet the Press: Guidelines for Handling Media Inquiries," 67 Tex. Bar J. 748 (2004)
- Texas Practice Guide: Civil Appeals, (West 1999-2011)
- Handbook of Alternative Dispute Resolution, 3rd ed.; Chapter 10: “ADR Procedures at The Appellate Level” (2003) [coauthor]
- "Summary Judgment in Texas," 54 Baylor L. Rev. 1 (2002)
- "State Court Jurisdiction Expanded to Allow for Permissive Appeals," 65 Tex. Bar J. 31 (2002)
- Handbook on Alternative Dispute Resolution, State Bar of Texas (2000)
- "Practicing Under the New Appellate Rules," 60 Tex. Bar J. 8 (1997)
- "Summary Judgments in Texas," 35 S. Tex. L. J. 9 (1994)
- "Summary Judgments and Defaults in the Texas State Courts," Rutter (West Group 1992)
- "Taking the Easy Way Out of Federal Court: 12b Motions," 54 Tex. Bar J. 158 (1991)
- "Keeping Up With . . . Appellate Practice," 28 Houston Lawyer, Jan./Feb. 1991, at 12
- "Using Deposition Excerpts as Summary Judgment Evidence," 10 The Advocate, 2 (June 1991)
- "Attorney Client Privilege in Texas," 31 S. Tex. L. J. 519 (1990)
- "Summary Judgments in Texas," 20 St. Mary’s L. J. 243 (1989)
- "Newspapers & Bullies: Jury Misconduct After 'Outside Influence,'" 26 Houston Lawyer, May/June 1989, at 15 [cover article]
- "Practice Before the First Court of Appeals," 25 Houston Lawyer, May/June 1988, at 38
- "Procedures Before Appellate Courts: A Comparative Overview of the Fifth Circuit and Texas Courts of Appeals," 51 Tex. Bar J. 506 (1988)
Education
J.D., South Texas College of Law Houston, 1980, Alumna of the Year, 1992
M.A., Texas A&M University Commerce, 1978, Distinguished Alumna Citation, 2002
B.S., Sam Houston State University, 1974, Distinguished Alumna Award, 1996
Admissions
Texas
Court Admissions
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
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