Jackson Walker Hosts Inaugural Diversity Dinner and
Dialogue. - The Dinner was an informal gathering of
African American clients and prospective clients of Austin
partner Leonard Woods and of business and educational leaders
from the Austin community. The event was held on August 9th,
at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. Invited guests
participated in a round-table discussion relating to a number
of diversity related issues. Each table also had its own
impromptu discussion.
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Pictured from left to
right are: Austin partner Leonard Woods, Austin partner
Alicia Duleba and Diversity Chair, Bruce Ruzinsky.
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Leonard Woods moderated the lively conversation among the
30+ invitees. Leonard also introduced each guest with a
personal story and shared how he built a relationship with
each person through the years.
African-American attorneys from the Austin and Houston
offices attended the dinner and discussion, along with firm
managing partner, Wade Cooper, Austin managing partner, Matt
Dow, Judge David Folsom of the Texarkana office and Diversity
Chair Bruce Ruzinsky. Leonard asked some really thought
provoking questions and guests were very forthcoming about
their suggestions and diverse experiences.
Associate Chevazz Brown was impressed with the life lessons
shared by the guests. He was particularly eager to hear about
the "How To" in building relationships and how those personal
relationships often times move into business
relationships.
Associate Joseph Fonlon commented that "the Diversity
Dinner was an exceptional experience both in the quality of
the event and in the dialogue between the JW attorneys and the
clients and community leaders present. It was also a great
learning experience as it provided an opportunity to learn
from the clients first hand about their decisions in retaining
counsel, as well as, their expectations with regard to how the
lawyers they hire can add value to their business."
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Pictured are managing
partner, Wade Cooper and Judge David Folsom from JW's
Texarkana office.
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The event also gave associates the opportunity to spend
time with Firm management in an informal environment.
Associate Alia Derrick thought it spoke volumes to client
attendees as well as JW associates to have the firm's
management present to support the event. Managing partner,
Wade Cooper, Judge David Folsom, Diversity Chair Bruce
Ruzinsky, and Leonard Woods stayed several hours after the
official event ended to further socialize and get to know the
associates attending the dinner.
Additionally, the event gave associates the opportunity to
visit with African American partners (Leonard Woods and Alicia
Duleba) from the Austin office, who most had never met.
Associate Jamila Patten found it very inspiring to see
successful African American JW partners. Jamila also felt the
event fostered a greater level of camaraderie among the young
lawyers by helping them to get to know one another outside of
the generally hectic work day. The discussion also affirmed
the importance of community involvement in professional and
personal development.
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Pictured from left to
right are: Houston associate Chevazz Brown Austin
associate Aron Burnett, Natalie Cofield, Capital City
Chamber of Commerce, Houston associate Jamila Patten,
and Randall Iglehart, past state wide president of the
Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE).
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From all reports, the event was a big success. As associate
Anita Barksdale stated, the Austin Diversity Dinner and
Dialogue was a reminder that regardless of diverse
"descriptors," clients ultimately want excellent lawyers that
that clients can count on to provide excellent service.
Jackson Walker's efforts to ensure diversity are showing
results in many ways.
Nearly 30% of this year's new fall associates are
minorities and 36% are women. Currently, 44% of JW associates
are women and nearly a quarter are minorities. Additionally,
31% of JW partners are women and minorities.
CONTINUING TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
Jackson Walker Hosts "Save the Date" Networking
Reception for Texas Minority Counsel Program.
The reception helps to promote the annual TMCP event which
was held in Houston on October 3 - 4. Austin partner Chris
Mugica served on the Steering Committee again this year for
the main event and as in past years, was the driving force
behind JW hosting the Austin reception.
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Pictured from left to right are:
Austin managing partner, Matt Dow, local attorney
Michael Baumer, Katherine Holt Richardson Principal of
HR Legal Search and Vikrant Reddy, Policy Analyst,
Center for Effective Justice/Texas Public Policy
Foundation
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Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson of the Texas Supreme Court
was the guest speaker for the TMCP Reception, which was held
on August 21, 2012. The mission of the TMCP is to increase
opportunities for minority and women attorneys who provide
legal services to corporate and government clients, and to
expose those organizations to the legal talent found in
minority and women communities. To learn more about the TMCP,
CLICK HERE.
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Pictured are Austin
partner and TMCP Steering Committee member, Chris Mugica
and firm managing partner, Wade Cooper.
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Jackson Walker Supports Lambda Legal
Jackson Walker was a principal sponsor of this year's
Lambda Legal Landmark Dinner. The 10th Anniversary Celebration
was held in Dallas on August 11, 2012. Dallas partner Tracey
Wallace was co-chair of the Dallas Leadership Committee and
will be appointed to the National Board for Lambda Legal in
October. Dallas partner Michael Kaufman and Dallas associate
Lauren Mutti also attended the event. Lambda Legal is a
national organization committed to achieving full recognition
of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals,
transgender people and those with HIV through impact
litigation, education and public policy work. To learn more
about Lambda Legal, click here: http://www.lambdalegal.org/
MEET OUR NEWEST DIVERSE ATTORNEYS
Joseph Guajardo is an associate in the Houston
office and is a member of the firm's corporate and securities
section. Joseph received his B.B.A. from the University of
Houston and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of
Houston Law Center. While in law school, Guajardo interned for
the Honorable Jennifer Walker Elrod of the United States Court
of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Guajardo was also a member
of the Order of the Barons and Executive Editor for the
Houston Law Review.
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Shari Mao is an associate in the San Antonio office
and is a member of the firm's Corporate & Securities
section. Shari received her B.A., magna cum laude, from
Duke University and her J.D., magna cum laude, from St.
Mary's University School of Law. Shari was also associate
editor and staff writer for St. Mary's Law Journal and a
member of the Order of Barristers. Prior to joining Jackson
Walker, Shari interned for Chief Judge Fred Biery of the
United States District for the Western District of Texas,
where she researched and wrote memos for the court. She also
worked as a student attorney at St. Mary's Center for Legal
and Social Justice.
Prior to going to law school, Shari worked at J.P. Morgan
in New York with projects in London and Tokyo. She also
managed the North American operations for a flooring company
based in Taiwan and China before going to law school.
James McFall is an associate in the Dallas office
and is a member of the firm's litigation section. James
received his B.A. as well as his M.A. from Stanford University
and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law. During
law school, James worked as a judicial extern for Judge Jeremy
Fogel of the United States District Court of the Northern
District of California, where he researched and analyzed
various federal legal issues and drafted memorandum and
initial opinions. James was also Senior Editor for the
Washington University Law Review.
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David Schlottman is an associate in the Dallas
office and is a member of the firm's Labor & Employment
section. David received his B.A., with high honors,
from Abilene Christian University and his J.D., magna cum
laude, from Baylor University Law School. During law
school, David was an extern for Judge Jeffrey Manske of the
United States District Court for the Western District of
Texas, where he drafted orders and reports and
recommendations. David was also Editor-in-Chief of the
Baylor Law Review and a member of the Order of
Barristers, Baylor Mock Trial Team, and Baylor Moot Court
Team.
Jackson Walker Continues Support for Houston Urban
Debate League. On Friday, September 27, 2012, the Houston
Urban Debate League (HUDL) hosted its first tournament of the
year at Jefferson Davis High School. The event began at 4:30
p.m. Friday and concluded in the evening on the following
Saturday. Diveristy Chair, Bruce Ruzinsky volunteered to help
judge several rounds of the tournament.
Three hundred and fifty-four students attended the
tournament breaking the old record of 301 which was set during
the 2010-2011 school-year. These students came from 20 of
HUDL's 30 member schools.
At the tournament, each student competed in all of HUDL's
three debate formats (cross examination, public forum and
world schools debate)..
Jackson Walker Participates in LCLD's Annual
Meeting. Diversity Chair, Bruce Ruzinsky attended the
Legal Council on Legal Diversity's (LCLD) annual meeting in
Washington, D.C. on September 13, 2012. The meeting featured
two prominent experts on the subject of Developing Talent in
the legal profession.
Bob Nelson, Director of the American Bar Foundation and
Professor of Sociology and Law at Northwestern University
spoke about his research and study of diversity in leading
organizations in the profession and on his study of the
careers of lawyers, including tracking the entering bar class
of 2000 for the first ten years of their careers.
Jerry Kang, Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law and
Professor of Asian American Studies at UCLA expounded in the
areas of communications and implicit bias.
The meeting also gave attendees the opportunity to have
candid and constructive dialogue with law firm managing
partners, general counsels and senior diversity professionals
about all aspects of recruiting, advancing, and retaining
diverse talent.
There was also an interactive panel discussion with
representatives of the second class of LCLD Fellows. The
program also included a moderated discussion about expanding
the reach of LCLD.
Jackson Walker Joins LCLD's Individual Mentoring Program
(IMP). The IMP is part of the Success in Law School
undertaking that is an element of LCLD's Strategic Pipeline
Initiative.
The primary objective of the mentoring program is to ensure
that law students of diverse backgrounds receive the mentoring
and preparation that they need to maximize their potential in
law school and through bar passage.
The IMP matches volunteer mentor attorneys with an equal
number of diverse 1L students at law schools in cities around
the United States. Jackson Walker attorneys from the Houston
and Dallas offices have volunteered to participate in the
program. The participating attorneys are Houston partner and
Diversity Chair, Bruce Ruzinsky, Houston associate Chevazz
Brown and Dallas partners Suzan Kedron Tracey Wallace.
Any attorney can Participate regardless of their level of
experience. The Mentoring commitment is for one year.
Jackson Walker also sponsored a 1L Scholar this summer and
has committed to take part in the LCLD's Group Mentoring
Program. Attorneys from JW's Austin, Dallas, Houston and San
Antonio offices will head up programs in their respective
cities. This program is designed to increase the quality and
quantity of mentor-mentee relationships among minority law
students at any stage (while attending law school) and
experienced lawyers.
Congratulations to Rick Garza, Steve Ramon, and Robert
Soza for being selected best of 2012 San Antonio lawyers by
S.A. Scene Magazine. CLICK HERE.
Jackson Walker Has Two Nominees for Trailblazer
Award. Diversity Committee Chair, Bruce Ruzinsky was
nominated for a second time for the Trailblazer Award by the
Texas Minority Counsel Program. Brian Prewitt from JW's Austin
office was also nominated this year. The nomination is based
on efforts to promote diversity within the legal profession.
Award winners were honored during the 2012 TMCP Awards
Presentation on October 2, 2012.
For more information: www.jw.com/diversity
Diversity Committee Members:
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- Suhani Akhare
- Melissa Bates
- Chevazz
Brown
- Ling Chwang
- Alicia Duleba
- Joseph
Fonlon
- Alesia Foster
- Joel Heydenburk
-
Margaret Hopson
- Suzan Kedron
- Scott McElhaney
- Lauren Mutti |
- Jorge Padilla
- James Prappas
- Joshua
Romero
- Bruce Ruzinsky, Chair
- Joan
Sostek
- Robert Soza
- Marcello Tamez
-
April Vasquez
- Soraya Walden
- Jerry Webberman
- Leonard Woods |
About JW
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