[email protected], Jr., a partner with the law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, was recently sworn in as the National President-Elect of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) at the 2010 HNBA Annual Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As National President-Elect, Mr. Agosto will help the HNBA collaborate with other national bar associations, governmental leaders, and community groups to achieve greater involvement and prominence in the legal profession by Hispanics.
Mr. Agosto was sworn in by longtime friend Justice David Medina of the Supreme Court of Texas. Justice Medina noted that “lawyers, judges, law professors, students, and the national community will now see what we have known in Texas for many years; [email protected], Jr. is a brilliant attorney who is able to provide the support that is required as the Hispanic National Bar Association President-Elect. I know that Benny will work consistently for what is in the best interest of the organization.”
The HNBA is a nonprofit national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistants and law students of Hispanic descent in the United States and Puerto Rico. The HNBA promotes opportunities for Latinos in the legal profession through advocacy and substantive programs. The HNBA also advocates for the larger Latino community on important public policy issues such as access to justice, judicial diversity and independence, economic development, voter protection, and immigration reform.
Mr. Agosto focuses his practice in the area of civil litigation. He has successfully litigated thousands of cases on behalf of injured workers. Mr. Agosto is a frequent speaker and lecturer on issues relating to civil litigation. Mr. Agosto has appeared across the country to deliver presentations ranging from unique advocacy tips to the evidentiary relevance of the illegal status of injured workers; from how to take a proper deposition to useful persuasion techniques at trial; and from choosing the right expert for your case to the intricacies of Texas insurance law.
“I am humbled and honored by the membership of the HNBA for trusting me with the reins of this organization,” said Mr. Agosto in regards to the election results. “I have the experience and the leadership skills to build upon the great work accomplished by all of those who have come before me and I look forward to the challenge and the many opportunities that await this great organization.”
Mr. Agosto will be the first attorney from Texas to lead the HNBA throughout its long and distinguished history. Mr. Agosto is a former Region XII President of the HNBA, the Co-Editor In-Chief of the HNBA Journal of Law & Policy, and has sat on the HNBA Board of Governors for over four years. In addition to serving on the board of this national organization, Mr. Agosto has been very active in many local organizations. Mr. Agosto is a former President of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas (MABATx), a current board member of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston (MABAH), a board member of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, a board member of the Houston Bar Association, and has chaired several committees and subcommittees within those organizations as well.
Currently, Mr. Agosto is a board member of the HNBA Legal Education Fund which supports the HNBA’s educational and charitable missions. Mr. Agosto is the Founder and President of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas Foundation (MABATx Foundation) benefiting Hispanic scholarships, a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a life fellow of the Houston Bar Association Foundation, and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Additionally, Mr. Agosto believes it important to dedicate some of his practice to pro bono work.
Most notably, Hinojosa v. Harris County, was a case that highlights Mr. Agosto’s dedication to pro bono work. In that case, a police officer, Sgt. Hinojosa, was injured while responding to a call from dispatch. The issue in the case centered around whether the officer was “on duty” or “off duty” when en route in response to a call to assist a fellow officer. Mr. Agosto won a verdict at the trial court level and the verdict was affirmed at the appellate court level. This past winter, the Supreme Court of Texas denied writ and affirmed the 1st Court of Appeals, thereby making it Texas law. This opinion allowed Mr. Agosto’s client to finally receive his worker’s compensation benefits and awarded the officer his damages that resulted from the accident. Years of hard work by Mr. Agosto provided Texas police officers to have their rights protected when they are responding to a call from a fellow officer.
From 2004-2010, Mr. Agosto was named a Texas Super Lawyer as presented by the Law & Politics Magazine – Key Professional Media, a publication of Texas Monthly.