Donor Spotlight: Bickley '84 recognized as Houston's municipal litigation 'Lawyer of the Year' by Best Lawyers

April 28, 2016 – For the second time in three years, University of Houston alumna Susan Bickley has been honored by her peers for her work in litigation. Best Lawyers named Bickley Houston's 2016 municipal litigation "Lawyer of the Year." She previously won the award in 2014.

In a legal career that has spanned more than three decades, Bickley continues to find enrichment through her relationship with the University of Houston Law Center. The 1984 Law Center graduate is a member of the University of Houston Law Foundation Board, and donates to the Annual Law Gala & Auction and Law Scholar Award scholarship, and is also a member of the Dean's Society.

"I give back because I recognize everything the Law Center did for me," Bickley said. "The Law Center provided me an excellent legal education, and training that prepared me from an academic standpoint, and beyond that, provided practical experiences and interactions with the legal community that prepared me for my law practice. Others were making donations that probably benefitted me while I was at the Law Center, so I think I should continue the tradition in giving back."

Bickley said donations to the Law Center do more than just maintain a relationship with her law school, but have also benefitted her professionally.

"Giving back also provides you with a community and network of fellow graduates with whom it is not only fun to stay in touch, but you end up doing business with as well," she said. "I enjoy staying in touch with the Law Center and the community that surrounds it because I like being part of an accomplished group with a common interest."

Bickley is a partner at Blank Rome's Houston office where she represents public corporations, small companies and start-ups, in a wide array of litigation involving trade secrets, employment issues, issues involving local government and public officials, and other business and commercial interests.

Despite specializing in appellate and civil trial law, Bickley fondly remembers a vast array of law courses and professors including Professor Richard Alderman's Consumer Law Class, Professor Irene Rosenberg's Criminal Law class, and Professor Jacqueline Weaver's Oil and Gas Law class.

"I was sort of a law nerd," Bickley said. "I enjoyed all of my classes to be honest."

Bickley has shown generosity to the Law Center not just through philanthropy, but with time and effort. She served as an adjunct professor from 2006 to 2010, teaching Trial Advocacy. Bickley said watching law students become lawyers in front of her eyes was the most rewarding part of her teaching experience.

"To see the trial process through their eyes really reminded me of how far I had come, from the time I entered law school to when I left and then in the practice of law," she said. "I really loved the students. I loved their energy and enthusiasm. It was so exciting to see them really getting what we were teaching and then to see how far they came during the class. That was really gratifying."