JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – October 2021

October 5, 2021 | Newsletters



View the October 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter »  |  View all D&I newsletters »

IN FOCUS

Jackson Walker Seeks Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification

The Firm is proudly participating in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process. Designed to improve diversity within law firm and legal department leadership, the Mansfield Rule has become the standard for firms to track and measure their success in growing the racial and ethnic diversity of their management committees, promoting attorneys from underrepresented communities to partnership, and ensuring diverse representation in client pitch meetings.

The Mansfield 5.0 process requires participating firms to:

  • consider 30% underrepresented individuals when hiring and promoting C-level or other senior-level professional staff roles;
  • track candidate pools in a disaggregated manner; and
  • submit to Chambers USA nominations for at least 30% underrepresented attorneys to increase external visibility.

Read more »

Obtaining Certification in Diversity & Inclusion

As part of our commitment to growing our D&I initiatives, several of our attorneys and staff have completed or are in the process of completing D&I certification programs that provide best practices on counteracting unconscious bias, fostering an inclusive environment, and improving engagement within the workplace.

D&I Committee Chair Suzan Kedron completed the DiversityFIRST Certification Program presented by National Diversity Council, and Client Development Manager Chad Cole completed his certification through Cornell University. Chad is also currently enrolled in the University of South Florida Muma College of Business’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate program and is on track to complete it this month.

As members of the Diversity & Inclusion Counseling practice, Dawn HolidayMichelle MillerSang Shin, and Courtney White completed their certifications through Cornell in order to better design and implement individualized plans tailored to our clients’ organizations to improve the workplace and minimize risk.

NEWS & NOTES

Welcoming New Diverse Talent

As we continue to intensify our efforts to recruit diverse talent, we are proud to have welcomed the following women and diverse attorneys during the second and third quarters of 2021:

Laura Cordova
Partner
Houston
Claire Raggio
Partner
Dallas
Erin Hamilton
Senior Counsel
Austin
Demi Williams
Senior Counsel
Dallas
Jovanna Avila
Associate
San Antonio
Erin Camp
Associate
San Antonio
Bethany Pickett
Associate
Houston
Genevieve Tarlton
Associate
Houston
Brittany Weaver
Associate
Fort Worth
Austin Yancy
Associate
Houston

This year, Jackson Walker welcomed 15 new fall associates to the Firm, 9 of whom are women and diverse attorneys. We’re proud to have Kim BollerCourtney CameronTori EmeryHuey Rey FischerJavier GonzalezDana NguyenArushi PandyaAndrea Thai, and Hannah Walsh join us.

Improving Lawyer Diversity

Jackson Walker ranked #73 in The American Lawyer‘s 2021 Diversity Scorecard, up from #95 in 2020. The Diversity Scorecard records the average number of full-time-equivalent diverse attorneys—Asian-American, Black, Latino or Hispanic, Native American and self-described multiracial attorneys—at Am Law 200 and National Law Journal 250 law firms in the calendar year 2020. Lawyer counts are average full-time-equivalent figures.

Becoming Board Certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Jamila Brinson and Jackie Staple have become Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS). Only 643 attorneys in Texas are Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law—11 of whom are JW attorneys. In addition, Austin Thomas became one of only 665 attorneys in Texas who are Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the TBLS.

Why Are Diversity & Inclusion Programs Missing the Mark on Meaningful Change?

In an article contributed to Texas LawyerDawn Holiday shared how proper planning, training, assessment tools, and periodic evaluation can make for effective diversity and inclusion programs and inspire meaningful change for workplaces. View the article »

Recognizing Achievements

Jackson Walker proudly congratulates the following women and diverse attorneys on their recent notable achievements:

Diverse Teams Achieve Results

  • After watching their teenage sons play video games for hours into the night during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chrystal and Ivan Baeza decided it was time to redirect their energies into a creative project. From there, Haphazard Nation was born, and the family devised a series of comic book adventures and merchandise based on their sons’ gamer tag names, Razor Bear and Zombie Monkey. Before these heroes could be introduced to the world, the budding entrepreneurs turned to the team at Jackson Walker for assistance. The team was led by Natalie Kosydar and included Sara Borrelli and Eric WongLearn more »
  • Carlos Treviño led the Jackson Walker team advising Grupo Lamosa, one of the world’s leading ceramic tile manufacturers, in the purchase of Grupo Roca’s flat ceramic division for $260 million. Carlos also led the Firm’s representation of Grupo Cuprum, the largest aluminum extruder in Latin America, in its sale of two Mexican subsidiaries to National Material of Mexico.
  • Josh Romero served on the team that successfully obtained permission from the 459th District Court in Travis County that allows Amos Pictures to record and broadcast portions of the proceedings in five separate lawsuits brought by parents of the children killed at Sandy Hook in December 2012 against Alex Jones and InfoWars. Learn more »
  • After breaking a story about a sexual assault scandal at Fort Bliss in El Paso, an investigative journalist for Nexstar Broadcasting Group was subpoenaed to testify at the court-martial of the accused soldier regarding his communications with other victims who came forward after the story was published. At a pre-trial hearing, Miguel Ortiz—who served as an enlisted paralegal in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps and was responsible for key administrative functions for court-martial proceedings prior to law school—appeared before a military judge and highlighted the subpoena’s legal and procedural deficiencies under the military rules of evidence and federal common law. The judge limited the potential involvement of the journalist enough that the defense did not call him as a witness. Learn more »
  • Jackson Walker represented Periscope Holdings, Inc. in the sale of its business to mdf commerce inc. for $207 million USD ($259.9 million CAD). Carlos Treviño co-led the team, which included Raman DewanRick GarzaJosh Romero, and Alyca Riley GarrisonLearn more »
  • The Texas Supreme Court affirmed an appellate ruling to reverse a sealing order for several exhibits admitted at trial. On behalf of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Amanda Crouch argued the appeal and Josh Romero was on brief in both the San Antonio Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. Learn more »

COMMUNITY IMPACT

  • Jamila Brinson has been named Vice Chair of the Employment Law Committee of the Media Law Resource Center.
  • Erica Benites Giese serves as a council member of the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section. Her term is set to expire in 2022.
  • Luke Gilman joined the board of Wesley Community Center in Houston’s near northside.
  • Daniela Mondragón has been appointed as Diversity & Inclusion Vice-Director of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. Read more »
  • Josh Romero has been appointed to the State Bar of Texas Court Rules Committee for the 2021-2022 Bar year. Read more »
  • Shannon Zmud Teicher has joined the board of the Texas Women’s Foundation.
  • Carlos Treviño has been elected a council member of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Read more »
  • Amanda Van Deusen has been elected to serve as First Vice President of the Houston Association of Professional Landmen for the 2021-2022 term.

EVENTS

Frida Kahlo Oasis

Our Jackson Walker Women crew visited the Frida Kahlo Oasis at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on June 24 for a garden tour and dinner.

Together We Dine 2.0

JW and Project Unity have partnered again to host a series of virtual events for Together We Dine 2.0. The Firm encourages attorneys and staff to attend one Together We Dine event, and our final event takes place on December 14.

Virtual Afternoon Tea

On April 23, Chef Darren McGrady joined our Jackson Walker Women for a virtual High Tea as he shared the pomp and pageantry of 15 years in the Royal kitchens along with the history and etiquette of Afternoon Tea at Buckingham Palace.

These materials are made available by Jackson Walker for informational purposes only, do not constitute legal advice, and are not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel. The laws of other states and nations may be entirely different from what is described. Your use of these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Jackson Walker. The facts and results of each case will vary, and no particular result can be guaranteed.

© 2021 Jackson Walker


In This Story

Ali Abazari
Partner, Austin

Alisha Mehta Adams
Associate, Austin

Vienna Flores Anaya
Associate, Dallas

Amy L. Baird
Partner, Houston

Sara K. Borrelli
Partner, Dallas

Meredith Brewster
Associate, Dallas

Jamila M. Brinson
Partner, Houston

Chevazz G. Brown
Partner, Houston

Amanda L. Bush
Of Counsel, Austin

Jennifer Caughey
Partner, Houston

Arturo Cavazos, Jr.
Partner, San Antonio

Stephanie L. Chandler
Partner, San Antonio

Lauren Sracic Ciminello
Partner, San Antonio

S. Priya Coffey
Partner, Houston

Laura M. Kidd Cordova
Partner, Houston

Greta E. Cowart
Partner, Dallas

Amanda N. Crouch
Partner, San Antonio

Raman N. Dewan
Partner, Austin

Linda E. Donohoe
Partner, Dallas

Lenora DuBose
Partner, Austin

Alicia R. Duleba
Partner, Austin

G. Scott Fiddler
Partner, Houston

Josué J. Galván
Associate, San Antonio

Alyca Riley Garrison
Associate, Austin

Richard G. Garza
Partner, San Antonio

Erica Benites Giese
Partner, San Antonio

Luke J. Gilman
Partner, Houston

Genevieve Graham
Partner, Houston

Meghan E. Griffiths
Partner, Austin

Nancy W. Hamilton
Partner, Houston

Sara K. Harris
Partner, Dallas

Dawn S. Holiday
Partner, Houston

William H. Hornberger
Partner, Dallas

Mary Emma Karam
Partner, Dallas

L. Suzan Kedron
Partner, Dallas

Natalie M. Kosydar
Partner, Dallas

Ann M. Leafstedt
Partner, San Antonio

April Vasquez Leibman
Partner, Houston

Pamela Madere
Partner, Austin

Julia W. Mann
Partner, San Antonio

Shari Y. Mao
Partner, San Antonio

Cody A. Martinez
Associate, Dallas

Retta A. Miller
Partner, Dallas

Lindsey C. Moorhead
Partner, Houston

Christopher R. Mugica
Partner, Austin

Jonathan D. Neerman
Partner, Dallas

Amanda L. Neinast
Partner, Austin

Cynthia Brotman Nelson
Partner, Dallas

Emilio B. Nicolas
Partner, Austin

Kati Orso
Partner, Austin

Miguel A. Ortiz
Associate, Dallas

Jorge A. Padilla
Partner, Austin

Bethany Pickett Shah
Associate, Houston

Veronica A. Polnick
Partner, Houston

Shannon Field Quine
Associate, Dallas

Sierra R. Quinonez
Partner, Fort Worth

Wasif Qureshi
Partner, Houston

Claire N. Raggio
Partner, Dallas

Amy Osberg Roberts
Partner, Dallas

Joshua A. Romero
Partner, Austin

Denise Rose
Partner, Austin

Michelle Rosenblatt
Partner, Austin

Cassie Ross
Partner, Austin

David Schlottman
Partner, Dallas

Jessica Schwartz
Associate, Dallas

Sang M. Shin
Partner, Houston

Michelle Moore Smith
Partner, Austin

Devanshi Somaya
Associate, Dallas

Robert L. Soza, Jr.
Partner, San Antonio

Nathaniel St. Clair, II
Partner, Dallas

Jackie C. Staple
Partner, Houston

Katherine A. Staton
Partner, Dallas

Genevieve D. Tarlton
Associate, Houston

Austin Thomas
Senior Counsel, Houston

Sara C. Thornton
Associate, Fort Worth

Carlos R. Treviño
Partner, Austin

Erin N. Tuggle
Partner, Austin

Amanda L. Van Deusen
Professional Landman & Title Analyst, Houston

Ginger M. Webber
Partner, Fort Worth

Jennifer F. Wertz
Partner, Austin

Courtney J. White
Research Attorney, Dallas

Demi Williams Coles
Senior Counsel, Dallas

Austin Yancy
Associate, Houston

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