When Sean Berwald ’18 looks back on the beginning of his post-South Texas College of Law Houston life—marriage, bar passage, and his first job offer all within the same week—he calls it a whirlwind. But his journey since graduation is about more than timing: it’s about vision, mentorship, and a relentless commitment to creating opportunities for others.
Today, as the Co-Managing Attorney at Sadler Law Group, Sean leads a team of attorneys and paralegals in the energy capital of the world—right here in Houston. Yet, what drives him most is the chance to mentor students and young lawyers and open doors that once seemed closed.
Sean’s path to law was shaped by international experiences in Russia and Lithuania, where he first recognized the vital role attorneys play in the global energy sector. When he came to South Texas Law, he quickly poured his energy into revitalizing the Oil and Gas Law Society, growing it from a handful of students to more than 100, and creating connections that led classmates to positions at major firms, right out of law school, for the first time.
“Opportunity—that’s it. That’s the only goal. Everything else is noise,” Sean said. “That’s why I care. I care because it matters fundamentally. I care because people need purpose, and we can give them that.”
That focus has carried into his alumni leadership. As president of the Energy Alumni Association, adjunct professor of Oil and Gas Title Examination and Transactional Skills – Oil and Gas, and mentor to countless students, Sean has helped strengthen the bridge between law students and a thriving professional network. Nearly all the students who complete his title examination course, he notes, secure positions in the field right after graduation.
“Seeing students walk into life-changing opportunities because of a single course, or a single connection, is incredibly rewarding,” Sean said. “It’s proof of the practical, hands-on training South Texas Law provides. There’s unlimited opportunity here—the student interest is here, the alumni support is here, and the law school is committed to making sure it continues to grow.”
At the Annual Alumni Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 9, the Alumni Association will honor Sean with the 2025 Young Alumni Award, which recognizes a graduate of the past 10 years who has made an early mark on the profession and stayed connected to the South Texas Law community through service and leadership.
For Sean, receiving the Young Alumni Award is less about personal recognition and more about honoring the community that surrounds him. “This award isn’t just for me,” he said. “This award matters because the people behind it matter. The people that have supported me in getting here matter—it’s a representation of the community behind it.”
Looking ahead, Sean sees enormous opportunity for South Texas Law to strengthen its national reputation as the hub for energy law. He believes alumni play a key role—whether through teaching, mentoring, or philanthropy—in ensuring the Oil and Gas Law Institute continues to thrive.
“The opportunities are here,” he said. “We just need to seize them.”
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We would love to see you at the Annual Alumni Awards Luncheon! This South Texas Law celebration and networking opportunity will take place Thursday, October 9, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at The Houston Public Library Julia Ideson Reading Room, 550 McKinney St., Houston, TX 77002. While the event is complementary, ticket reservations are required. Reserve My Tickets.
