Richard Pena​
2211 South IH-35, Ste. 300, Austin, TX 78741
​(512) 327-6884 | [email protected]

Distinguished legal leader and "Trailblazer" with over 45 years of experience in personal injury and workers' compensation law. Recognized as one of the most influential Hispanic lawyers in the United States, having served as President of the State Bar of Texas and President of the American Bar Foundation. Expert in national bar leadership, international legal diplomacy, and civil rights advocacy.

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LEGAL LICENSURE & RATINGS​

• Licenses: Texas, Colorado, Illinois
• Courts: United States Court of Appeals – 5th Circuit
• Martindale-Hubbell: Rated "AV Preeminent" (Highest possible rating for legal ability and ethics)
• Avvo Rating: Top-Rated Attorney
• Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers: Consistent selection based on peer review

LEGAL EXPERIENCE​

President & CEO | 1976 – Present
Law Offices of Richard Pena, P.C. | Austin, TX

Lead a premier firm specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and on-the-job injuries.
Recognized as a "Trailblazer" by the Texas Bar Journal (2014) and the American Bar Association (2023).
Selected as one of Austin Monthly’s Top Attorneys (2024).

BAR LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

American Bar Association (ABA)

• Board of Governors | 2007 – 2010
• State Delegate | 2002 – 2007
• House of Delegates | 1998 – 2013
• Select Committee of ABA | 2010 – 2013
• Nominating Committee | 2000 – 2007, 2010 – 2013
  • Executive Committee Member
  • Steering Committee Member
  • Vice Chair | 2004 – 2006
• Presidential Appointments Advisory Committee | 2005, 2008, 2010
  • Chair | 2009
• Conference of State Delegates | 2002
  
• Credentials and Admissions Committee | 2000 – 2004
  • Vice Chair | 2002 – 2004
• Commission on Hispanic Legal Rights & Responsibilities | 2014 – 2019
  • Chair | 2017 – 2019
• Commission on Immigration
  • Chair | 2004, 2005, 2006
  • Advisory Committee on Immigration Pro-Bono | 1999 – 2002
    
  • ​Commission on Immigration Policy, Practice & Pro-Bono | 1999 – 2002
• Advisory Committee on Immigration | Pro-Bono (1999 – 2002)
• Commission on Immigration Policy, Practice & Pro-Bono | 1999 – 2002
• Additional Roles:
  • Pro-Bono & Public Service Committee | 2013
  • Liaison for Enterprise Fund Grant | 2013
  • Latin America & Caribbean Committee | 2011 – 2014
  • Presidential Pricing Strategy Committee | 2013
  • ABA Task Force on Hurricane Katrina | 2005 – 2006
  • Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund Selection Committee | 2001 – 2003
  • Colloquium on Diversity Invitee | 1999
  • Tort & Insurance Section | 1999
  • Founding Member, Diversity and Inclusion Center | 2017 – 2019
  • Section of Civil Rights and Responsibilities - Immigration Committee Officer

American Bar Foundation (ABF)

• President | 2008
• Vice-President | 2006
• Board of Directors | 2000 – 2012
• Fellows Leadership:
  • Chair | 2005
  • Chair-Elect | 2004
  • Secretary | 2003

National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP)

• Executive Council | 2000 – 2003

State Bar of Texas (SBOT)

• President | 1998 – 1999
• Director (District 9) | 1991 – 1994
• Texas Bar Foundation Leadership:
  • Chairman | 1996 – 1997
  • Vice-Chairman | 1995 – 1996
  • Secretary | 1994 – 1995
  • Treasurer | 1994 – 1995
  • Trustee | 1994 – 1996
  • Sustaining Life Fellow
    
• James Watson Inn:
  • Chairman | 1997 – 1998
  • Vice-Chairman | 1995 – 1996
  • Secretary | 1995
  • Council Member | 1994 – 1997
• Board Committees:
  • Chairman, Policy Manual | 1993
  • Executive Committee | 1992 – 1994
  • Chairman, PDP | 1992
  • Chairman, Minority Representative | 1991
  • Chairman, Goals & Implementation, Women & Minorities Sub-Committee | 1991
• Special Task Forces & Committees:
  • Hurricane Katrina Task Force | 2005
  • Referral Fee Task Force | 2004
  • Advertising Review Committee | 1995
  • Co-Chairman, Referendum | 1994
  • Pattern Jury Charges, Vol. 2 Committee | 1994
  • Co-Chairman, Annual Meeting | 1993 – 1994
  • Chairman, Nominating Committee, Minorities Director | 1991
  • The College of the State Bar of Texas | 2012 – 2013
  • Special Committee to Nominate ABA Delegate | 2012
  • Texas Access to Justice Commission Strategic Planning Committee | 2023 – 2024

Travis County Bar Association

• President | 1990 – 1991
• President-Elect | 1989 – 1990
• Secretary | 1988 – 1989
• Board of Directors | 1986 – 1988
• Committee Chairmanships:
  • Law Day Banquet Committee Chairman | 1988 – 1999
  • Judicial Screening Committee Chairman | 1987
  • Insurance Committee Chairman | 1987 – 1990
  • Lawyer Referral Service Board of Trustees | 1983 – 1984
• Travis County Bar Foundation | 2004 – 2005

​PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES & MEMBERSHIPS

• ​American Inns of Court, Master | 1998
• Capital Area Trial Lawyers Executive Committee
• President, Capital Area Mexican-American Lawyers Association | 1984
• ABA Nominating Committee | 1990, 1996
• Opportunities for Minorities in the Profession | 1990
• Federal Judiciary Appointments Committee | 1984
• Memberships: College of the State Bar, Pro-Bono College, Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, Austin Bar Association, Austin Bar Foundation.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) SPEAKER

• Advanced Workers' Compensation Course (SBOT)
  • Course Director | 2005, 2006
  • Panelist | 2009
  • Speaker | 2012 (9th Annual Course)
• Ethics & Professionalism:
  • Ethics Presentation (SBOT) | 2006
  • Car Crash Seminar Ethics (SBOT) | 2005
• Specialized Topics:
  • Legislative Changes (Texas Orthopedic Association) | 2005
  • Workers' Comp Changes (State Bar College "Summer School") | 2005
  • Poverty Law Conference, Workers' Comp | 2004
  • Dispute Resolution Training (Texas Workers' Compensation Commission) | 2002
  • Hispanic Issues Section | 2002
  • Advanced Evidence & Discovery (SBOT) | 1989
  • Advanced Civil Trial (16th Annual) | 1993
  • Advanced Personal Injury Trial Law (8th Annual) | 1992

HONORS & RECOGNITIONS

• NCBP Fellows Award Winner | 2024
• St. David's Foundation Making a Difference Award | 2024
• ABA Trailblazer Recognition | 2023
• Spirit of Excellence Award, ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity | 2020
• Joseph C. Parker Jr. Diversity Award, Austin Bar Association | 2018
• Texoma Hero Award | 2025
• The Richard Pena Public Interest Law Fellowship, William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law | 2019
• Trailblazer Recognition, State Bar of Texas | 2014
• Difference Makers Award, ABA General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division | 2010
• Distinguished Lawyer Award, Austin Bar Association | 2007
• Presidential Citation, State Bar of Texas | 1991, 2000, 2004
• Barbed Wire Award, Workers Compensation Section of the State Bar of Texas | 2014
• Legal Services Award, MALDEF | 2001
• Outstanding Hispanic Lawyer, Austin, Mexican American Bar Association of TX | 1989
• LULAC Council No. 85, Austin Honorary Member | 1998
• Eisenhower Achievement Award, People to People Ambassador Program | 2006
• Kentucky Colonel Award | 2004

MILITARY SERVICE

Operating Room Specialist | United States Army | Vietnam

• Served until the final day of American military involvement in March 1973.
• Received Honorable Discharge | 1973.

​EDUCATION

University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | 1976
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) | 1970
• Honors: Law School Faculty Honorary Membership in the Order of the Coif.

PUBLICATIONS

• Book: Co-Author of Last Plane Out of Saigon | Published 2014.
• Articles:
  • "Former State Bar President Returns From Turkey," Texas Bar Blog | Nov 17, 2013.
  • "Giving Back: Lawyers Under Attack in Turkey," GPSolo ABA | Jan/Feb 2014.
  • "Pro Bono Spotlight," Texas Bar Journal | Oct 2023.
• Numerous CLE Papers

CIVIC & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Homeless Planning & Implementation Council (City of Austin)
  • Chairman | 1996 – 1997
• Board of Directors:
  • Legal Aid of Central Texas
  • Boys Club of Austin & Travis County | 1997 – 1998
  • Austin Association for Retarded Citizens | 1987 – 1988
  • Center for Battered Women | 1972 – 1982
• Austin Association for Retarded Citizens, Private Facilities Monitoring Committee | 1981
  
• Austin-Travis County MHMR, Public Responsibility Committee | 1972 – 1982
• Leadership Austin.

​INSTRUCTIONAL & MISCELLANEOUS ROLES

• Instructor, St. Edward’s University, Business Law | 1983
• Instructor, Austin Community College, Business Law | 1981 – 1982
• International Diplomacy: Led Delegations of Texas and U.S. Lawyers to numerous countries (Turkey, South Africa, China, Tibet, Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Israel, UAE, Ireland, Brazil) | 2000 – 2014
  • Led 21 international trips.
  • Chair, U.S.-Russian Joint Conference on the Rule of Law in St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Eisenhower Achievement Award | 2006
• NFL Players Association Certified Contract Advisor | 1984 – 1986
• Sports Editor, Austin Light Newspaper | 1982
• President, Third Coast Sports & Entertainment Management Agency | 1986