Dear Members of the Corporate Counsel Section,

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the 2026-2027 Chair of the Corporate Counsel Section of the State Bar of Texas. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our Council, committee leaders, volunteers, sponsors, and members who make this Section such a vibrant and meaningful part of the Texas legal community.

At over 5,000 members strong, the Corporate Counsel Section is distinctive in its focus on supporting in-house counsel. Our Section provides a place for corporate counsel - and the outside counsel who work closely with them - to connect, learn, share ideas, and grow professionally. For me, this role is especially personal. I have spent the vast majority of my legal career in-house. I know firsthand that the work of in-house counsel is rewarding, challenging, practical, strategic, and often deeply connected to the businesses and people we serve.

First, I want to thank Scott Young, our immediate past Chair, for his gracious and thoughtful leadership. Scott is a tireless worker for the Section and has demonstrated a career-long commitment to pro bono. I am grateful for the example he has set and for his continued commitment to the Section.

This year, we will continue to focus on serving our membership by building on the Section's strong foundation of providing high-quality programming and resources that are practical, relevant, and designed with in-house counsel in mind. Our CLE offerings remain a core part of that commitment, including our in-person In-House 101 and Advanced In-House courses to be held August 26^th-28^th at the Hyatt Hill Country and our virtual, monthly Corporate Counsel Power Hour that is available via replay for Section members. I encourage each of you to engage with the Section through these CLE programs - by attending, participating, and sharing topics that would be meaningful to your practice.

We will also continue to support and promote the Corporate Counsel Review, our publication focused on topics of interest to corporate counsel. The Review is an important resource for thoughtful analysis, practical guidance, and scholarship relevant to the work our members do every day.

In addition, a key focus for the coming year will be professional development. Our Professional Development Committee will lead these efforts, helping us identify ways to support members at different stages of their careers.

Finally, I am proud of the Section's longstanding commitment to pro bono led by our Pro Bono and Grants Committee. Since 1997, the Corporate Counsel Section has awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants to support pro bono legal service providers across Texas. The Section's pro bono grants are funded entirely by donations from the Texas legal community through our Champions of Pro Bono initiative. I want to thank the firms that have served as Champions of Pro Bono for their commitment to expanding access to justice and supporting the important work of legal service providers across the state.

As we begin this new Section year, I am excited about what we can accomplish together. My hope is that each of you will find value in the Section this year - through our CLE programming, publications, and professional development efforts

Thank you for your membership, your service, and the opportunity to serve as your Chair.

Sincerely,

Yolanda G. Brown 

Chair, Corporate Counsel Section