The spring, summer and fall of 2020 was a time of turbulence and uncertainty. The Covid-19 shutdowns meant law firm offices were closed, courts put all trials on hold and clients were struggling to survive. The media was filled with stories on the killings of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. There was a feeling of isolation.
But it was later that year that Vinson & Elkins promoted Quentin Smith to partner.
A 2007 graduate of Morehouse College and a 2010 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Smith is a Houston-based commercial litigator who handles complex business disputes involving energy and petrochemical companies and other businesses. He has scored a handful of multimillion-dollar trial victories for clients. And he is currently one of the lead lawyers representing Oncor Electric Delivery and other transmission and distribution utilities in the Winter Storm Uri litigation in which 15,000 plaintiffs seek several billions of dollars in damages in wrongful death, personal injury and property damage cases.
A co-chair of V&E’s DEI executive committee, Smith is also the general counsel for the nonprofit Theater Under the Stars and a trustee for the Houston Symphony.
Despite his busy schedule, Smith agreed to discuss Black History Month and diversity efforts with The Texas Lawbook.
Texas Lawbook: What does Black History Month mean to you and what should it mean to us?
Quentin Smith: Black History Month is a time to reflect on one particular aspect of American history so that we can all better understand our nation and appreciate our shared history. Whether it is celebrating the bravery of Crispus Attucks, the inventions of George Washington Carver, or the work of Thurgood Marshall. Black history is American history, and the month of February is but one time where it is spotlighted.
Lawbook: Are there one or two lawyers of color who truly influenced you? If so, how?
Smith: There have been many lawyers of various races and genders who have influenced me throughout my career. As to lawyers of color, two former Vinson & Elkins lawyers stand out: Gillian Hobson and Barron Wallace. Both Gillian and Barron were partners when I was a summer associate and both rose through the ranks of the firm to be elected to the firm’s Management Committee. They are both excellent lawyers who found time to mentor junior attorneys while giving back to the community.
Lawbook: How has being a lawyer of color changed — if it has changed at all — since the start of your legal practice?
Smith: It has not changed since I started practicing in 2010. I’m incredibly grateful for my career success at Vinson & Elkins — the people I’ve met and people I’ve mentored — and proud of the work I’ve done for my clients.
Lawbook: Have any diversity and inclusion efforts or programs influenced your career either positively or negatively?
Smith: Diversity and inclusion programs have positively influenced my career by creating spaces that allowed me to meet and network with incredible people who I may not have otherwise met. This included meeting a number of white men who were critical to my success at the firm.
Lawbook: What are the elements of efforts to build an inclusive and collaborative workplace that you think are effective and ineffective?
Smith: Efforts to foster an inclusive and collaborative workplace are most effective when they are thoughtful, authentic, and aligned with an organization’s goals. At Vinson & Elkins, our focus is on not only hiring the best and brightest lawyers and business professionals but ensuring that we create an environment where those individuals feel empowered to bring their best effort to work each and every day. When done correctly, we believe a truly collaborative workplace culture helps us to deliver excellent service to our clients.
Less effective efforts are the exact opposite: efforts that are not aligned with an organization’s goals and programs that view people as groups rather than individuals.
Lawbook: If you could recommend ways for us to celebrate Black History Month, what would they be?
Smith: Celebrating Black History Month should be something that people enjoy. While I will always advocate for reading books about Black American history and attending lectures or panel discussions on historical topics, watching movies and discussing them is another way to celebrate Black History Month. Some of my favorites include Hidden Figures, Glory, 42, The Tuskegee Airmen, and Men of Honor.