Governor Abbott Announces Appointments to New Houston Business Court Division

HOUSTON, TX — Governor Greg Abbott today announced his appointments to the Houston Business Court’s Eleventh Division, created last year to provide an effective mechanism for businesses to resolve complex business disputes in Texas. The Governor appointed Sofia Adrogué and Grant Dorfman as judges of the Eleventh Business Court Division, effective September 1, 2024, for a term that will expire September 1, 2026. The Eleventh Business Court Division is composed of the counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Matagorda and Wharton.

Sofia Adrogué of Houston is a partner with Diamond McCarthy LLP. She is founder and editor of the Texas Business Litigation Treatise (ALM 5th edition). Early in her career, she worked at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Having served on more than 15 boards, she is currently a member of the Houston First Board of Directors and the City of Houston Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council and a member of the American Bar Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation and from the Houston Bar Foundation (HBF). Her previous service includes serving as president and board member of the Houston Law Review (HLR) Alumni Association and a member of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, Mexican American Bar Association of Houston, Texas Women Lawyers and the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee. . She has received more than 40 awards and was recognized for her public service by the City of Houston with the proclamation of “Sofia Adrogué Day.” Adrogué earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Legal Studies from Rice University, magna cum laude, Phi Beta. Kappa and Juris Doctor from the University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, both full academic scholars. Additionally, she is a graduate and alumna of the Harvard Business School Owners’ Chairs Management Program, where she served as a keynote speaker in the United States. and class representative.

Grant Dorfman of Bellaire is a visiting judge and former first deputy assistant attorney general in the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Previously, he served as a judge for the 334th Judicial District and the 129th Judicial District in Harris County, a visiting judge for the State of Texas, an attorney for Sheehy, Ware, Pappas & Grubbs, PC, and an in-house manager. Board of Nabors Industries. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Federalist Society, the Houston Bar Association (HBA), and the American Law Institute. He is a life member of the Texas Bar Foundation, a life member of HBF, and a member of the HLR Board of Directors. Additionally, he is treasurer of the Texas Association of Retired, Senior and Former Judges, member of the Friends of HSPVA Board of Directors, former co-chair of the HBA Communities in Schools Committee, former member of the Professionalism Committee of the HBA and former professor. member of the National College of Magistracy. Dorfman earned an Artium BA in History from Brown University, a Master of Studies in History and Political Philosophy from Oxford University, and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

Last year, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 19 into law, creating new statewide specialized trial courts to streamline the resolution of commercial disputes.