University of Houston Law Center Unveils New John M. O' Quinn Law Building Signage
Quick summary: The University of Houston Law Center has unveiled updated exterior signage and an interior commemorative plaque at the John M. O'Quinn Law Building, honoring the late John M. O'Quinn (J.D. '67), a legendary trial lawyer, generous philanthropist and valedictorian of his 1967 UHLC graduating class.
July 29, 2026 — The name John M. O’Quinn (J.D. ’67) has long been synonymous with excellence, achievement and generosity at the University of Houston Law Center. Now updated exterior signage and interior commemorative plaque at the John M. O’Quinn Law Building will help ensure future generations of law students will continue to have a bold, visible reminder of the law graduate whose vision and support helped shaped the institution.
A legendary trial lawyer, generous philanthropist and valedictorian of his 1967 UHLC graduating class, the late O’Quinn remains one of the most influential benefactors of the University of Houston, and the Law Building, which opened in 2022, is the most recent campus facility to bear his name.
The John M. O’Quinn Law Building, the newest in Texas, is an award-winning world-class facility that serves as a hub for legal education, research, scholarship and community engagement. The $93 million building houses nationally ranked academic programs, multiple clinics, specialty institutes and centers and modern collaborative learning spaces. Its construction was supported in part by more than $16 million in contributions from The John M. O’Quinn Foundation, which has continued to advance O’Quinn’s philanthropic vision since his death in 2009.
“The John M. O’Quinn Law Building stands as a testament to John’s unwavering belief in the power of legal education to transform lives,” said UH Law Dean Leonard M. Baynes. “The refreshed signage and plaque highlight a legacy that extends far beyond the physical building. John O’ Quinn’s story continues to inspire generations of our law students to dream big, work hard and use their legal education to make a meaningful difference in the world.”
A first-generation college student, O’Quinn not only excelled in his legal studies but also served as editor-in-chief of the Houston Law Review and won a statewide moot court competition. After graduating, he worked to become one of the nation’s most successful trial lawyers by winning billions of dollars in judgments and settlements. His biggest wins included a $17.3 billion tobacco settlement for the state of Texas, a $1 billion verdict against Wyeth Laboratory for its diet drug fen-phen, and a $100 million verdict against Dow Corning for silicone breast implants.
