Haynes Boone Senior Counsel Nina Cortell was honored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) with the 2024 Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award. This award is presented annually by the Texoma Regional Office of ADL to a legal professional for outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions to the legal community and a commitment to the ADL mission of countering extremism and bigotry and ensuring a just and inclusive society for all.
Nina has dedicated herself to enhancing inclusivity and diversity within the legal field throughout her professional journey. She played a pivotal role in establishing the Center for Women in Law at The University of Texas School of Law, a vital institution fostering leadership, innovation and equity. As chair of the State Bar Task Force on Hiring, Retention, and Promotion of Women and Minorities in Law Firms and Corporations, Nina championed the advancement of underrepresented groups, creating pathways for their success. And through leadership positions in Inns of Court, bar associations, and her law firm, she has mentored, and made a meaningful difference in the lives of, generations of lawyers.
“Nina has been a powerhouse litigator for more than four decades, but her work has never gotten in the way of serving her community,” said Partner Leslie Thorne, chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. “She has been a beacon of possibility for so many women and could not be more deserving of this recognition.”
Nina's contributions and her role as a top appellate lawyer have been widely recognized, earning her prestigious accolades such as the Outstanding Lawyer of the Year Award and the Morris Harrell Professionalism Award from the Dallas Bar Association and the Outstanding Appellate Lawyer Award from the Texas Bar Foundation, among others. Her groundbreaking work has not only impacted Haynes Boone, where she became the first female lawyer in 1976, but also the broader legal community. And Haynes Boone’s Appellate Practice Group, which Nina helped establish, is recognized as one of the top appellate groups in the state and nation.
Nina was presented with the ADL Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award at a luncheon on November 14 at the Fairmont Hotel.
