Dallas, December 12, 2025
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter and The Texas Lawbook have announced the finalists for the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, which celebrate exceptional in-house legal professionals and departments. This prestigious event recognizes significant legal and business contributions of corporate legal teams in the region, with categories highlighting accomplishments across various sizes of legal departments.
Dallas, Texas – 2025 GC and Legal Department of the Year Awards Announced
The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Dallas-Fort Worth (ACC DFW) Chapter and The Texas Lawbook have unveiled the finalists for the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, recognizing outstanding in-house legal professionals and departments in the region. The awards honor exceptional legal and business achievements within corporate legal teams.
General Counsel of the Year – Small Legal Department
Finalists in this category include:
- Luke Alverson, General Counsel at CSW Industrials, nominated by A&O Shearman partner Robert Cardone.
- Chris Blevins, General Counsel at Solo Brands, nominated by Greenberg Traurig shareholder Rob LeBlanc.
- Heather Randall, General Counsel at Trintech, nominated by Baker McKenzie partner Michelle Hartmann.
General Counsel of the Year – Solo Department
The sole finalist is:
- Brett Barnes, General Counsel at Presidio Investment Holdings, nominated by Sidley Austin partner Jeremy Pettit.
General Counsel of the Year – Large Legal Department
The finalist in this category is:
- Amy McDonald, General Counsel at PepsiCo Foods, nominated by Candace Uduebor, Legal Director at PepsiCo North America.
General Counsel/Senior Counsel of the Year – Non-Profit/Governmental Agency
The award recipient is:
- Brad Nitschke, Associate General Counsel and Interim Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs at Parkland Health, nominated by construction and infrastructure lawyer Marc Gravely of Gravely Attorneys and Counselors.
Corporate Legal Department of the Year
Finalists for this award are:
- Charles Schwab, led by Chief Counsel Shamoil Shipchandler, nominated by Sidley Austin Partner Angela Zambrano.
- PepsiCo North America and PepsiCo Foods, nominated by Candace Uduebor, Legal Director at PepsiCo North America.
These finalists exemplify the high standards and achievements within the DFW legal community. The winners will be announced at the upcoming awards ceremony, celebrating the contributions and leadership of in-house counsel in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the DFW Corporate Counsel Awards?
The DFW Corporate Counsel Awards, presented by the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Dallas-Fort Worth (ACC DFW) Chapter and The Texas Lawbook, recognize exceptional legal and business achievements of in-house counsel and corporate legal departments in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Who are the finalists for the 2025 General Counsel of the Year – Small Legal Department award?
The finalists are Luke Alverson of CSW Industrials, Chris Blevins of Solo Brands, and Heather Randall of Trintech.
Who is the finalist for the 2025 General Counsel of the Year – Solo Department award?
The finalist is Brett Barnes of Presidio Investment Holdings.
Who is the finalist for the 2025 General Counsel of the Year – Large Legal Department award?
The finalist is Amy McDonald of PepsiCo Foods.
Who is the recipient of the 2025 General Counsel/Senior Counsel of the Year – Non-Profit/Governmental Agency award?
The recipient is Brad Nitschke of Parkland Health.
Who are the finalists for the 2025 Corporate Legal Department of the Year award?
The finalists are Charles Schwab, led by Shamoil Shipchandler, and PepsiCo North America and PepsiCo Foods.
Key Features of the 2025 DFW Corporate Counsel Awards
| Award Category | Finalists/Recipient | Nominee |
|---|---|---|
| General Counsel of the Year – Small Legal Department | Luke Alverson, Chris Blevins, Heather Randall | CSW Industrials, Solo Brands, Trintech |
| General Counsel of the Year – Solo Department | Brett Barnes | Presidio Investment Holdings |
| General Counsel of the Year – Large Legal Department | Amy McDonald | PepsiCo Foods |
| General Counsel/Senior Counsel of the Year – Non-Profit/Governmental Agency | Brad Nitschke | Parkland Health |
| Corporate Legal Department of the Year | Charles Schwab, PepsiCo North America and PepsiCo Foods | Charles Schwab, PepsiCo North America and PepsiCo Foods |
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