OUR PEOPLE
Center Team

Sofia Urcuyo

Professional Development Program Coordinator

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.

Executive Committee

Hilda C. Galvan

President Elect, Partner-in-Charge, Jones Day

Hilda Galvan is 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.

The Hon. Marilyn Aboussie

Former Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals for the Third District of Texas

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.

Deborah Coldwell

Partner, Haynes and Boone LLP

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 Crispin

Corporate Department Chair, Partner, Baker Botts

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

Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Vistra Corp.

Prior to joining Hunt Utility Services, Doré spent eight years as in-house counsel at Energy Future Holdings Corp. (EFH), including serving as executive vice president and general counsel of EFH for the last four years.

Melanie Gray

Partner, Winston & Strawn LLP (Retired)

Melanie Gray was Chair of the Bankruptcy Litigation Practice and partner in the Houston office of Winston & Strawn LLP before she retired in early 2020.  Prior to joining Winston & Strawn in 2013, Melanie enjoyed almost three decades with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP.

Beth P. Hecht

Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Xeris Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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

Yvonne K. Puig

U.S. Chief Integration Partner, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Norton Rose Fulbright

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. 

Gina Shishima

U.S. Chief Strategy and Operations Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright

Gina Shishima is the U.S. Chief Strategy and Operations Partner for Norton Rose Fulbright, where she also serves on the US and Global management committees. She was previously the U.S. Head of Intellectual Property and the U.S. Chief Diversity Officer.

Amy Stewart

Founding and Managing Partner, Stewart Law Group PLLC

Amy has expertise in dealing with contract, business torts, breaches of fiduciary duty, products liability, employment, labor, and defending personal injury matters.