AUSTIN, Texas – March 19, 2026 – Karen M. Kennard, Co-Managing Shareholder of the Austin office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, is a 2025 recipient of the Texas Tech University School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes an alumnus who has made significant contributions to the bench, bar, or community, and whose accomplishments and career have brought credit to the law school and to the legal profession as a whole.
"Karen is not only a core member of the Greenberg Traurig family and an excellent lawyer, but she is a very special human being,” said Richard A. Rosenbaum, Greenberg Traurig Executive Chairman. “Her excellence, ethics, integrity, and decency are of the highest order. I am proud to be her partner and the entire firm joins me in celebrating this milestone achievement.”
“I am truly honored to be recognized by my alma mater, an institution that was instrumental in shaping my career,” Kennard said. “From the valuable skills learned to the friendships made, my time at Texas Tech left a profound impact on my life. My law school experience is a driving factor and inspiration to my commitment to supporting the university and its students. It is a privilege to give back to fellow Red Raiders and invest in the next generation of legal professionals. I hope that my legal career helps to inspire others who seek to pursue a legal career.
Kennard is a graduate of the Class of 1988 and currently serves as a trustee of the Texas Tech Law School Foundation. In 2024, Kennard was the keynote speaker for the Law School’s Commencement ceremony.
“Karen’s outstanding legal career and steadfast dedication to the profession have left an indelible mark on Texas Tech Law School and the broader legal community. In recognition of her remarkable achievements, Greenberg Traurig is pleased to endow a scholarship in her name at Texas Tech Law School. This annual scholarship will provide meaningful support to law students, ensuring that Karen’s legacy of excellence and service endures for generations to come,” said Demetrius G. McDaniel, Senior Vice President and Regional Operating Shareholder of Texas. “Congratulations, Karen.”
At Greenberg Traurig, Kennard focuses her practice on government law, policy, and regulatory matters with an emphasis on municipal local government issues. Her experience spans more than three decades and includes positions as city attorney for the City of Austin, Texas, and general counsel for the Texas Municipal League.