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

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Mary Kay Inc. (Ret.)

Julia A. Simon served as Mary Kay’s Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary overseeing the company’s Legal, Risk Management, Governance, Compliance, Government Relations, Corporate Communications, Sustainability, and Corporate Social Responsibility functions.

Host Committee

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.

Susan Blount

Susan L. Blount served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Prudential Financial, Inc., where she was responsible for the company’s 700-person global law, compliance, business ethics and external affairs (LCBE) organization.

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.

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.

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

gina shishima

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.

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.

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.

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