by Mitch Garrett
September 2021

Humility, achievement, and virtue are just three words to describe Eugene Temchenko, and they are the reason he is this month’s One to Watch.  Eugene’s paths to the law and to Texas are unique.  After emigrating from Ukraine at the age of ten, Eugene often helped his parents navigate American systems, language, and culture.  From this, Eugene learned that he had a knack for gathering facts and applying them to the scenario at hand.

After graduating from Cornell Law School, Eugene spent a year as an associate at Cravath in New York City. Luckily for us, Eugene accepted a clerkship for then-newly appointed Judge Karen Gren Scholer in the Northern District of Texas.  It was during his clerkship that Eugene fell in love with Dallas.  Now, Eugene is putting down roots in Dallas as he and his wife Jess build their first home and encourage more of Eugene’s family to move to Texas.

Eugene is currently a Co-Chair of the Aid to the Homeless Committee.  His passion for helping those who suffer homelessness comes from his upbringing as an immigrant and faith as a Christian.  This year, Eugene has organized a CLE focusing on evictions during COVID and worked with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) to organize weekly pro bono opportunities for lawyers to help tenants facing eviction on the morning of their hearings, when they otherwise would not have thought to seek help of an attorney and would not have been able to afford one.

But perhaps most impressive is the grace with which Eugene handles himself.  From the moment he joined DAYL, Eugene was passionate and ready to help.  And when applauded for his accomplishments, Eugene is exceedingly humble, simply chalking it up to being capable of completing the task.  These are just some of the qualities to show why Eugene is such an asset to DAYL and will be for years to come.