Harriet Miers is a member of our Litigation and Public Policy sections and a former managing partner of Locke Liddell & Sapp. She returned to the Firm in May 2007 after serving in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001-2007 as Staff Secretary, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Counsel to the President. Prior to joining the White House, Ms. Miers had a distinguished career in her commercial litigation practice, representing a broad range of clients in varied industries. She is well-known throughout the United States, and has offices in Dallas, Austin and Washington, D.C.
In 1972, after clerking for U.S. District Court Judge Joe E. Estes, Ms. Miers was the first woman hired at the Dallas Firm of Locke Purnell Boren Laney & Neely. Ms. Miers became the first woman to lead the Firm, then known as Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, when she was elected Firm President in 1996. In 1999, when Locke Purnell merged with Houston-based Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon, she became Co-Managing Partner, a position she held until she left to join the Bush Administration.
Throughout her career, Ms. Miers has been committed to public service. She has been an elected official and has served as an appointed official at the state and national levels. Well respected as a leader in the legal community, she has served in many professional and community volunteer positions, and is a strong advocate of pro bono work and the advancement of minorities in the profession. In 1985, Ms. Miers was selected as the first woman to become President of the Dallas Bar Association. In 1989, Ms. Miers was elected to a two-year term as an at-large member of the Dallas City Council. After serving on the Dallas City Council, she ran for President of the State Bar of Texas, and was elected to serve in 1992 as the first woman President of the State Bar. From 1995 until 2000, Ms. Miers also served as Chairwoman of the Texas Lottery Commission.
Over the years, Ms. Miers also served in many leadership roles in the American Bar Association, including Chair of the Board of Editors of the American Bar Journal and the Texas State Delegate. She was appointed Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary on January 20, 2001. In 2003, she was named Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff. In that position, her responsibilities included assisting in the coordination of policy formulation within the White House. Appointed Counsel to the President in February 2005, she served as the top lawyer to the President and the White House until she resigned in February 2007.
Among her many recognitions and awards: in 2005, Ms. Miers received the Sandra Day O’Connor award from the Texas Center for Legal Ethics and Professionalism and the Robert G. Storey Award for Distinguished Achievement from the SMU Dedman School of Law. She also has received Distinguished Alumni Awards from both SMU and the SMU Dedman School of Law. In 1979, she was honored as the Outstanding Young Lawyer by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers.
Education
- J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law, 1970
Barristers
Comments Editor, Southwestern Law Journal
Moot Court Board
Kappa Beta Pi - B.S., Southern Methodist University, 1967
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- District of Columbia
Professional History
Partner in the law firm of Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, 2007-present
Counsel to the President, 2005-2007
Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff,
President George W. Bush’s Administration, 2003-2005
Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary,
President George W. Bush’s Administration, 2001-2003
Locke Liddell & Sapp LLP, Co-Managing Partner, 1999-2001
Locke Purnell Rain Harrell
(formerly Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney & Neely),
Associate, 1972-1978, Shareholder, 1978-1998: Locke Purnell
Rain Harrell (formerly Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney & Neely)
Management Committee, Locke Purnell Rain Harrell
Former Trial Advocacy Instructor, Southern Methodist
University School of Law
Former National Institute of Trial Advocacy Program Instructor
Law Clerk, Hon. Joe E. Estes, U.S. District Court,
Northern District of Texas, 1970-1972
Law Clerk, Belli, Ashe, Ellison, Choulos & Lieff, Summer, 1969
Professional Affiliations
Member, American Bar Association
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Former President and Member, State Bar of Texas
Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Former President and Member, Dallas Bar Association
Charter Fellow, Dallas Bar Foundation
Member, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Advisory Board
Awards
YWCA Centennial Award, 2008
Spirit of Thanks-Giving Award from Thanks-Giving Square, 2006
Sandra Day O’Connor Award by the Texas Center
for Legal Ethics and Professionalism, 2005
Honorary Doctorate, Pepperdine University School of Law Outstanding
Alumni Award
Southern Methodist University Robert C. Storey Award
for Distinguished Achievement, 2005
Named to 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America
by National Law Journal, 2000
Named to 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America
by National Law Journal, 1998
Named to 100 Most Powerful Attorneys by National Law Journal, 1997
Woman of the Year, Today's Dallas Woman, 1997
Women of Excellence Award, Women's Enterprise Magazine, 1997
Louise B. Raggio Award, Dallas Women's Lawyers Association, 1996
Anti-Defamation League Jurisprudence Award, 1996
Legal Services of North Texas 1996 Merrill Hartman Award
Sarah T. Hughes Award, Women In The Law Section,
State Bar of Texas, 1993
American Jewish Committee, 1992 Human Relations Award
1992 Justinian Award for Community Service
National Award for Leadership and Commitment from Girls Clubs, 1987
Outstanding Young Lawyer, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, 1979
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