Randall O. “Randy” Sorrels ’87, past president of the State Bar of Texas and co-founder of Sorrels Law, was unanimously selected to chair the South Texas College of Law Houston Board of Directors, beginning Jan. 1. Sorrels has served on the board since 2013 and will serve a four-year term.
Sorrels served as chair-elect of the board for the past year, working closely with then board chair and long-time board member Genora Boykins ’85. She completed her term as chair in December and now serves as immediate past chair.
“I am proud to give back to a law school that gave me so much — a world-class education, a lifelong respect for passionate advocacy, and the skillset to practice law at the highest level,” Sorrels said. “South Texas opened every door in my career, and being named chair of the board is both humbling and deeply meaningful.”
Sorrels and his wife, Alex Farias-Sorrels, founded Sorrels Law in Houston in 2021 and rapidly expanded from two lawyers to 32 lawyers with offices in Houston, Dallas, Austin, and Beaumont. Today, the firm is recognized as one of Texas’ most influential plaintiff powerhouses. Sorrels began his litigation career as an associate at what is now Norton Rose Fulbright, and then spent three decades at Abraham Watkins before launching the new firm.
While Sorrels moved around during his early years because his dad was in the military, he settled in Houston — earning his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Houston Christian University in 1984. He played on the NCAA Division 1 soccer team and was an Academic All-American. The HCU Soccer Field is named after him. Sorrels graduated magna cum laude from South Texas Law in 1987. He was on the board of advocates in law school, competing in the mock trial program, and was a member of the South Texas Law Review.
The law school has honored Sorrels with its highest honor, the Dean’s Medal, with its Public Service Award, and with the Distinguished Alumni Award. He is the namesake of The Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics — basically a pro bono law firm that lives within the law school and serves the community with free legal services while giving students real-world experience working with clients.
“What makes South Texas exceptional isn’t just the quality of its education,” he said. “It’s the people. It is the faculty, the administration, the staff, and the alumni community. Chair Genora Boykins is a perfect example. The first female and the first Black chair of the board, Genora’s tenure as chair was marked by exceptional commitment, strategic thinking, and an unwavering focus on excellence. She has set a standard of leadership that will continue to inspire us all.”
Sorrels was elected to serve as president of the Houston Bar Association and State Bar of Texas, and he was selected as the ALM/Texas Lawyer Attorney of the Year. Perennially named as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the state by Texas Super Lawyers magazine, Sorrels is known for his relentless and tenacious representation of clients throughout Texas and the nation. He and his partner/wife obtained at the time the largest actual damages verdict in U.S. history for an injured worker — $352.7 million – in a fully contested jury trial.
He holds two Texas board certifications (Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization), and also two national board certifications (Civil Trial Law and Civil Trial Advocacy) from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has been repeatedly listed in Best Lawyers of America and is sought after by national and local media for legal analysis, commentary, and perspective.
Sorrels’ success in the courtroom is well-known throughout Texas and the nation. He has taken dozens of cases to trial, securing multi-million-dollar verdicts in high-profile personal injury cases, medical malpractice cases, plant explosion cases, and business lawsuits.
He previously served as president of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists, chair of the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation, president of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association, president of the Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation, vice president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation, director of the State Bar of Texas (two terms), commissioner of the Equal Access to Justice Commission, and trustee of the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society.
Sorrels said his wife and law partner is “one of the smartest lawyers I know.” He is the father of six children and two grandchildren.
“Building on over a century of excellence, South Texas continues to play a critical role in shaping practice-ready attorneys who are fierce advocates, corporate and community leaders, and dedicated public servants,” Sorrels said. “Our mission remains clear: to empower our students to lead with integrity, ensuring they stand as a bulwark against injustice and a driving force for the rule of law in our society.”
