Jackson Walker proudly announces Nancy W. Hamilton has been presented with the Denis B. Kemball-Cook Award from her alma mater, Skidmore College. The award, given at the 2023 Recognition and Retirement Dinner on Thursday, May 18, 2023, honors a member of the Skidmore community whose personal qualities and extraordinary commitment have contributed to the life of the College and who has put both talents and energy to work in full and generous service to the school. It is the highest award bestowed on a member of the Skidmore community.
This recognition by Skidmore follows Nancy’s recent recognition by her peers as this year’s Lawyer of the Year in Houston for Litigation – First Amendment in The Best Lawyers in America.
Jon Achenbaum, incoming Chair of the Skidmore College Board of Trustees, presented Nancy with the award, stating, “Back in 2012, Skidmore was extremely fortunate when Nancy agreed to join the Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees as an alumna trustee. With gratitude and admiration for her trusteeship and service of the highest order, the Board of Trustees of Skidmore College confers the 2023 Denis B. Kemball-Cook award upon our fearless leader and wonderful colleague, Nancy Wells Hamilton.”
“With gratitude and admiration for her trusteeship and service of the highest order, the Board of Trustees of Skidmore College confers the 2023 Denis B. Kemball-Cook award upon our fearless leader and wonderful colleague, Nancy Wells Hamilton.”
In 2019, Nancy was appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees, building on the work she did since 2012 as co-chair of the Creating Our Future: The Campaign for Skidmore fundraising campaign and as a member of the President’s Advisory Council, the Alumni Association Board of Directors, and the Advancement, Executive, Trusteeship, and Academic Affairs committees. During her reign as Chair, Nancy helped lead the college in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, helped guide the Campus Master Planning process, and partnered with Skidmore College President Marc Conner on multiple strategic priorities, including the Racial Justice Initiative, the Speech and Expression Symposium, and the celebration of Skidmore’s centennial as a four-year fully accredited liberal arts college.
Through the years, Nancy has supported the college along with her husband, fellow Jackson Walker partner Chip Babcock, as hosts for Houston-area admissions and alumni events. Having attended numerous scholarship dinners, Presidents Society receptions, and other key events, she is revered as one of Skidmore’s most-traveled ambassadors.
“It is such an honor to have received this award from the school that gave me so much over the years,” Nancy said. “I have so many memories of my time at Skidmore College and the years that have followed. It has been such a wonderful experience helping to shape and grow my alma mater.”
“It is such an honor to have received this award from the school that gave me so much over the years.”
Outside of her involvement with Skidmore, Nancy has maintained a robust practice focused on First Amendment and media litigation, intellectual property disputes, and complex commercial litigation. She has appeared in federal and state courts for well-known clients including CNN, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil, CBS, Inc., Fox News Network, The Tribune Company, and U.S. Trust. Nancy has written and lectured on trial tactics and media law, including What to do When the Media Calls and Building Rapport in the Courthouse for the Texas State Bar and Trial Techniques for the Media Law Resource Center Annual Conferences in 2006 and 2008. She has also appeared on PBS Houston’s KUHT-TV program The Connection on videotaping jury deliberations.
Nancy graduated with her B.A. from Skidmore College in 1977 before obtaining her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.
