Shauna Clark has seen a lot of roadblocks in her life. She went to a Louisiana high school that still conducted white and black proms. When others said her aspirations to be a lawyer were too high, she proved them wrong time and time again.
On Jan. 1, Clark – a Houston mother of four who represents some of the largest corporations in the world – will become the highest ranking African American woman to ever lead or co-lead a global corporate law firm.
Norton Rose Fulbright, which has about 3,200 lawyers in 52 cities around the world including about 400 lawyers in Texas, announced Thursday that Clark will be the next chair of its supervisory committees overseeing the firm’s global and U.S. operations, which is essentially the second highest ranking post within law firm partnerships.
A nationally recognized legal expert in labor and employment law, Clark will serve on Norton Rose Fulbright’s global executive committee, U.S. management committee and lead the separate oversight committee for both. Legal industry experts say Clark will be the first African American woman to chair a large global law firm.
“Following this year’s traumatic events across the U.S. and in other parts of the world, making a positive change stands as even more of a priority, both at Norton Rose Fulbright and throughout our communities,” Clark said. “I also will work with colleagues and clients to advance racial equality, diversity and inclusion throughout our firm and the legal profession.”
Gerry Pecht, a Houston lawyer who was named Norton Rose Fulbright’s global chief executive earlier this year and is the firm’s highest ranking official, said Clark has a “unifying vision” that will expand the firm’s relationships with clients.
A growing number of corporate general counsel are demanding that the law firms they hire become more diverse.
“Shauna is the first woman of color to hold either of these important positions at our firm as well as the only woman of color to be chair of a [top 200 law firm],” Pecht said. “Our people and clients will benefit from both her legal prowess and excellent judgment in the courtroom and the boardroom, as well as her invaluable perspective on diversity and inclusion issues.”
Jeff Cody, who is managing partner of Norton Rose Fulbright’s U.S. operations and its top official, described Clark as a “gifted leader, dynamic communicator and trusted advisor.”
Kindel Nuno, the general counsel of Houston-based Mattress Firm, calls Clark “an extraordinary mentor and a great lawyer.”
In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, Clark said she became a lawyer because “the GMAT had too much math” and because she “enjoyed watching Matlock.”
Clark joined Norton Rose Fulbright – then known as Fulbright & Jaworski – in 1994. In the 26 years since, she has held several leadership positions at the law firm, including head of the Houston office and the national leader of the labor and employment practice.
Having a woman or a person of color in a leadership position, Clark said, “tells our lawyers and our clients that this firm respects talent no matter the package it comes in.”