Driving Diversity in Law & Leadership: Houston

Natara is the General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Trace Midstream II, a Quantum Energy Partners portfolio company. Natara was the General Counsel of Trace Midstream I and the SVP, General Counsel of Intensity Midstream from 2019 to 2022 and both companies were successfully sold in 2022. From 2012 to 2019, she was the Assistant General Counsel of Oasis Petroleum (now Chord Energy) managing a diverse workload of transactional and other legal matters. Prior to going in house, Natara was an associate in the Energy Transactions & Project Finance group at the law firm of Vinson & Elkins where she represented Fortune 500 energy and oil and gas companies in matters involving upstream and midstream transactions, strategic investments and corporate and project financing and development. Natara began her career at Norton Rose Fulbright as an associate in the Corporate Department in 2005. Natara currently serves on the Tahirih Justice Center Advisory Committee and the Event Host Committee and was the 2022 Auction Committee Chair for the organization’s annual gala. She has also provided pro bono representation for the Tahirih Justice Center and for other various nonprofit organizations throughout her career. Natara earned her Juris Doctor degree from Duke University School of Law and has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in International Business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Stetson University.

Jennifer Lee is Assistant General Counsel for First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:  FSLR), a leading solar module manufacturer.  She supports the company’s North America and Latin America business development division, product management division, and the company’s General Counsel.  Jennifer advises on a diverse set of matters, including commercial contracting, sales and supply chain issues, warranty and technical product documentation, pre-dispute matters, corporate governance matters, among other things.  Jennifer is involved in the company’s global employee network groups, including the women’s network and blacks in renewables network groups.

Jennifer previously provided legal counsel to First Solar’s project development division, advising on real estate and permitting matters.  Prior to joining First Solar, Jennifer worked at EDPR North America, a renewable energy company, supporting the project development division with a focus on real estate law.

Jennifer received her law degree from South Texas College of Law and her Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston.  Jennifer is a native Houstonian who enjoys traveling, hiking, and antiquing.

Samantha-Anne Horwitch Nadolny, Associate General Counsel for Select Water Solutions in Houston, Texas, is an accomplished, driven and business-savvy professional, experienced corporate lawyer, compliance professional and Human Resources leader with a demonstrated history in the multiple industries. Her background shows a consistent record of excellence in organizational leadership, corporate advisory, litigation and contract management, policy and process creation and implementation, team building and motivation, and corporate training. Samantha-Anne provides expertise in all aspects of corporate legal guidance, strategic business support, domestic and international regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation across relevant industries and sectors. She adapts quickly to evolving legislation and changes in the law, and educates colleagues and clients as a recognized subject matter expert. With extensive experience in public and private corporations, Samantha-Anne possesses instinctive business acumen and an understanding of how to protect and support a company, it’s mission, and it’s employees.  Prior to joining Select Energy in 2020, Samantha Anne served as General Counsel, Chief Compliance and Human Resources Officer for Citelum US-Groupe EDF, and Corporate Counsel for Sterling Construction Company, Inc.

Jude Andre is Senior Director and Associate General Counsel in Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s (HPE) Legal Department and primarily serves as lead legal and strategic counsel to the HPC&AI, Storage, Compute, and Intelligent Edge business units.

As part of his ongoing contributions in the DEI space, Jude serves as Chair of the Legal Department’s Inclusion & Diversity Committee, Vice Chair of the Operations, Legal and Administrative Affairs’ (OLAA) Black Employee Network Board, and a member of OLAA’s Inclusion and Diversity Working Group, helping to define a governance and strategic framework to create, coordinate and execute initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jude’s efforts have resulted in the adoption of several DEI initiatives within the Legal Department, including the worldwide Annual DEI Forum. Jude also actively participates in pro bono activities with non-profit organizations serving under-privileged and under-represented groups.

Before joining Hewlett Packard Enterprise in 2016, Jude worked as a litigation associate in the New York office of Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper, and Scinto (2008-2012), and in the Houston office of Winston & Strawn (2012-2016). Jude holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Houston Law Center, a Master of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Houston, and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Jude is based in Houston, Texas, and admitted to practice law in New York and Texas. Jude is fluent in French, enjoys international travel, arts, and sports.

DEI Accolades:

• 2023 Texas Lawbook – Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion Award
• 2021 National Bar Association – Diversity in Tech & IP Award

Vanessa Allen Sutherland, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Fortune 50 Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), is a former U.S. Senate-confirmed political appointee with over 25 years of private and public sector experience, focusing on helping publicly traded companies increase their value through culture transformation, strategic discipline, continuous improvement, risk management and talent management. She holds a law degree, Master of Business Administration (IT) and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional.

Prior to Phillips 66, she was the Chief Legal Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation with responsibility for Audit and Compliance, Law, Government Relations, Corporate Secretary, Claims, Insurance Risk Management, Information Governance and Environmental Remediation, with over 130 professionals.  Sutherland joined Norfolk Southern as vice president law in June 2018, subsequently being promoted to senior vice president, chief legal officer in April 2019 and then to senior vice president, government relations and chief legal officer in August 2019.  In 2020, she was promoted to executive vice president and chief legal officer, ultimately adding audit and compliance to her portfolio in July 2021.

Immediately prior, she served in a presidentially nominated, Senate-confirmed position as chief executive officer and chairperson of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board in Washington, D.C.  from 2015-2018.  She also served as an appointee as chief counsel with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. Engaging on issues such as transportation safety of Ebola and crude oil or United Nations meetings about lithium battery safety, she worked collaboratively with government agencies, Congress, trade associations, unions, companies, research labs, tribal nations, first responders, standards developing organizations, communities and public relations.

The majority of Sutherland’s career has been in corporations, including roles as counsel with Philip Morris USA (NYSE: MO) and senior counsel with Phillip Morris’ affiliate Altria Client Services.  Sutherland began work as a corporate attorney at long-distance phone company MCI (now NYSE: VZ) but moved to MCI subsidiary Digex, where she served first as counsel, then as senior counsel and then vice president and deputy general counsel. Digex was one of the successful IPOs in then-nascent webhosting and outsourcing, before its parent company WorldCom disclosed the then-largest accounting scandal in history.

Sutherland is the recipient of legal and non-legal awards, including Top 25 General Counsel of 2023, 2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors, National Diversity Council’s Power 50 List, Corporate Counsel Magazine – “Best Of” Law Departments, three U.S. Secretary of Transportation Awards, Virginia Lawyers Weekly “Leaders in the Law” Award, the University of Richmond “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Award,” Jack and Jill of America – Distinguished Mother of the Year, March of Dimes – Virginia top fundraiser.

As Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of United Airlines, Anna Ha partners with leaders throughout United, including the company’s executive officers and Board of Directors, to help protect the company and maximize shareholder value by maintaining best practices in corporate governance and securities compliance.  Anna leads a team of lawyers and professionals who help administer board meetings, maintain corporate records and provide legal support on all securities law compliance, executive compensation and disclosure matters.  Anna and her team have also led United’s efforts, in partnership with several internal stakeholders, to develop a governance framework around the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures.  Anna has over 18 years of experience as a corporate lawyer, including as an M&A partner at Sidley Austin LLP.  Anna received her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law and graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in Sociology and Asian Studies.

Joanna Chen is a seasoned legal professional passionate about leveraging legal skills to achieve clients’ business objectives. In her current role as Associate General Counsel at Bumble Inc., she leads on global employment law and compliance matters. Prior to joining Bumble, she was an equity partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, where she litigated a wide array of complex commercial disputes. In her spare time, Joanna enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and playing tennis.

Summer Bokhary currently serves as an Assistant General Counsel at Regions Bank, where she provides legal counsel on complex legal and compliance matters to trust and loan business units within Regions Bank’s wealth management department.

Summer also serves as the primary legal counsel for Regions Bank’s funeral and cemetery trust department. In this capacity, she advises internal clients on legal and compliance issues relating to fiduciary matters, regulatory compliance regarding trust laws, commercial operations, and provides strategic and tactical leadership in compliance program management, policy and procedure development, and daily compliance operations.

Awesta Masshoor is an accomplished legal professional with a proven track record of strategic leadership and innovative problem-solving. With over a decade of experience at Schneider Electric, a global industry leader, Awesta has consistently demonstrated her expertise in providing comprehensive legal guidance. She currently serves as Associate General Counsel in the US, adeptly managing complex commercial agreements and offering creative solutions to clients’ needs. Her exceptional skills in negotiation, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration have been honed through her roles as Head of Canadian Legal Affairs and as North America Mergers and Acquisitions Senior Legal Counsel. Awesta’s dedication extends beyond her professional endeavors; she contributed to her community as an executive sponsor of the LGBT+ Employee Resource Group (“ERG”) and founding the Women in Schneider Electric ERG in Canada and through pro bono legal work.

Mira is a driven legal professional providing more than 11 years of support to international corporations in the oil and gas, energy, and manufacturing sectors.  Specializing in complex commercial transactions, compliance, and dispute management, Mira has helped organizations expand their footprint in complex jurisdictions while driving local content to maintain sustainable growth. Beyond her extensive transactional experience, Mira has helped organizations establish, accelerate, and strengthen their corporate sustainability strategies in addition to advising on marketing and advertising campaigns and helping organizations form their brand identity and value.

Mira has a Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in International Studies, Communications, and Media.

Hillary Holmes is a partner in the global law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Co-Chair of the firm’s Capital Markets practice group.  Hillary advises public and private corporations, private equity firms and investment banks on long-term and strategic capital raising.  She regularly counsels companies on disclosure and reporting obligations under federal securities laws, corporate governance and ESG issues. She frequently advises boards of directors, special committees, and financial advisors in transactions involving conflicts of interest or unique complexities. 

Hillary has been recognized as top of her field. She is the only woman and the youngest lawyer to be recognized by the premier legal review organization Chambers USA in the category that covers capital raising in the energy industry, receiving ranking in the highest level, as well as in the categories covering national oil and gas transactions and Texas corporate transactions.  She has also been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Finance, Banking and Capital Markets Trailblazer, a Most Effective Dealmaker by Texas Lawyer, a Woman Who Means Business by the Houston Business Journal, as well as by Who’s Who, the Legal 500, the Houston Bar Association, the Greater Houston Women’s Partnership, and the National Association of Women Attorneys, among others. 

Hillary regularly writes and speaks on topics relating to the capital markets, developments in securities regulation, ESG issues and the state of the energy industry, and she is Co-Editor of the academic blog the Securities Regulation and Corporate Governance Monitor.

Hillary demonstrates a strong commitment to providing free legal services to those who cannot otherwise afford to access them, particularly abused women and immigrant girls, and serves on the board of directors of several local nonprofits, including Houston Volunteer Lawyers and Harrison’s Heroes.

Hillary received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from Duke University. Hillary is a native Houstonian who loves to run marathons and watch Avengers movies  with her two active young sons and one lovable pug.

Monica Uddin is a trial lawyer and the hiring partner for AZA. She is a skilled trial lawyer who has represented energy companies and other businesses and individuals in a variety of complex commercial matters including contract disputes, partnership break ups, and trade secrets. With a
computer science background from Stanford University, she has also been active with AZA’s intellectual property and patent litigation team.
A University of Chicago Law School graduate, Ms. Uddin excels at framing her clients’ stories in a successful manner for juries and judges. She was named to the 2021 and 2022 lists of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for commercial litigation. This is a national peer review award developed by Best
Lawyers in America to target associates for their outstanding professional excellence early in their careers. She was also selected on the Texas Rising Stars’ lists for the 2013-2020 for her excellence in business litigation. These lists name the best Texas lawyers age 40 and younger or those who have practiced no more than 10 years.
She has tried cases in civil and bankruptcy courts, helped obtain favorable jury verdicts, won summary judgment in a multimillion-dollar case, and blocked TROs.

Eydsa La Paz is the HQ-based Compliance Counsel aligned with the Latin America (LAD) region.  She reports directly to Oracle’s Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer, and supports with the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Oracle’s global compliance program.  Prior to joining Oracle, she was an Associate (and Summer Associate) at Vinson & Elkins, LLP, where she acted as a trusted external legal advisor to Oracle. During part of her career with V&E, Eydsa was seconded to Oracle and supported the compliance program in JAPAC (May-September 2021) and in LAD (September 2021-April 2022) before joining the team full time in May 2022.  Eydsa earned a J.D. from William & Mary Law School in 2019 where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice, Vol. 25, and a member of the Student Bar Association.  She earned her B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer Honors College in 2013.  In her personal life, Eydsa and her husband share their home with two lovely cats, Luna (5) and Ellie (3), adding a touch of fur and purrs to their household.

Jordan B. Franklin is Corporate Counsel—Trademarks, A&L (apparel and licensing) for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Jordan is a native of Houston and received a B.A. in Philosophy from Baylor University and a J.D. from The Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

As a practicing attorney Jordan specializes in the areas of Trademark Law and licensing. In her role at H-D, Jordan manages Harley’s global trademark portfolio, supports the apparel and licensing group and assists with global brand protection matters.

Over the years Jordan has become known as a leader in the trademark space. She has been tapped by people such as Barnett Helzberg…the owner of Helzberg diamonds to speak on the importance of trademarks and brand protection to entrepreneurs within his various affiliate organizations.

Jordan has done well over 100 presentations on various topics within the trademark and brand protection world. She has been nominated for the “Outstanding Leadership Award” as presented by the Law 2.0 conference. Additionally, last year (2022) Jordan was ranked in the top 1% among over 50,000 US trademark attorneys with a documented 91+% registration rate.

Monica White advises a full spectrum of financial institutions and companies on capital markets transactions at all stages of the business lifecycle. 

Ms. White advises investment banks, as well as public and private companies in the energy, technology, and healthcare industries, on capital markets transactions, including high yield and investment grade debt offerings, follow-on equity offerings, complex liability management transactions, and initial public offerings, including special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).

She also advises public companies on matters relating to corporate governance, Securities and Exchange Commission compliance, and stock exchange rules.

Ms. White guides clients using a commercial approach drawn from her significant experience with complex transactions. She excels at partnering with clients to develop creative strategies and solutions to navigate economic cycles and market uncertainty.

Ms. White actively supports diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives both within the firm and in the broader legal industry. She has served on the firm’s Recruiting Committee, actively engages with the Women Enriching Business committee, and frequently speaks at law schools and industry conferences.

Kelsie Knight is a corporate attorney in Holland & Knight’s Houston office. Ms. Knight advises public and private clients on a range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity fund formations and general corporate governance.

In addition, Ms. Knight has experience representing clients in financing transactions, including large commercial banks in connection with syndicated lending, acquisition financing, note purchase and sale transactions, and the workout and restructuring of credit facilities.

Tasha Taylor has distinguished herself as a coverage litigation and appellate specialist. Tasha handles insurance coverage and extra-contractual litigation involving a wide array of first- and third-party claims in Texas and nationwide. She advises her clients on resolving and managing complex claims arising out of a variety of policies, including commercial general liability, commercial auto, employer’s liability, control of well, director and officer’ liability, excess and umbrella liability, and various surplus lines policies. Tasha also maintains a general civil litigation practice in which she litigates cases involving personal injury, business torts, and other commercial disputes in both state and federal court.

As an appellate practitioner, she frequently handles appeals before Texas intermediate courts, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Additionally, Tasha appears in appellate courts in other jurisdictions, including successfully arguing to a California court of appeals about the application of an asbestos exclusion. She also assists trial counsel with all phases of trial preparation, including dispositive motions, jury charges, and post-verdict motions, and she often provides appellate assistance at trial. Tasha is well versed in Texas pre-trial practice, and she uses her skills to appeal interlocutory rulings via original proceedings or interlocutory appeal.

Tasha is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She was selected for inclusion in the list of “Rising Stars” in appellate, insurance coverage, and general litigation from 2016-2023, and she was recently included in the Best Lawyers in America for insurance litigation. Tasha also assisted in editing the 2019 Edition of New Appleman’s Texas Insurance Law Practice Guide.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Alvarenga Gerber is a Partner at Mayer LLP where she has focused her practice on defending clients in the hospitality, retail, construction and transportation industries in both commercial and injury-related catastrophic loss matters. Jackie has also represented clients with employee injury non-subscriber cases in state and federal court and has defended them in arbitration proceedings. She has served as first and second chair in trials throughout Texas and has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” from 2017-2023.  Jackie is also dedicated to serving the Houston community through her involvement with the Junior League of Houston and serves as a board member for The Woods Project.

Jackie received her B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration from Baylor University and her J.D. from South Texas College of Law.

Kelly Robreno Koster specializes in labor and employment law. Her practice offers employers extensive experience in discrimination, termination, restrictive covenant, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and statutory employee benefits litigation. She also drafts employment documentation such as employment and severance agreements, policies, and handbooks, assists companies with identifying and navigating employment issues that surface during a merger or acquisition, and conducts complex workplace investigations.

Prior to joining Bracewell, Kelly served as general counsel for an international staffing company, where she was chiefly responsible for compliance with global employment laws.

Steven V. Torello counsels private equity funds on structuring energy investments and leveraged acquisitions in the upstream and midstream oil and gas sector. He also regularly advises portfolio companies, independent operators, oilfield service companies, and foreign national oil companies on all aspects of exploration, production, gathering, and transportation. In addition Steve has significant experience advising on general corporate transactions—both domestic and international—in a variety of sectors, including retail and distribution.

Agnes O. Doyle is a Houston litigation attorney who practices commercial and civil litigation primarily in the areas of healthcare, maritime and financial services in both state and federal court, as well as in arbitration proceedings. Ms. Doyle also routinely counsels clients in a broad range of commercial, energy, construction and real estate disputes. Her litigation experience includes drafting pleadings, motion practice, discovery management and trial management.

Ms. Doyle frequently counsels managed care organizations, insurance companies, hospitals and healthcare providers in matters related to healthcare agreement disputes, denial of healthcare claims and regulatory compliance, as well as alleged insurance and administrative codes violations in administrative proceedings.

She also represents financial institutions and financial service companies such as banks, mortgage lenders and servicers, and settlement structure companies in litigation related to contractual disputes, consumer fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and debt collection efforts.

Ms. Doyle routinely represents domestic and international charterers, shippers and vessel owners in disputes related to maritime contracts, vessel damage, cargo contamination and demurrage in federal courts, as well as provides advice related to offshore operating agreements and other maritime-based agreements.

In addition, Ms. Doyle also serves as the Public and Charitable Services attorney for Holland & Knight’s Houston office, leading charitable services and pro bono efforts. She also serves on the board of directors for The Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation.

Sarai S. Neuman is a Senior Associate Attorney at Mayer LLP. She has substantial litigation experience with cases in state and federal courts ranging from personal injury to construction defect, as well as transaction experience in contract review and negotiation. In her 10 years of practice, Sarai has managed a statewide docket of insurance defense cases, worked as outside counsel to a major oilfield services company, and served as in-house counsel at one of the country’s largest, publicly traded construction supply companies.

Sarai received her bachelor’s degree from Rice University and her law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston.

Hon. Eva Guzman (RET.) – B.B.A., University of Houston, 1984.  J.D., South Texas College of Law, 1989.  L.L.M., Duke University School of Law, 2014. Judge, 309^th Family District Court, 1999-2001.  Justice, Court of Appeals for the 14^th Judicial District, 2001-2009.  Justice, Supreme Court of Texas, 2009-2021. Outstanding Texas Leader Award and inductee into the Texas Leadership Hall of Fame in 2015 by the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute; Appellate Judge of the Year Award, 2015, Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists; Appellate Justice of the Year, National Hispanic Bar Association.  Pro Bono Excellence Award, Lone Star Legal Aid; and Champion for Texas Children, Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Justice Guzman has 22 years of experience as a jurist at each level of the judiciary, including twelve years on the Supreme Court of Texas. Justice Guzman is the first Latina to be elected to the Supreme Court of Texas and the first Latina to be elected to statewide office in Texas. She has served on the Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families and the Texas Access to Justice Commission.  Justice Guzman authored hundreds of published opinions during her tenure on the appellate courts on a wide range of topics.

JESSICA ZAVADIL BARGER — B.A., Political Science and History, Concordia College, Minnesota, 1998, with honors. J.D., South Texas College of Law, 2001. Associate Note & Comment Editor, South Texas Law Review. Briefing Attorney, Fourteenth Court of Appeals, 2001-2002. Associate, Phelps Dunbar, 2002-2003. Associate, Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Martin, 2004-2005. Staff Attorney, Fourteenth Court of Appeals, 2005-2007. Associate and Partner, Wright & Close, 2007-2017, Name Partner, Wright Close & Barger, 2018-present. Member: State Bar of Texas Appellate Section; and Houston Bar Association Appellate Practice Section. Board Certified, Civil Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Ms. Barger is a highly sought-after appellate specialist, appearing at trial to help with error preservation, and briefing and arguing cases in various Texas appellate courts, as well as in several other states. Because of her success, clients have hired her to handle appellate matters in Oregon, Mississippi, Colorado, and Ohio. She has saved her clients millions in judgments reduced or eliminated through her appellate advocacy. In recognition of her experience and insights, the Texas Supreme Court appointed her to the Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals, an administrative body that reviews disciplinary actions against lawyers. In addition to being a “Super Lawyer,” Ms. Barger has been named one of the “Best Lawyers” in America for appellate law and one of the top 100 female lawyers in appellate law by Texas Lawyer.