Ben De Leon became President of the firm on July 1, 2012, the firm’s 35th Anniversary. Ben has practiced with the firm since 2005. His practice focuses on the areas of administrative law, corporate law, real estate law, general civil litigation, labor and employment, appellate law and insurance law. Ben strives to find the most effective and efficient solutions for his clients, whether the client is a pro-bono individual or a large company. Ben is not afraid to fight for his clients: he practices law in a way that provides the utmost service to his clients, while treating each individual involved with integrity and honesty.
Ben’s service-minded nature extends beyond his legal practice to his passion for improving his community. Since he was a UT law student, where he received a Texas Law Fellowship for work in public interest and served as a student attorney in the Juvenile Justice Clinic, Ben has used his skills as an attorney to help others. A native Austinite, Ben is fluent in Spanish, and has represented Spanish-speaking clients pro bono through Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas since 2005. Through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Ben was a Big Brother to his Little Brother, Anthony, for nearly 7 years. Ben was named the 2009 National Big Brother of the Year by BBBS of America, out of more than 250,000 mentors nationwide.
Ben is married to Shannon Lee De Leon; they are the proud parents of daughters, Anna and Winslow, and son, Henry.
Education
University of Texas at Austin, B.S. and B.A., 2001, Corporate Communication and Spanish, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa
University of Texas School of Law, JD 2004
Community Involvement
Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, Board of Directors
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Legislative Affairs Committee
Texas Exes, Board of Directors—Scholarship Committee Chair, Scholarship Foundation Board, Hispanic Alumni Steering Committee, Forty Acres Society Steering Committee
The (Seton Fund) Fifty—Advocacy Chair
Austin Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
Austin Young Chamber of Commerce
Austin Chamber of Commerce
Texas Bar Foundation
University of Texas, 1883 Council President for 2012-2013, School of Social Work Advisory Council and Capital Campaign Committee
Awards
Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star, 2011 in Administrative Law and 2012 in Business Litigation
UT Ex-Students’ Association Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award Recipient, 2012
Austin Under 40 Award Winner, Youth & Education Category, 2011
National Big Brother of the Year, BBBS of America, 2009
Elected a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, 2010
Judge Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Service Award, 2007-2009
Publications
Rendering a Taxing New Tide on I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3): The Constitutional Implications of H.R. 2357 and Alternatives for Increased Political Freedom in Houses of Worship, The Texas Review of Litigation, Vol. 23, No. 3 (2004).
What is the Substantial Evidence Rule? (June 29, 2012), available at www.dwlawtx.com/tag/substantial-evidence-rule
Career Killers, Justice James A. Baker – Guide to the Basics of Law Practice New Attorneys CLE Course (Feb. 17, 2012)
Practicing Law and Wellness, 2011 Texas Poverty Law Conference (April 8, 2011)
2009 National Big Brother of the Year – Anthony Goes to Washington, Metropolitan Breakfast Club (June 9, 2010)
Keynote Speaker, Westlake High School Chaps In Service Ceremony (April 15, 2010)
Keynote Speaker, Pflugerville Independent School District Leadership Experience, 2010, 2011, 2012
Keynote Speaker, Pflugerville Hendrickson High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony (Nov. 11, 2012)
