Join us!

Mark your calendar for our April in-person CLE Luncheon and installation of officers ceremony!

Speaker: Hon. Grant Dorfman, Texas Business Court Eleventh Division

Topic: The New Texas Business Court

When: Tues., April 14, 2026 | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM

Where: 1019 Congress, Houston, TX 77002, Basement Level Conference Room

Registration closes at 6 p.m. on Thurs. April 9, 2026. 

Walk-ins will not be permitted!

CLE Objectives:

 Learn the origins and purpose of the Texas Business Court

 Learn the top 10 teaching takeaways and tips about practice in the Texas Business Court, including its unique jurisdictional requirements

 Recognize the recent legislative changes to the Texas Business Court, including the expansion of its geographic and subject matter jurisdiction

 Identify the potential impact of these developments on your cases

Speaker Spotlight:

Hon. Grant Dorfman

Texas Business Court Eleventh Division

Grant Dorfman is the Administrative Presiding Judge of the Eleventh Business Court Division in Houston, appointed by Governor Abbott and elected by his colleagues to lead the court’s inaugural two-year term beginning September 1, 2024.

He previously served as a judge on Harris County’s 129th and 334th District Courts and has held senior legal roles in both the public and private sectors, including Deputy First Assistant Attorney General of Texas and Senior In-House Counsel for Nabors Industries.

A native Texan, he holds degrees from Brown University, Oxford University, and Yale Law School, and clerked for the Honorable Jerry E. Smith of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Before joining the bench, he practiced commercial litigation for a decade at Susman Godfrey and Ogden, Gibson, White & Broocks.

Judge Dorfman serves on several civic and legal boards, teaches as an adjunct professor at the South Texas College of Law, and is active in several professional organizations.

Generously Sponsored By:

Cancellation/No Show Policy:

Due to the contractual requirements imposed by the venues and caterers we use for our in-person events, cancellations are required to be made no later than 12 PM at least four days before the event. Cancellations for our webinars must be made at least 24 hours before the event.  

Cancellations must be in writing and emailed to hmpa.office@gmail.com. Any cancellations not made by the deadline will be non-refundable. Any payment pending for a registrant who does not attend the event will be charged the registration fee. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to hmpa.office@gmail.com. Thank you for your cooperation!

We’re excited to kick off the Annual Conference & Retreat with a relaxed Thursday evening social designed to help you connect before the conference begins.

Join fellow members of the paralegal and legal community for a kickoff event featuring appetizers and drinks, where you can build meaningful professional relationships in a welcoming setting.

We encourage you to mark your calendar and plan to join us.

Click here to visit The Woodlands Resort

Click here to register

Cancellation/No Show Policy:

Due to the contractual requirements imposed by this venue,  cancellations are required to be made in writing no later than 12 PM August 28, 2026. 

Cancellations must be in writing and emailed to hmpa.office@gmail.com. Any cancellations not made by the deadline will be non-refundable. Any payment pending for a registrant who does not attend the event will be charged the registration fee. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to hmpa.office@gmail.com. Thank you for your cooperation.

Click here to visit The Woodlands Resort and its amenities.

Click here to book and view room accommodations.

Rooms are limited.

Register Now to Save Your Seat!

Learn about Line-Up:

• Greg Kondritz
  Executive VP, Business Affairs and General Counsel – Houston Texans

• Marilyn Burgess
  Harris County District Clerk

• Leslie Turnage, J.D., M.B.A.
  Attorney at Law

• Chandler Raine
  First Assistant District Attorney, Harris County District Attorney’s Office

• Tony Buzbee
  National Trial Lawyer, Buzbee Law Firm

• George Edwards, lll
  Partner at Edwards Sutarwalla Samani LLP

Register here for the Kick-Off Thursday Social!

Register here for Friday Happy Hour!

HMPA Hotel Reservation Payment Responsibility Policy:

Hotel accommodations are reserved directly with The Woodlands Resort and are subject to the hotel’s individual reservation policies, terms, and payment requirements.

HMPA does not process, manage, guarantee, or assume responsibility for hotel reservations. HMPA is not responsible for any deposits, balances, room charges, incidental charges, service fees, taxes, gratuities, cancellation fees, no-show charges, or any other amounts owed to the hotel.

All payment obligations related to hotel accommodations are the sole and exclusive responsibility of the member/guest who registers and/or makes the reservation.

The member/guest is fully responsible for:

• All room and lodging charges

• Room service and incidental expenses

• Service charges and gratuities

• Taxes and hotel-imposed fees

• Reservation changes or modifications

• Any and all cancellation or no-show fees

• Any outstanding balance or disputed charges with the hotel

Failure to cancel a reservation in accordance with the hotel’s cancellation policy may result in charges that remain the sole responsibility of the member/guest.

Cancellation/No Show Policy:

Due to the contractual requirements imposed by this venue, cancellations are required to be made in writing no later than 12 PM August 28, 2026.

Cancellations must be in writing and emailed to hmpa.office@gmail.com. Any cancellations not made by the deadline will be non-refundable. Any payment pending for a registrant who does not attend the event will be charged the registration fee. Any questions regarding this policy should be directed to hmpa.office@gmail.com. Thank you for your cooperation.

Dear Sponsors and Affiliate Members,

We are excited to announce that sponsorship opportunities are now available for our 2026 Annual Conference & Retreat, taking place on Friday, September 18, 2026, at The Woodlands Resort.

This year’s event will be expanded to include three networking opportunities:

• Thursday Night Social

• Full-Day Annual Conference (Friday)

• Friday Happy Hour Closing Celebration

With an anticipated attendance of 200+ paralegals from both in-house legal departments and law firms, this event an excellent opportunity to showcase your services and connect directly with decision-makers in the legal community.

Sponsorship Benefits

• Marketing table at the conference on Friday, September 18, 2026

• Inclusion of a full-page color ad in the course manual distributed to all attendees

• Sponsor spotlight introduction during the conference

• Marketing recognition on HMPA’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), website, and weekly eBlast (2,000+ recipients)

• Recognition in HMPA’s Burden of Proof Newsletter

• Copy of the attendee registration list

• Breakfast and lunch for one (1) representative

• Opportunity to provide a door prize for drawing during the conference

• Access to both Thursday and Friday social events at The Woodlands Resort

Sponsorship Options & Fees

• $850 (current Affiliate Members only)

Non-Member Sponsorship

• $1,050 ($850 sponsorship + $150 Affiliate Membership)

Sponsorship includes one (1) representative only, unless additional tickets are purchased at $100 per representative.

Sponsorship fee does not include door prize.

Affiliate Membership Information

Affiliate Membership dues are $150 annually (January 1 – December 31).

Benefits include:

• Inclusion in HMPA’s online Sponsor-Vendor Directory (publicly accessible)

• Access to HMPA’s Membership Directory (400+ members)

• Discounted rates for CLE luncheons, webinars and other events

• Advertising and networking opportunities through weekly eBlasts, social media, newsletter recognition, website advertising, and Job Bank postings

• Discounted sponsorship opportunities throughout the year

Outside of the Annual Conference, HMPA also hosts CLE webinars, quarterly in-person CLEs, social events, a holiday party, and career/technology-focused programming, providing year-round visibility opportunities.

To secure your sponsorship or become an Affiliate Member, please visit:
https://houstonparalegals.org/

Space is limited for this event; several tables have already been reserved.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a call to learn more, please contact hmpa.office@gmail.com.

We look forward to partnering with you for another successful conference.

Sincerely,
HMPA Board of Directors

Due to requirements imposed by this venue, cancellations are required to be made no later than 12 PM on August 28, 2026

We are excited to invite you to Denim & Diamonds , the closing celebration of this year’s Annual Conference.

Join us for an evening of networking, reflection, and celebration as we wrap up a successful conference.

Location: The Woodlands Resort
Attire: Business casual with a touch of sparkle
(denim encouraged)

Register Now to secure your spot.