2024 Women’s Power Summit

Women's Power Summit

In April, the Center for Women in Law convened leaders for its eighth biennial Women’s Power Summit on Law and Leadership™. 

The theme of the 2024 Women’s Power Summit™ was 

Leading Boldly, Driving Change.

 

Apr 10, 2024 | 03:00pm - to - Apr 12, 2024 | 10:00am

 

Austin Marriott Downtown

Described as a “veritable Who’s Who of influential women in the legal profession,” the Women’s Power Summit™ is one of the most significant gatherings of women lawyers and their allies in the country. The invitation-only event convenes leaders at the pinnacle of their careers—powerful lawyers who can lead progress and achieve results for women within their organizations and communities. The goal is to move more women into positions of power and influence within the profession and society. 

The Women’s Power Summit featured keynote speakers including:

Mari Carmen Aponte, United States Ambassador to Panama, distinguished lawyer, civic leader, and the first female Puerto Rican Ambassador

Jill Ellis, All-Time Winningest coach in U.S. Soccer History; Legendary Head Coach, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and President, National Women’s Soccer League San Diego

Sara Moss, former Vice Chair, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, The Estée Lauder Companies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS HERE. 

AGENDA IS AVAILABLE HERE. 

 

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT HERE.

Co-Chairs
Deb Coldwell

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.

Julia Simon

Julia Simon

Principal, Simon Dispute Resolution LLC and former CLO, Mary Kay Inc.

For more than 23 years, Julia Simon served as in-house counsel at Mary Kay Inc., retiring from her position as Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary in October 2023.

Host Committee
aboussie

The Hon. Marilyn Aboussie

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

Marilyn Aboussie was born June 9, 1948, in Wichita Falls, Texas. She graduated from public schools there and was admitted to the honors program at Midwestern [State] University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Government in three years and graduating in 1969.

Susan Blount

Chair, University of Texas Law School Foundation and Retired General Counsel, Prudential Financial, Inc.

Susan Blount served as Senior Vice President and then Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Prudential Financial, a leading provider of insurance, retirement and asset management products and services from 2005 to 2015.

Linda Broocks

Linda Broocks

​Partner, ​Kean Miller LLP

Linda is a partner at Kean Miller LLP, where she handles trials and appeals of complex commercial, securities, real estate, personal injury, and employment cases.

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 Dore

Stacey Doré

Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Vistra Corp.

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.

Hilda C. Galvan

President, Former Partner-in-Charge, Jones Day

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.

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.

BethH

Beth P. Hecht

Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, Xeris Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Beth Hecht is the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Xeris Biopharma (NASDAQ: XERS), a fast-growing biopharmaceutical Company committed to improving patient lives by developing and commercializing innovative products across a range of therapies.

Katie H

Katie B. Hobson

Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General of Texas

Katie Hobson serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Environmental Protection Division of the Attorney General’s Office managing the Natural Resources and Land Use Section.

arleas upton kea

Arleas Upton Kea

Chief Operating Officer and Deputy to the Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Arleas Upton Kea is a trailblazing attorney and public servant with more than 35 years of experience at the intersection of law, government, and financial services. A native Texan, she received both her Undergraduate and Law degrees from UT Austin.

gina shishima

Gina Shishima

Vice Chair of the U.S. Management Committee, Norton Rose Fulbright

Gina Shishima provides practical and strategic solutions to life sciences companies (public and private), research institutions and hospitals related to all aspects of patent law—particularly prosecution, post-grant challenges, litigation and due diligence.

Jane Snoddy Smith

Jane Snoddy Smith is a partner with the JAE Law Group. Founded by three women with a deep bench of real estate knowledge and headquartered in Austin, Texas, JAE represents clients throughout the US and globally.

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