In memoriam

Dawn B. Finlayson

(1952-2021)

Born in Dallas, Texas, Dawn Bruner Finlayson passed away on February 13, 2021 in San Antonio. Dawn inherited and lived her parents’ values of optimism, humor, and kindness. She was known for her outspoken yet diplomatic leadership style and her remarkable ability to communicate ethical points of view.

Dawn was the first of seven siblings born to Joy Groves and Fred Milton Bruner. At age 19, Dawn accompanied her father to the Supreme Court of the United States, where he served as part of the team arguing Roe v. Wade. Inspired by her father’s dynamic career, and after graduating from Highland Park High School in 1970, she received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Texas in Austin. She graduated from St Mary’s University Law School in 1978.

She began her career as an Assistant Attorney General of Texas and as a law clerk for Chief Justice William Sessions of the United States District Court, Western District of Texas, a friendship that lasted throughout her career until his death in 2020.

Dawn practiced law for over 40 years, becoming certified in labor and employment law in 2007. Her work was characterized by helping her clients strive for equal opportunity and fair employment practices in their workplaces, as well as for assisting company executives to negotiate strong employment contracts.

Her distinguished career included working as a young lawyer at Manitzas, Harris & Padgett, and as a partner at San Antonio law firms such as Jackson Walker, Matthews & Branscomb, the Gardner Law Firm, and Barton, East & Caldwell, and serving as Senior Corporate Counsel at Clear Channel Communications. In 2018 she became a named partner in the firm of Caldwell East & Finlayson.

Dawn excelled at leadership, serving for the past seven years on the board and executive committee of the San Antonio Bar Association, where she was elected to become president this fall. Highly regarded by her colleagues as an accomplished litigator, over the past decade she was consistently recognized for her excellence in peer reviews. As one of Dawn’s longtime friends and colleagues put it, “She was the best of us.”

For those who wish to honor Dawn's legacy, memorials may be made to ThriveWell Cancer Foundation or to the American Cancer Society.