In this edition of P.S., women across Houston’s legal community shared their career insights and celebrated each other’s growth in a Women’s History Month event sponsored by Beck Redden.
In observance of Ramadan, hundreds of guests attended an annual Iftar hosted by Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing.
We also highlight a general counsel program sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney’s Dallas office that featured an all-Hispanic panel of legal professionals.
Beck Redden Sponsors Women’s History Month Event for Houston Legal Community
Last week, Beck Redden sponsored a Women’s History Month event co-hosted by the Federal Bar Association Southern District of Texas Chapter, the Association of Women Attorneys — Houston and the Houston Bar Association’s Gender Fairness Committee.
The event — “Reimagining the Road to a Rewarding Career” — brought together women across Houston’s legal community to share their stories, reflect on their personal and professional growth, and celebrate the journeys that have shaped their careers.
The event featured keynote speaker KC Davis, an author and therapist, and a panel discussion with U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho of the Southern District of Texas, University of Houston Law Center clinical professor Alissa Gomez and Jessica Gonzalez, an attorney recruiter and managing director at Abbey Partners. The discussion was moderated by Hicks Thomas senior counsel Anna Archer.
AZA Draws Record Turnout for Seventh Annual Iftar
Nearly 300 guests gathered Feb. 26 as Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing hosted its Seventh Annual Iftar, marking the largest turnout since the firm began the tradition.
The event, which observes the breaking of the fast during Ramadan, has grown significantly since its first year, when about 30 people attended, said firm partner Shahmeer Halepota.
This year’s guest list included members of the judiciary, several general counsel and public officials including Houston City Controller Chris Hollins and U.S. Congressman Christian Menefee.
“We initiated the event so that our attorneys who were observing Ramadan could share more about the tradition with our colleagues and friends,” Halepota said. “We received such great feedback that it has now become one of the firm’s staple events.”
Four of the law firm’s attorneys observe Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by fasting, communal prayer and reflection. The firm has said it is the first law firm in Texas to host an Iftar.
“In a time where there is tremendous division in the country, we believe it is particularly important to have events like the Iftar, which serve as a means of building bridges and sharing beautiful traditions,” Halepota said.
State Bar’s Hispanic Lawyers Section Co-Hosts First Statewide Program with Texas Hispanic Bar Associations
Last week, Dorsey & Whitney’s Dallas office hosted a general counsel program featuring legal leaders from Dave & Buster’s, Vistra Corp., DTX Technology and Siete Family Foods.
The event also marked the first time the newly constituted State Bar of Texas Hispanic Lawyers Section co-sponsored a statewide program with several leading local Hispanic bar associations, including the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, Hispanic Bar Association of Austin and the Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio.
Titled “The General Counsel’s Perspective: Best Practices for Demonstrating Core Competencies on the Path from Outside Counsel to Trusted Partner,” the panel featured Isaac Faz, regional head of government and external affairs at Starbucks, Michael Brito, vice president of legal at DXC Technology, Linda Garza, retired general counsel for Siete Family Foods, Stephanie Zapata Moore, executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer of Vistra Corp., and Rudy Rodriguez, chief legal officer and corporate secretary of Dave & Buster’s. The event was moderated by Dorsey partner and chair of the Dallas trial practice group Edward J. Loya Jr., who serves as a council member of the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Lawyers Section Council.
“Given Texas’s thriving economy, our explosive business growth statewide and the strong contributions of the Hispanic community, which is now the predominant population in Texas, it is important that we create opportunities to highlight leading Hispanic attorneys who operate at the forefront of the legal and business community in Texas,” Loya Jr. said.