Shari Mao to Speak on Panel Discussing Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession

February 12, 2021 | Speaking Engagements



On Tuesday, February 16, Jackson Walker partner Shari Mao will join a panel discussion presented by the St. Mary’s University School of Law Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to share her perspective as a woman of color in the legal profession.

In addition to Shari, the panel will include:

  • Anietie Akpan (METRO) as moderator
  • Judge Yolanda Huff (Bexar County Court #12)
  • Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas)
  • Judge Israel Ramon, Jr. (430th District Court)
  • Stephanie R. Brown (Bexar County Public Defender’s Office)
  • Michael Ritter (Fourth Court of Appeals)

Event Details

“Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession”
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 | 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. CST
Recent tragic events have been the catalyst of honest – and at time, uncomfortable – discussions of diversity, inclusion and allyship. We hope that this panel will address these issues – namely how they manifest in the legal profession – by providing students a transparent dialogue of navigating the legal profession as a woman, BIPOC or LGBTQ+ individual. Experiences with combating preconceived biases in the courtroom and the boardroom, finding adequate access to mentors, and challenges – if any – in their respective professional ascent, are a few examples of the topics we look forward to discussing.

To learn more about the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, visit the St. Mary’s University website.

Meet Shari

Shari Y. Mao represents entrepreneurs, privately held clients, and governmental agencies in a variety of corporate matters. As one of the only Mandarin-speaking attorneys in San Antonio, Shari regularly serves as counsel in mergers and acquisitions, business formation and corporate structuring, restructuring, financing options and succession planning and consult her clients on inbound cross-border transactions, specifically from Asia. Prior to law school, Shari was vice president of a flooring company, where she managed the North American operations and collaborated with factories in China and Taiwan.

In 2015, the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation honored Shari with the Belva Lockwood Outstanding Young Lawyer Award. She has also been recognized by San Antonio Scene as a “Best S.A. Lawyer” since 2017. In addition to her practice, Shari serves on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Botanical Garden. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from St. Mary’s University School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University.


In This Story

Shari Y. Mao
Partner, San Antonio

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