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IN FOCUS

Business Professional Spotlight

Director of Associate Recruiting, Meghan Pier, has joined the PracticePro Advisory Board. She has been instrumental in helping build PracticePro and their law student programming over the past decade. In 2022, she co-created and funded the PracticePro Pre-Law Diversity Scholarship, which has now expanded to a full-fledged program awarding nine scholarships per year to pre-law students.	Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer, Barbara Bell Malin, was recognized at the 2024 Your Honor Awards presented by the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA) Southwest and West regions. Barbara received the inaugural CMO of the Year Award, which honors a CMO who demonstrates outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact within their firms and the legal marketing profession. Read more »
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Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, Robert Soza and Mario Perez Dolan joined JW’s Fast Takes podcast to share their personal stories and reflections on their Hispanic heritage and legal careers, and how their heritage and values align with Jackson Walker’s culture of integrity, community, and client focus. Listen to the episode »

Jackson Walker’s Hispanic Lawyer Resource Group sponsored a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in our Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio offices.

Día de los Muertos acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between life and death and is meant to remember loved ones who have passed away. While this is usually celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, many Hispanic families living in the United States also celebrate it on Halloween.

NEWS & NOTES

Mansfield Rule 2023-2024 Certification

Jackson Walker is proud to announce our achievement of Mansfield Rule Certification Plus status. As one of over 360 law firms that successfully completed Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Rule 2023-2024 Certification Program, our firm has demonstrated a steadfast dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion within our leadership ranks. Read more »

Jennifer Caughey Elected as Justice

Jackson Walker is pleased to announce that partner Jennifer Caughey has been elected as the Place 2 Justice of the Texas First Court of Appeals. This significant achievement marks a pivotal moment in her professional journey and underscores her dedication to the field of law. Read more »

LCLD 2024 Top Performer and Compass Award Winner

Jackson Walker is honored to announce that we have been named a Top Performer and Compass Award winner by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which recognizes law firms and corporations that show a strong commitment to building a more inclusive legal profession. Read more »

Honoring Our Veterans

Jackson Walker gratefully honors all our military veterans. We greatly appreciate all who shared their stories with us in our tribute, honoring our JW friends and family members who served in the military.

Take a listen to this special JW Fast Takes podcast episode featuring Justin Lee discussing how his military service as a helicopter pilot influences his legal practice in aviation law and highlights the importance of supporting veterans through their transition to civilian careers.

Navigating the Post-Harvard Corporate Landscape

Jamila Brinson and Dawn Holiday discuss the significant shifts in the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) landscape following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard. They explore the national and state-level repercussions of the decision, providing valuable insights on how businesses can navigate this complex and ever-changing landscape while maintaining their commitment to DE&I. Listen to the episode »

Announcing Our Diverse NFA Class

Jackson Walker is strengthened by hiring and training attorneys who have excellent academic records, demonstrated leadership ability, strong work ethic, and diverse backgrounds that reflect our clients and the communities we serve.

This year, we welcomed 23 new associates to expand our Corporate & Securities, Labor & Employment, Real Estate, Tax, Trial & Appellate Litigation, and Trusts & Estates practices.

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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 from August 2024 through November 2024:

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Recognizing Achievements

During the third through fourth quarter of 2024, the Firm received the following recognitions:

• Jackson Walker earned 166 rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers. Read more »
• Jackson Walker was recognized in Texas Lawyer’s Best of 2024 as the top firm for Labor & Employment Law in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Read more »
• Jackson Walker was included in BTI Consulting Group’s list of the 52 top law firms for employment litigation, as featured in its annual “BTI Litigation Outlook” report. Read more »
• Jackson Walker’s Trial & Appellate Litigation practice has been recognized as a formidable opponent in the courtroom by BTI Consulting Group in its annual “BTI Litigation Outlook” report. Additionally, Jackson Walker has been named as an Awesome Opponent among the list of the law firms “Most Feared in Litigation” Read more »
• Jackson Walker received the Marketing Technology Campaign Award at the 2024 Your Honor Awards presented by the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA) Southwest and West regions for the firm’s cross-departmental industry mapping project. Read more »

In addition, the following women and diverse individuals received notable achievements:

• The Best Lawyers in America recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. Notably, Cynthia Brotman Nelson and Sarah Patel Pacheco were named among the “Lawyers of the Year”. Read more »
• 71 Jackson Walker attorneys were selected to Thomson Reuters’ 2024 “Texas Super Lawyers” list. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement. Congratulations to Amy Baird, Kathleen Tanner Beduze, Jamila Brinson, Chevazz Brown, Marilyn Brown, Jennifer Caughey, Stephanie Chandler, Amanda Crouch, Jennifer Freel, Alex Frutos, Luke Gilman, Meghan Griffiths, Dawn Holiday, Julia Mann, Christopher Mugica, Cindy Brotman Nelson, Sarah Patel Pacheco, Leisa Talbert Peschel, Wasif Qureshi, Joshua Romero, Kathy Silver, Robert Soza, and Nate St. Clair on their recognition! Read more »
• Priya Coffey and Suzan Kedron were recognized among Lawdragon‘s inaugural list of the 500 leading global real estate lawyers”. Read more »
• Amy Baird, Marilyn Brown, Jennifer Caughey, Laura Cordova, Jennifer Freel, Erica Benites Giese, Julia Mann, Jonathan Neerman, Emilio Nicolas, Leisa Talbert Peschel, Wasif Qureshi, Amy Osberg Roberts, Joshua Romero, Robert Soza, Nate St. Clair, Shannon Zmud Teicher, and Christina Vitale were recognized among Lawdragon‘s list of the 500 leading litigators in America. Read more »
• Jamila Brinson, Greta Cowart, Richard Garza, Dawn Holiday, Sarah Mitchell Montgomery, and David Schlottman were recognized among Lawdragon‘s lists of the 500 leading practitioners in corporate employment law. Read more »
• Tori Emery was recognized by Managing IP as a 2024 Rising Star in the United States. Read more »
• Stephanie Chandler, Sarah Christian, Jesse Lotay, Kathryn Nordick, and Carlos Treviño were recognized among Lawdragon’s list of the 500 leading dealmakers in America. Read more »

Achieving Results for Clients

Attorneys across various practices and backgrounds come together to serve the needs of our clients. From the pitch to the end result, our teams include women and diverse attorneys who are involved at every stage of the representation. The following matters from August to November 2024 were handled by teams that were led by or included women and diverse attorneys:

• Erica Benites Giese was a part of the Jackson Walker team that defended a high-stakes securities fraud case brought by the Texas State Securities Board. On June 27, 2024, the 199th District Court in Collin County granted Jackson Walker’s motion to dismiss the indictment with prejudice, effectively ending the case in favor of their client. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented Syntrio Solutions, LLC, a premier provider of fiber-to-the-home internet services, in obtaining a $60 million senior debt facility to expand its fiber network to new markets in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Alicia Vesely and Gigi Girling were a part of the team. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented Surge Private Equity, a Dallas-based private equity firm, in the successful refinancing of debt for its Amuze platform in partnership with Whitehorse Capital. This strategic refinancing is part of Surge’s ongoing efforts to enhance Amuze’s capital structure and support its long-term growth objectives. The team included Kathryn Nordick and Rachel Saunders. Read more »
• Carlos Treviño and Rachel Saunders were a part of the Jackson Walker team that represented Batbox Holdings, Inc. (Batbox USA) in securing $7.3 million in Series A funding, including investments from EMERGING Fund and MG Partners. Read more »
• A Jackson Walker team consisting of Maggie Burreson submitted an amicus brief to the Fifth Circuit supporting prominent authors and publishers in a significant First Amendment book-banning case. Read more »
• Jackson Walker won a significant victory for The Trade Group in a high-stakes commercial litigation case. After a two-week jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, our client was awarded $4.429 million in damages. The team included Lindsey Marsh Brown, Sarah Starr, and Elizabeth Pittman. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented Woodforest National Bank, as administrative agent, sustainability agent, and lender, in connection with a $75 million syndicated credit facility for affiliated fiber internet service providers, Novos Fiber and Prime Fiber, portfolio companies of InLight Capital. This financing provides the necessary capital for Novos Fiber and Prime Fiber to expand their high-speed fiber infrastructure to communities across North Texas, accelerate their growth, increase their market reach, and enhance connectivity. The team included Sarah Christian. Read more »
• Jackson Walker, in collaboration with Gifak Asesores, S.C. (“Gifak”), a law firm based in Monterrey, Mexico, advised Grupo Verzatec, S.A. de C.V. (“Verzatec”) in the acquisition, through two of its subsidiaries, of Plastiglas de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. The transaction was led by Gifak serving as Mexican counsel with Jackson Walker as U.S. counsel. The team was led by Carlos Treviño. Read more »
• Jackson Walker represented Scott-Macon Group, Inc., in the sale of its crane rental, sales and servicing business to Allegiance Crane & Equipment, LLC. The transaction, which closed on September 24, 2024, included the sale of Scott-Macon, LLC, Scott-Macon Equipment Rental, LLC, Scott-Macon Equipment Louisiana, LLC, and Scott-Macon Equipment Oklahoma, LLC. The team included Greta Cowart, Brandon Flowers, Ann Leafstedt, Shari Mao, Amanda Miller, and David Schlottman. Read more »
• Brandon Flowers and Shayan Gaziani served on the team of legal advisor to Consensus, an AI-powered search engine for academic research, in its $11.5 million Series A funding round led by Union Square Ventures. Read more »
• A Jackson Walker team consisting of Maggie Burreson served as counsel for the amici curiae in support of petitioner Priscilla Villarreal, a citizen journalist. On October 15, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the high-profile case of Villarreal v. Alaniz and remanded the case for further consideration. Read more »

Pro Bon Results

• In a remarkable pro bono effort, Meredith Tavallaee and Nina Manansala successfully represented a client seeking political asylum from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On August 23, 2024, the Honorable Charissa Dvorak granted asylum to the team’s client who had fled to the United States in 2014 to escape severe human rights abuses in the DRC. Read more »
• Shayan Gaziani and Jessica Schwartz provided critical legal advice to Thaakat Foundation (“Thaakat”) for their annual charity basketball tournament. Our team assisted Thaakat with best legal practices for organizing the event and mitigating risk, including drafting comprehensive liability, medical, and media release waivers. This guidance was essential in protecting Thaakat and ensuring a smooth and successful fundraising event. Thaakat successfully raised more than $100,000 to further its mission. Read more »

COMMUNITY IMPACT

• Caroline Capili has been appointed as an American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) Liaison to the Real Property, Trust, & Estate Law Section (RPTE). Read more »
• Victoria Argeroplos has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Southwest Association of Bank Counsel (SWABC). Read more »
• Gabriela Barake has been elected as a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Read more ».
• Priya Coffey has been elected to the Board of Directors of Central Houston, Inc. Read more »

EVENTS & SPONSORSHIPS

JW2 San Antonio Broadway Show

On September 10, the San Antonio JW2 group including Julia Mann, Lauren Ciminello, and Carolyn Mulvey were joined by the incoming New Fall Associates and enjoyed an evening at the Broadway show about the life & trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

HYLA Women Attorneys Committee

On August 27, the HYLA Women Attorneys Committee Kick-Off Happy Hour was held at Fiora’s Bottle Shop at the Montrose Collective. There was a great turnout for this JW-sponsored Happy Hour. Caroline Capili, Baker Howry, Maggie Lu, and Taylor Lanier represented JW.

Lambda Legal Landmark Dinner

On October 5, Graham McCall, Martha Barrios, and Layne Faulkner attended the Lambda Legal Landmark Dinner at the Fashion Industry Gallery. Lambda Legal supports the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and those living with HIV.

JW2 Dallas “The Credibility Code”

Our JW2 group in Dallas hosted an inspiring client event featuring Cara Hale Alter, speaker and author of “The Credibility Code.” Cara, a nationally recognized expert in projecting credibility and confidence, guided attendees through impactful strategies and practical tips for enhancing professional presence. Our Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth offices also joined in via Zoom.

Snack Pak 4 Kids San Antonio	Texas Diaper Bank
Our San Antonio office distributed snack packs to classrooms at Hawthorne Academy. The office has committed to volunteering with Snack Pak 4 Kids every month throughout the school year.	On September 26, our San Antonio office organized a United Way Kick-Off Breakfast to celebrate their collaboration with the Texas Diaper Bank.

HBAA Hispanic Heritage Luncheon 

Jackson Walker was a proud gold sponsor at the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin (HBAA) 26th Annual Hispanic Heritage Luncheon. Current HBAA President Joshua Romero led a successful event with a great turnout! The HBAA raised over $160,000 for scholarships benefiting Hispanic college and law students and awarded prizes to middle school essay contest winners.

Attorneys Serving the Community

Monica Messick, Amy Pollard, Claire Raggio, Sydney Carroll, and Sabina Bramlett attended the Attorneys Serving the Community (ASC)’s Luncheon benefiting Crossroads Community Services.

Novum Foundation Trivia Night

On September 19, JW attorneys attended the Novum Foundation Trivia Night benefiting Mission Success (formerly Mission Squash) and Autism Speaks. Noah Speck, Jamila Brinson, Paisley Park and Ariel Perez attended.

Piggy Bank Sponsor  

Jackson Walker was a sponsor at the Capital for Kids 20th Anniversary Celebration and Stock Launch on November 14. Graham McCall, Antonio Partida, Valeria Velazquez-Michel, and Mica Beckmann-White attended. Capital for Kids mission is to educate, protect, and encourage at-risk children, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.

“Gus + Glory” Obstacle Course Challenge

On September 23, Noah Speck, Abbey Hogan, Austin Yancy, Larry Gibson, and Taylor Leger participated in the Covenant House “Gus + Glory” Obstacle Course Challenge. Congratulations to the team for once again taking home the “Fan Favorite” Award!

Laura Rathe Fine Art Gallery

Our JW2 group in Houston hosted a Cocktails and Hors d’Oeuvres event at the Laura Rathe Fine Art gallery, celebrating Houston’s incredible female entrepreneurs. Guests enjoyed delicious food and wine from women-owned businesses, while gallery owner Laura Rathe shared expert tips on curating art for the home.

Tahirih Justice Center

On September 12, Kelly Cobb, Caroline Capili, and Yenmi Tang attended the Tahirih Justice Center 15th Anniversary Luncheon. The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence.

SAYLA Outstanding Mentor Award

Robert Soza received the 2024 San Antonio Young Lawyers Association’s (SAYLA) Outstanding Mentor Award. The Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes an attorney who serves as a role model and consistently demonstrates a commitment to mentoring younger lawyers in their legal community.

Law Initiative Campaign	Joseph Hart Award
Jackson Walker was recognized at the United Way breakfast for the Largest Per Capita Gift in the 2023 Law Initiative Campaign. This is the second year in a row Jackson Walker has been recognized with this achievement!	Jackson Walker was honored with the Joseph Hart Award at the VLS Judge Suzanne Covington Pro Bono Service Awards Reception held on October 24. This award honors a firm that demonstrates the integrity and commitment to providing legal assistance for the less fortunate.

JW2 San Antonio Bell Flor

Our JW2 group in San Antonio hosted a delightful Happy Hour and Floral Design Class, presented by Bell Flor, for our clients. Guests had the opportunity to enjoy a selection of hors d’oeuvres and wine while engaging in networking activities. Additionally, they participated in a hands-on floral design class, where they created their own beautiful centerpieces to take home.

Texas Minority Counsel Program

Priya Coffey and Jennifer Freel participated on panels during the 32nd Annual Texas Minority Counsel Program, presented by the State Bar of Texas. Jamila Brinson, Shelisa Brock, Dawn Holiday, Gracie Garcia, Chris Mugica, and Nate St. Clair were also some of the 500+ attendees at the diversity conference.

“Together We Rise”

On October 18, Mary Lou Flynn-DuPart received an Outstanding Service Award at the Gulf Coast Center “Together We Rise” Gala. Mary Lou serves on the Board of the Gulf Coast Center, which provides IDD and mental health services in Brazoria and Galveston Counties.

Black Tie Dinner

Jackson Walker was a proud sponsor at the Black Tie Dinner. The event is the nation’s largest non-profit fundraising dinner for the LGBTQ+ community. Genevieve Graham, Emily Meraia, Will Farmer, Graham McCall, and Vienna Anaya represented JW.

The Pathway to a Successful Legal Career

Jackson Walker sponsored the South Texas College of Law Asian Pacific American Law Students Association’s (APALSA) event, “The Pathway to a Successful Legal Career.” The Muslim Legal Society partnered with APALSA to co-host this insightful panel. The panel featured Jeremy Sheng, Maggie Lu, Sang Shin, and Tim Dominguez, who shared invaluable insights, advice, and real-world experiences with the attendees. A special thanks goes to Genna Diaz for her exceptional organization of this event.

LCLD Fall Conference

Shari Mao, Devanshi Somaya, and Maggie Lu attended the Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fall conference. At the conference, Maggie received an Atlas Award, which was awarded to Pathfinders who participated in eight or more events.

Susan Halsey Tiger Leadership Award

Virginia Alverson Mimmack received the Susan Halsey Tiger Leadership Award at our annual retreat. The award honors those who embody the spirit and drive of Susan Halsey, a Jackson Walker trailblazer and inspiration to our community. Virginia’s dedication to her clients and leadership within the firm make her a perfect recipient.

Texas Women’s Foundation

On November 1, Jackson Walker was a proud sponsor at the Texas Women’s Foundation’s Catalysts for Change 39th Annual Luncheon. Shannon Zmud Teicher represented JW and attended the event with her husband. The luncheon featured Emmy award-winning journalist Ann Curry as the guest speaker.

Power of the Purse

On November 6, Kelly Cobb, Priya Coffey, Courtney Wade, and Courtney White attended The Women’s Resource Power of the Purse Event at The Revaire. This inspiring event brought the community together to raise vital funds that help women and girls take charge of their financial independence and future success.

HisBA Judicial Reception

JW was a sponsor at the Hispanic Bar Association (HisBA) Judicial Reception. Luke Gilman, President of HisBA, presided over the Judicial Reception.

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.

© 2024 Jackson Walker