Laura Lee Prather, an Austin partner in Haynes and Boone and head of its media law practice, will receive the 2018 James Madison Award from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas on Sept. 21 at an awards luncheon during the foundation’s Bernard and Audre Rapoport State Conference in Austin. The award recognizes Prather as a champion of free speech and government transparency. Prather was instrumental in the passage of the three most significant pieces of First Amendment legislation in recent history: the reporter’s privilege, the Texas Citizens Participation Act and the Defamation Mitigation Act.

Frank Herrera Jr., founder of The Herrera Law Firm in San Antonio, will be honored by Texas Watch at the Champions of Justice Luncheon on Oct. 26 at the Club Plaza in San Antonio. Herrera is known for fighting for justice for the underdog.