Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation Selects Danielle Rushing Behrends for the 2023 Belva Lockwood Outstanding Young Lawyer Award

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that Danielle Rushing Behrends was selected as the 2023 recipient of the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation (BCWB) Belva Lockwood Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. Behrends will be presented with the award at the BCWB’s annual Autumn Affair on November 2, 2023.

Each year the Bexar County Women’s Bar chooses two female attorneys for this recognition based on their contributions to the legal profession and contributions to the community in the form of charitable and volunteer work. Nominees are evaluated based on experience, reputation, and standing in the legal community. BCWB selects those who embody the principles of Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood (October 24, 1830 – May 19, 1917).

Lockwood was an American attorney, politician, educator, and author who was active in working for women’s rights. As one of the first female lawyers in the nation, she successfully petitioned Congress to be allowed to practice before the United States Supreme Court. In addition, Lockwood ran for president in 1884 and 1888 on the ticket of the National Equal Rights Party and was the first woman to appear on official ballots.

In her practice, Behrends has represented several multi-million dollar businesses, particularly in the oil and gas/energy, retail, national fitness chain, healthcare, and transportation industries, Chapter 11 Trustees, and a federal court-appointed receiver. She drafts and argues motions in state and federal courts. Rushing has received numerous accolades and other professional recognition in regard to her practice, leadership, community involvement, and pro bono efforts.

As indicated by her selection as a recipient of the Belva Lockwood Award, Rushing is extremely active in professional organizations. She served as Chair of the American Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division Bankruptcy Law Committee, held several leadership positions with the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association and Foundation, and serves as Texas Leader of Dykema's Women's Business Initiative. She is also a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the San Antonio Bar Foundation, is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute's Strength in Diversity Editorial Board and is involved with several committees for the State Bar of Texas and the National Association of Federal Equity Receivers (NAFER).

Beyond the Lockwood Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, Rushing has received numerous other forms of professional recognition throughout her young career, including earning the American Bar Association 20/20 Partners Rising Young Leader Award, being named an "Outstanding Women in Law" by S.A. Scene, recognition in the St. Mary’s University School of Law Graduates of the Last Decade 10 Under 10 Award, and as a Texas Bar Journal Access to Justice Pro Bono Champion.

Rushing earned a J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law and a B.S. from Louisiana State University.