The Employment Law Summit: Houston

Victor Wright is an experienced labor and employment law attorney, litigator, and strategic business advisor with more than 25 years of professional work experience within the federal government, private practice law firm, and public corporation sectors. A retired military officer and proven leader, Victor possesses a unique client service skill set which quickly allows him to build the requisite trust and confidence of his clients required in handling difficult and complex business matters. Victor Wright currently serves as Director, Global Labor and Employment Law at KBR, Inc., where he leads, manages and directs the delivery of all labor law, employment law, and employment dispute and litigation legal support services for more than 29,000 employees globally across KBR’s Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions business segments.

Victor is a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Houston Law Center Law Alumni Association where he currently serves as immediate past president and formerly served as the Law Center’s First African American President of the Law Alumni Association in the law school’s history.  He is also a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel where he formerly served on the Board of Directors of the ACC Houston Chapter.  In his local community, Victor serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at a local private school and at his church.  He also serves as a mentor with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America organization.

Kindall James is a labor and employment lawyer who counsels employers, business owners, and managers regarding various HR and personnel issues. She also represents clients in a wide variety of employment-related actions and proceedings in Texas and Louisiana state and federal courts and agencies. This includes defending employers against claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ERISA, the WARN Act, and other federal and state laws. Kindall also handles claims involving non-compete agreements, trade secrets, and unfair trade practices and competition. She represents clients in a range of industries, including the oil and gas, hospitality, engineering, construction, and other sectors.

Elaine Balagia is the Assistant General Counsel at Liberty Energy where she manages litigation, employment, and compliance for the organization. A two time graduate of the University of Texas, Ms. Balagia has dedicated her time and energy outside of work to numerous charitable causes, including serving as President of the Board of the iWRITE Literacy Organization, an Advisory Board Member at Theatre Under the Stars, and an Executive Board member and legal advisor to the President at VICTORY, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to cancer research and treatment. In 2023 Ms. Balagia was honored as a Global Leader of Influence by the World Affairs Council of Houston and was previously honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. She is passionate about women’s rights, both in the workplace and in the world, and has spent her career advocating for and enacting paid family leave, pay equity, and pay transparency in the workplace. She has a brilliant 8 year old daughter and is grateful to be married to her wonderful, supportive husband, Brant

Michelle Hoogendam Cash handles employment-related legal matters for all the Corebridge Financial, Inc. business lines.  Michelle addresses all aspects of employment law, including:  directly handles disputed matters as part of the Employment Dispute Resolution process; manages employment arbitrations; supports the drafting and enforcement of employment agreements, including post-employment obligations; provides advice and counsel to the HR and talent acquisition team on compliance, pay transparency, immigration, and other matters; supports the employment aspects of restructurings; advises on changing federal, state, and local employment laws; and frequently partners with other functions in addressing employment-related legal issues.  Michelle is a co-chair of the Corebridge Financial Abilities and Allies ERG.

Before joining AIG/Corebridge, Michelle owned The Cash Law Firm, representing employers and executives on employment issues.  A trained mediator, Michelle also had an active mediation practice.  Before starting her own firm, Michelle managed employment matters in public companies and law firms.  Michelle has served the legal profession in many capacities, such as Chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Section and editor in chief of the Houston Lawyer magazine, as well as serving the State Bar of Texas as Chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Women in the Profession and as a member of the Texas Bar Journal editorial board..

Michelle earned her BA, cum laude, in Economics/Political Science, from Tulane University (spending a year at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland), and her JD, with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law, where she served on the Texas Law Review.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys travel to Maine and California, Astro’s baseball, Dutch culture, supporting cancer research through VICTORY Houston, Inc., and reading (especially unrealistic legal thrillers).

Cyndi Baily is a highly accomplished attorney and compliance professional with extensive experience and expertise across diverse legal fields including, health care and life sciences, corporate compliance, data privacy and information security, general commercial and contract law and contract management, employment law, federal and state contracts, non-profit and tax exemption, securities law and corporate governance, licensing and technology transfer, dispute resolution, negotiation and litigation management.

Her demonstrated strengths are in the health care and life sciences industries, in both general counsel and chief compliance officer roles, and the oversight of the internal audit, information privacy and security, policy, risk management as well as environmental health and safety functions.

She is a dynamic professional with broad supervisory experience involving both legal and non-legal professionals; served as part of the C-level suite in three large businesses; and worked with boards comprised of experienced business leaders throughout the US and the world.

Kim Anderson is an Associate General Counsel for Labor and Employment who joined Corebridge Financial in 2005 from John Hancock. Prior to that, she lobbied in her hometown of Washington, DC for legislation and funding on behalf of over social services agencies around the country.

Through her pro bono work, Kim provides legal resources to those in need,  advising veterans in Houston as well as other clients across Texas who wish to expunge their criminal records in order to eliminate obstacles to school, housing and employment.

In addition to her pro bono work, Kim mentors local law students and learns just as much from them as she hopes they do from her. In her spare time, Kim enjoys mini-road trips with her family and friends when she is not attending her son’s sports events.

Christallyn McCloud Williams is Senior Corporate Counsel, Labor & Employment for MilliporeSigma, a global Life Sciences company.  She is a corporate generalist and has focused her practice for nearly the last 10 years on labor and employment and litigation management.  She also serves as a legal partner to the North America D&I office and cross-functional teams on corporate strategic DEI projects and programs.  She has recently led the re-launch of an employee resources group for Black employees, the Black Leadership Network, which she co-founded in 2012.

Cameron Woods works as Counsel on the Global Labor & Employment Law team at McDonald’s Corporation in Chicago. In that role, he provides strategic employment-related advice and counsel to the various areas business, including corporate-owned restaurants. Since January 2021, he has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of the District of Columbia, where he teaches a section of the Legal and Bar Success course. Cameron is a proud native of a small community, Macedonia, located in southwest Arkansas. He earned his B.A. in Political Science/Journalism (with a minor in African/African American Studies) from the University of Arkansas. He then attended Southern Illinois University School of Law, where he was the first student to complete the J.D./M.S.Ed in Higher Education joint-degree program. Lastly, Cameron is also a part of the inaugural Black In-House Counsel Network’s Rise-Up program, a member of the Black Male Lawyers Association, and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, watching any Razorbacks game, trying new restaurants, and spending time in Arkansas with his favorite people: his nieces and nephews.

Experienced legal leader specializing in employment law and compliance within the technology sector. Currently serving as Senior Director, Global Employment & Compliance Counsel at Qlik Technologies, a leader in the data, analytics and AI space. Proven track record of providing strategic guidance to executive leadership and managing global teams, with over 12 years of experience. Skilled in M&A, equity and short-term incentive program administration, global restructurings, works council relations, policy drafting, investigations, litigation management and compliance oversight. Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E).

Melanie Koltermann is a seasoned corporate lawyer with expertise in corporate governance, executive compensation, employment law, legal compliance, FLSA, FCPA, and litigation.  Melanie currently serves as the General Counsel for Five Star Management.  With a strong commitment to upholding ethical standards and delivering results, she adeptly navigates legal complexities, providing strategic counsel that drives organizational success.

Melanie is a graduate of the University of Houston Law School and serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Association of Corporate Counsel – Houston Chapter.  She also volunteers for the Association of Women Attorneys Foundation, where she formerly served as Chair for the Board of Trustees.

‚Äã‚ÄãKrista Hanvey is a partner in the Dallas office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.  She practices in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation and Corporate Departments.   Ms. Hanvey has significant experience with all aspects of health and welfare benefit plan, retirement plan, and executive compensation compliance, planning, and transactional matters.  She has also advised clients with respect to general corporate governance matters and non-profit governance and pro bono adoption cases.

Her practice focuses on all aspects of equity compensation and employee stock purchase plans; 401(k), ESOP and 403(b) tax-qualified retirement and nonqualified deferred compensation plans; executive employment, severance, retention, change in control and non-compete agreements; performance bonus, sales commission and other incentive pay plans; and retiree medical, cafeteria and other welfare benefit  plans.  She regularly advises clients on the requirements of and compliance with tax laws, ERISA, HIPPA, COBRA, the Affordable Care Act and securities disclosure requirements.

Ms. Hanvey graduated first in her class from William and Mary School of Law, where she served as Senior Articles Editor of the William & Mary Law Review.  In 2006, Ms. Hanvey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors in Government from The University of Texas at Austin.  She is a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Beta Kappa.

Ms. Hanvey is admitted to practice law in the state of Texas.