Jackson Walker partner Bruce Ruzinsky has been named the Texas Minority Counsel Program (TMCP) 2015 Trailblazer Outside Counsel of the Year.
The TMCP Trailblazer Outside Counsel of the Year Award is presented to the nominee judged by the award selection committee to have done the most to effectuate the promotion of diversity within the legal profession through hiring, retention and mentoring of minority and women attorneys, partnering with minority and women owned law firms, and involvement with Bar and/or community activities designed to promote diversity within the legal profession. In addition to receiving the award in 2105, Mr. Ruzinsky was a finalist in 2012 and 2014.
“I am humbled to receive this award and honored to help play a role in promoting diversity both within our Firm and the legal profession,” Mr. Ruzinsky said. “I know that diversity and inclusion makes us better, and we will continue to seek ways to recruit, retain, and advance a diverse workforce while maintaining an inclusive environment at Jackson Walker.”
Mr. Ruzinsky has chaired Jackson Walker’s Diversity Committee since 2005. Under his leadership, the committee successfully developed and implemented a number of initiatives to increase the quality and quantity of the Firm’s diversity and inclusion.
“For the entirety of the 30-plus years he has been at Jackson Walker, Bruce has been a strong leader and a relentless advocate for increasing diversity at JW, and equally important, for ensuring that minority lawyers succeed when they get to Jackson Walker,” said Firmwide Managing Partner Wade Cooper. “And more than that, I think all his partners would agree that there has been no greater champion at the Firm, by word and, most importantly, by personal example, for a culture of respect and inclusion.”
In addition to his involvement within the Firm, Mr. Ruzinsky is a member of the South Texas chapter of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Leadership Council, the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity’s Success in Law Schools pipeline program, and the Houston Bar Association’s Committee on Minority Opportunities in the Legal Profession. He is a frequent speaker at diversity-focused events which have included law student conferences and programs, and the Texas Minority Counsel Program. He has also volunteered with the Houston Urban Debate League, an organization that encourages and supports debate programs and competitions for inner city high school students.
In his legal practice, Mr. Ruzinsky focuses primarily on representing financial institutions, corporations, and other business entities in workout/restructure efforts, chapter bankruptcy proceedings, and litigation. He has over 30 years of experience in representing creditors, creditors’ committees, trustees, debtors, landlords, and/or asset purchasers in various industries and business environments, including energy, real estate, health care, shipping, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, transportation, retail, entertainment, wholesale produce, and personal services. Mr. Ruzinsky received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Duke University and his J.D. from Duke University School of Law.
