Three diverse managing partners — Quinn Emanuel’s Chris Porter, Reed Smith’s Omar Alaniz and Thompson Coburn’s Nicole Williams — swapped stories, described their leadership styles, shared their approach to DEI in the office and gave career development advice to young diverse attorneys at last week’s Texas Minority Council Program’s 31st Annual Conference in Houston. Natalie Posgate was in the room and has the highlights.
TMCP Panel: Diversity Fatigue Rampant on Both Sides of the Corporate Aisle
White lawyers, a word of caution: Your colleagues of color are sick of having to constantly educate you on racial issues and the nuances of diversity, equity and inclusion. Lawyers of color: We know you are exhausted, but there are still benefits — both institutional and personal — in continuing to play the game.
These were the two main takeaways during a panel discussion of law firm partners Thursday afternoon at the Texas Minority Counsel Program’s 31st annual conference in Houston.
Four Texas GCs: ‘The Why for [DEI] is Especially Important’
Four Texas-based general counsel — Justin Johnson of Jacobs, Monica Karuturi of CenterPoint Energy, Aparna Dave of the Texas Dow Employees Credit Union and Clay Allen of the Houston Rockets — kicked off the 31st Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program conference discussing the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion to them personally and how it comes into strategic play at their organizations. The four GCs also talked about their preferences and dislikes about law firm business development efforts. Texas Lawbook pro bono, public service and diversity reporter Natalie Posgate is at the event and filed this report.
P.S. — Noche de Luz Honorees, Walls of Honor, A Six-Figure Grant
This week’s edition of P.S. features opportunities to support the ABA’s public service, policy and education initiatives, the unveiling of three displays at the University of Houston Law Center honoring notable Hispanic and African American alums and faculty, a group of lawyers recognized by the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association’s annual gala, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas’ honoring of volunteer lawyers in the Austin area and a six-figure grant gifted from one Dallas-area nonprofit to another.
Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Norton Rose Fulbright COO Stacey Martinez
In a Q&A with The Lawbook, Martinez discussed her Hispanic heritage, her career path from litigation associate to COO, how Norton Rose Fulbright has benefited from having women of color in high-ranking leadership positions, the difference between sponsorship and mentorship and her firm’s overall philosophy on diversity, equity and inclusion.
P.S. — Mock Trials, Diversity Scorecards, TX Access to Justice Leadership Updates
This week’s P.S. column features a group of current and recently graduated law students starting early in giving back to the legal profession, two firms that have achieved high scores among two diversity groups and new leadership at the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Texas Access to Justice Foundation, including a new executive director and board member.
P.S. — Good Apples, ADL Jurisprudence Award, 75 Years of Legal Clinics
This week’s edition of P.S. features a Texas law school’s 75th anniversary celebration of its student legal clinics serving low-income members of the community, three Susman Godfrey lawyers who have received three separate awards, the Dallas Bar Association’s jurist of the year, and recognition of other firms for their commitment to pro bono and public service, including Winston & Strawn, Akin, DLA Piper and Hogan Lovells.
Reed Smith Names Alan York New Global DEI Chair
In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, York discusses his new responsibilities as global DEI chair, immediate and long-term goals, why diversity, inclusion and equity is important at a law firm and to him personally, and his take on the aftermath of the SFFA v. Harvard U.S. Supreme Court decision.