Jennifer is a lawyer and advocate with over 25 years of leadership in state and federal government relations and deep expertise in policy and advocacy.

Valerie Esparza joined The Center for Women in Law in 2020.  Prior to CWIL, Ms.

Sofia Urcuyo is the Professional Development Program Coordinator for the Center for Women in Law. Born in Nicaragua, Sofia moved to the United States when she was seven years old.

Hilda Galvan is the former Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day, Dallas. Hilda, a nationally recognized trial lawyer, has represented plaintiffs and defendants in intellectual litigation in courts across the country for more than 25 years.

Nadira Clarke manages complex, high-stakes criminal and civil environmental matters for companies and individuals.

Ms. Puig has a substantial commercial litigation practice in both state and federal courts. She represents large health systems, medical schools, institutional health care providers, for profit educational companies, and managed care organizations across the US. 

Cisselon Nichols Hurd currently serves as Senior Litigation Counsel for Shell Oil Company in Houston, Texas, where she handles environmental litigation.

In 1983, I became the first judge of the newly created 240th District Court, sitting in Tom Green County. In 1986, I was appointed by the Governor to the Court of Appeals for the Third District of Texas, sitting in Austin, the first woman justice of the Court since its creation in 1892.

Stephanie is a seasoned trial lawyer who has successfully represented clients in both federal and state courts across the U.S. in major bet-the-company commercial disputes, consumer class actions, and product liability and mass tort actions.

Deb Coldwell is a litigation partner at Haynes and Boone, LLP, and represents franchisors, distributors, joint ventures, limited liability companies, partnerships, and the individuals who run those companies in jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations.

Samantha Hale Crispin is a seasoned M&A lawyer with over 20 years of experience helping publicly traded and privately held corporate clients and private equity funds in complex M&A, capital markets and strategic business transactions.

Stacey Doré, Vistra’s chief strategy & sustainability officer and executive vice president of public affairs is responsible for corporate strategy, sustainability, regulatory and government affairs, communications, M&A, development, and community engagement.

Beth Hecht is a Managing Director and Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and a member of the Investment Committee for Auven Therapeutics, a global private equity firm focused on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries with offices in the United States, Switzerland, U.K., Bermuda and t

Katie Hobson is an Assistant Attorney General within the Environmental Protection Division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General. She represents the State on behalf of Texas agencies in enforcement actions pursuant to state and federal environmental laws.  

Gina Shishima is the Vice Chair of the U.S. Management Committee for Norton Rose Fulbright. She previously served as its Chief Strategy and Operations Partner after serving as the head of the U.S. Intellectual Property practice. She is also a member of the Global Executive Committee. 

Julia A. Simon is a seasoned legal and business strategist with over 30 years of extensive experience in litigation, risk management, compliance, regulatory affairs, and governance.

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