View the October 2021 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter » | View all D&I newsletters »
IN FOCUS
Jackson Walker Seeks Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification
The Firm is proudly participating in the Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification process. Designed to improve diversity within law firm and legal department leadership, the Mansfield Rule has become the standard for firms to track and measure their success in growing the racial and ethnic diversity of their management committees, promoting attorneys from underrepresented communities to partnership, and ensuring diverse representation in client pitch meetings.
The Mansfield 5.0 process requires participating firms to:
- consider 30% underrepresented individuals when hiring and promoting C-level or other senior-level professional staff roles;
- track candidate pools in a disaggregated manner; and
- submit to Chambers USA nominations for at least 30% underrepresented attorneys to increase external visibility.
Obtaining Certification in Diversity & Inclusion
As part of our commitment to growing our D&I initiatives, several of our attorneys and staff have completed or are in the process of completing D&I certification programs that provide best practices on counteracting unconscious bias, fostering an inclusive environment, and improving engagement within the workplace.
D&I Committee Chair Suzan Kedron completed the DiversityFIRST Certification Program presented by National Diversity Council, and Client Development Manager Chad Cole completed his certification through Cornell University. Chad is also currently enrolled in the University of South Florida Muma College of Business’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate program and is on track to complete it this month.
As members of the Diversity & Inclusion Counseling practice, Dawn Holiday, Michelle Miller, Sang Shin, and Courtney White completed their certifications through Cornell in order to better design and implement individualized plans tailored to our clients’ organizations to improve the workplace and minimize risk.
NEWS & NOTES
Welcoming New Diverse Talent
As we continue to intensify our efforts to recruit diverse talent, we are proud to have welcomed the following women and diverse attorneys during the second and third quarters of 2021:
| Laura Cordova Partner Houston |
Claire Raggio Partner Dallas |
Erin Hamilton Senior Counsel Austin |
| Demi Williams Senior Counsel Dallas |
Jovanna Avila Associate San Antonio |
Erin Camp Associate San Antonio |
| Bethany Pickett Associate Houston |
Genevieve Tarlton Associate Houston |
Brittany Weaver Associate Fort Worth |
| Austin Yancy Associate Houston |
This year, Jackson Walker welcomed 15 new fall associates to the Firm, 9 of whom are women and diverse attorneys. We’re proud to have Kim Boller, Courtney Cameron, Tori Emery, Huey Rey Fischer, Javier Gonzalez, Dana Nguyen, Arushi Pandya, Andrea Thai, and Hannah Walsh join us.
Improving Lawyer Diversity
Jackson Walker ranked #73 in The American Lawyer‘s 2021 Diversity Scorecard, up from #95 in 2020. The Diversity Scorecard records the average number of full-time-equivalent diverse attorneys—Asian-American, Black, Latino or Hispanic, Native American and self-described multiracial attorneys—at Am Law 200 and National Law Journal 250 law firms in the calendar year 2020. Lawyer counts are average full-time-equivalent figures.
Becoming Board Certified by Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Jamila Brinson and Jackie Staple have become Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS). Only 643 attorneys in Texas are Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law—11 of whom are JW attorneys. In addition, Austin Thomas became one of only 665 attorneys in Texas who are Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the TBLS.
Why Are Diversity & Inclusion Programs Missing the Mark on Meaningful Change?
In an article contributed to Texas Lawyer, Dawn Holiday shared how proper planning, training, assessment tools, and periodic evaluation can make for effective diversity and inclusion programs and inspire meaningful change for workplaces. View the article »
Recognizing Achievements
Jackson Walker proudly congratulates the following women and diverse attorneys on their recent notable achievements:
- Jamila Brinson and Julia Mann have been named among the top women lawyers of 2021 by the Texas Diversity Council (TXDC), the local state affiliate of the National Diversity Council. Read more »
- Chevazz Brown was selected by representatives from the Houston Bar Association’s Diversity & Inclusion, LGBTQ+, and Gender Fairness committees as one of two recipients of the 2021 HBA Diversity Award in the Individual Category. Read more »
- The Racial Justice Institute recognized Scott Fiddler with the Racial Justice Champion Award in honor of his commitment to helping further racial equity. Read more »
- Julia Mann was honored with a San Antonio Business Journal Women’s Leadership Award during a luncheon held on August 19. Read more »
- Wasif Qureshi was recognized as a 2021 IP Star for Texas by Managing Intellectual Property. Read more »
- Denise Rose was presented with the 2021 Pink Granite Supporter of Women Award. Read more »
- Amanda Van Deusen received the AAPL Special Award – Education from the American Association of Professional Landmen. Read more »
- 360 West Magazine named 15 of our Fort Worth-based attorneys to its “Top Attorneys” list for 2021, including Sierra Quinonez and Ginger Webber. Read more »
- Austin Monthly Magazine named 20 of our attorneys to the “Austin’s Top Attorneys” list, including Alicia Duleba, Meghan Griffiths, Pamela Madere, Christopher Mugica, Emilio Nicolas, Jorge Padilla, Joshua Romero, Michelle Rosenblatt, Michelle Moore Smith, Erin Tuggle, and Jennifer Wertz. Read more »
- Vienna Anaya, Sara Borrelli, Jackie Wheeler Davis, Suzan Kedron, Virginia Mimmack, and Nate St. Clair were named among the 23 Jackson Walker attorneys recognized in D Magazine‘s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2021. See the full list »
- In the 2021 edition of Chambers USA, 14 of 40 of Jackson Walker’s honorees are women and diverse attorneys, including Jennifer Caughey, Stephanie Chandler, Amanda Crouch, Linda Donohoe, Meghan Griffiths, Mary Emma Karam, Julia Mann, Susan Mead, Virginia Alverson Mimmack, Lindsey Moorhead, Cindy Nelson, Joshua Romero, Robert Soza, and Katherine Staton. See the full list »
- Scene in S.A. recognized Lindsey Berwick, Stephanie Chandler, Lauren Ciminello, Amanda Crouch, Erica Benites Giese, Ann Leafstedt, Julia Mann, Shari Mao, Daniela Mondragón, Kati Orso, Cassie Ross, and Leah Smith Sanchez among its inaugural list of “San Antonio’s Outstanding Women in Law.” Read more »
- In the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 57 of the 178 Jackson Walker attorneys who were recognized are women and diverse attorneys. Congratulations to the following 37 women and diverse attorneys who were recognized as Best Lawyers: Ali Abazari, Amanda Bush, Jennifer Caughey, Stephanie Chandler, Priya Coffey, Greta Cowart, Raman Dewan, Linda Donohoe, Lenora DuBose, Elizabeth Freeman, Rick Garza, Luke Gilman, Meghan Griffiths, Nancy Hamilton, William Hornberger, Suzan Kedron, Pamela Madere, Julia Mann, Retta Miller, Sarah Mitchell Montgomery, Christopher Mugica, Jonathan Neerman, Cindy Nelson, Emilio Nicolas, Jorge Padilla, Sierra Quinonez, Wasif Qureshi, Amy Osberg Roberts, Michelle Rosenblatt, David Schlottman, Sang Shin, Michelle Moore Smith, Robert Soza, Katherine Staton, Erin Tuggle, April Vasquez Leibman, and Ginger Webber. In addition, the following 20 women and diverse attorneys were recognized as Ones to Watch: Meredith Brewster, Art Cavazos, Amanda Crouch, Jackie Wheeler Davis, Josué Galván, Genevieve Graham, Sara Harris, Monica Lopez, Cody Martinez, Alisha Mehta, Amanda Neinast, Shannon Quine, Veronica Polnick, Gaby Rawlings, Matt Rodriguez, Jessica Schwartz, Devanshi Somaya, Jackie Staple, Austin Thomas, and Sara Thornton. See the full list »
- Sue Ayers, Amy Baird, Chevazz Brown, Jennifer Caughey, Stephanie Chandler, Greta Cowart, Meghan Griffiths, William Hornberger, Julia Mann, Retta Miller, Cindy Nelson, Wasif Qureshi, Kathy Silver, and Robert Soza were selected to Thomson Reuters’ 2021 “Texas Super Lawyers” list. See the full list »
Diverse Teams Achieve Results
- After watching their teenage sons play video games for hours into the night during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chrystal and Ivan Baeza decided it was time to redirect their energies into a creative project. From there, Haphazard Nation was born, and the family devised a series of comic book adventures and merchandise based on their sons’ gamer tag names, Razor Bear and Zombie Monkey. Before these heroes could be introduced to the world, the budding entrepreneurs turned to the team at Jackson Walker for assistance. The team was led by Natalie Kosydar and included Sara Borrelli and Eric Wong. Learn more »
- Carlos Treviño led the Jackson Walker team advising Grupo Lamosa, one of the world’s leading ceramic tile manufacturers, in the purchase of Grupo Roca’s flat ceramic division for $260 million. Carlos also led the Firm’s representation of Grupo Cuprum, the largest aluminum extruder in Latin America, in its sale of two Mexican subsidiaries to National Material of Mexico.
- Josh Romero served on the team that successfully obtained permission from the 459th District Court in Travis County that allows Amos Pictures to record and broadcast portions of the proceedings in five separate lawsuits brought by parents of the children killed at Sandy Hook in December 2012 against Alex Jones and InfoWars. Learn more »
- After breaking a story about a sexual assault scandal at Fort Bliss in El Paso, an investigative journalist for Nexstar Broadcasting Group was subpoenaed to testify at the court-martial of the accused soldier regarding his communications with other victims who came forward after the story was published. At a pre-trial hearing, Miguel Ortiz—who served as an enlisted paralegal in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps and was responsible for key administrative functions for court-martial proceedings prior to law school—appeared before a military judge and highlighted the subpoena’s legal and procedural deficiencies under the military rules of evidence and federal common law. The judge limited the potential involvement of the journalist enough that the defense did not call him as a witness. Learn more »
- Jackson Walker represented Periscope Holdings, Inc. in the sale of its business to mdf commerce inc. for $207 million USD ($259.9 million CAD). Carlos Treviño co-led the team, which included Raman Dewan, Rick Garza, Josh Romero, and Alyca Riley Garrison. Learn more »
- The Texas Supreme Court affirmed an appellate ruling to reverse a sealing order for several exhibits admitted at trial. On behalf of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Amanda Crouch argued the appeal and Josh Romero was on brief in both the San Antonio Court of Appeals and the Texas Supreme Court. Learn more »
COMMUNITY IMPACT
- Jamila Brinson has been named Vice Chair of the Employment Law Committee of the Media Law Resource Center.
- Erica Benites Giese serves as a council member of the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section. Her term is set to expire in 2022.
- Luke Gilman joined the board of Wesley Community Center in Houston’s near northside.
- Daniela Mondragón has been appointed as Diversity & Inclusion Vice-Director of the ABA Young Lawyers Division. Read more »
- Josh Romero has been appointed to the State Bar of Texas Court Rules Committee for the 2021-2022 Bar year. Read more »
- Shannon Zmud Teicher has joined the board of the Texas Women’s Foundation.
- Carlos Treviño has been elected a council member of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas. Read more »
- Amanda Van Deusen has been elected to serve as First Vice President of the Houston Association of Professional Landmen for the 2021-2022 term.
EVENTS
Frida Kahlo Oasis
Our Jackson Walker Women crew visited the Frida Kahlo Oasis at the San Antonio Botanical Garden on June 24 for a garden tour and dinner.
Together We Dine 2.0
JW and Project Unity have partnered again to host a series of virtual events for Together We Dine 2.0. The Firm encourages attorneys and staff to attend one Together We Dine event, and our final event takes place on December 14.
Virtual Afternoon Tea
On April 23, Chef Darren McGrady joined our Jackson Walker Women for a virtual High Tea as he shared the pomp and pageantry of 15 years in the Royal kitchens along with the history and etiquette of Afternoon Tea at Buckingham Palace.
These materials are made available by Jackson Walker for informational purposes only, do not constitute legal advice, and are not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel. The laws of other states and nations may be entirely different from what is described. Your use of these materials does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Jackson Walker. The facts and results of each case will vary, and no particular result can be guaranteed.
© 2021 Jackson Walker
