Benoit named new president of Houston Bar Association

Brent A. Benoit, a partner at Locke Lord LLP, is the new president of the Houston Bar Association.

Brent A. Benoit, a partner at Locke Lord LLP, is the new president of the Houston Bar Association, and is succeeding Denise Scofield.

Benoit was named to his new post at the Houston Bar Association's annual dinner meeting on May 24 at River Oaks Country Club. With more than 11,000 members, the HBA is the fifth largest metropolitan bar association in the nation.

The 40-year-old Benoit, who lives in Baytown with his wife, Christy, and two daughters, has served on the HBA Board of Directors since 2007 and has held the offices of president-elect, second vice president, treasurer and director. He has chaired the HBA's Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and the Dispute Resolution Center and is a fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation. Benoit also serves on the board of directors of Lone Star Legal Aid and is a member of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors and has previously served as a member of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Advance Team and director of Cancer Counseling Inc.

Benoit earned his B.B.A. summa cum laude from Houston Baptist University and then his law degree with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was a member of Order of the Coif, Chancellors and the Texas Law Review. From 1999-2001, he served as special assistant attorney general for Texas under Attorney General John Cornyn. Benoit's law practice focuses on securities litigation, complex commercial litigation and internal and governmental investigations.

Other new HBA officers named on May 24 include David A. Chaumette of Chaumette PLLC, president-elect; Benny Agosto Jr. of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, first vice president; Todd M. Frankfort of Fullenweider Wilhite PC, second vice president; Laura Gibson of Ogden, Gibson, Broocks, Longoria & Hall LLP, secretary; and M. Carter Crow of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP,  treasurer. Scofield will also serve on the board as immediate past president.

New directors for the 2012-14 term are Alistair B. Dawson of Beck, Redden & Secrest LLP; Warren W. Harris of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP; Brent C. Perry of the Law Office of Brent C. Perry; and John K. Spiller of Strasburger & Price LLP.

Completing terms as directors for 2011-13 are David O. Fraga, Houston municipal judge; Jennifer A. Hasley of Hasley Scarano LLP; Neil D. Kelly of Andrews Kurth LLP; and Daniella D. Landers of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP.