Press Release

Contact:

Maggie Martin
Director, Marketing and Communications
O: 346-471-3428
maggiem@hba.org

 Houston Bar Association Recognizes Law Firm, Attorneys for Excellence in DEI

(HOUSTON – July 26, 2023) The Houston Bar Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 HBA Diversity Awards, given to outstanding law firms and individuals in recognition of their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the legal profession.

• Organization: Bush Seyferth PLLC

• Individual: Eric Muñoz, Partner, Akin

• Individual: Scott Ellis, Managing Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

“As one of the largest bar associations in the country serving over 10,000 members in the most diverse city in the U.S., it’s imperative that we not only continue to embrace diversity within our legal community but to promote diversity through pipeline programs in our high schools and law schools,” said HBA President Diana Gomez. “The HBA is committed to access to justice for all Houstonians, and, as a bar association, we strive to have a membership that represents attorneys from all backgrounds in order to best serve the needs of our community.”

Below is more information about each of this year’s winners:

Organization Winner: Bush Seyferth PLLC

Bush Seyferth PLLC pursues several DEI efforts, which includes clerkship and mentorship opportunities to diverse summer law clerks and college and high school interns who express interest in the legal field; organizing DEI events, such as the BSP Speed Networking event, to give diverse law students an opportunity to network with in-house counsel, judges, and representatives from bar associations and other legal organizations; and the firm’s Law Charitable Foundation offers the Joe Stern Scholarship Fund to provide financial support to students from diverse backgrounds who contribute to the diversity of their law school student body as they pursue their legal career.

“BSP Law is proud and thrilled to be recognized by the Houston Bar Association for our commitment to establishing and maintaining an inclusive work environment,” said Amy Bice Larson, BSP Law Member. “At BSP, we believe that each of us must be intentionally fierce and conscientious advocates for the deliberate elimination of gender, racial, cultural, and other inequality. We prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion to create a place where people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. We believe that the diverse backgrounds of our lawyers and staff fosters creativity and drives innovation that enable us to provide the highest level of service to our clients.”

Individual Winner: Eric Muñoz, Partner, Akin

Eric Muñoz serves as a mentor to diverse lawyers and aspiring lawyers, including through the University of Houston Law Center’s Pre-Law Pipeline Program, which provides resources to students from low-income, first generation and underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in pursuing legal careers. He’s also led DEI efforts within Akin’s Houston office, including his service as chair of the firm’s DEI Committee and Inclusion Committee. He’s also spearheaded the office’s DEI network and presence among firm offices and minority-focused organizations statewide.

“I believe that success is not a zero-sum game, that team members that feel included and listened to are more likely to contribute and provide honest and meaningful feedback and that better outcomes result from well-informed and diverse perspectives,” said Muñoz. “Increasing DEI awareness and engaging in DEI efforts are essential to building more productive teams that bring different viewpoints together and whose members contribute to meeting goals and solving problems. I believe it is our responsibility, and a privilege, to help ensure we develop and get the best out of all of our people so that we can better serve our clients, the legal profession, our communities and, in the end, better serve ourselves. Responsibility and privilege are not often used to describe the same action, but for me, engaging in DEI efforts is both, and when that responsibility and privilege is recognized by your peers that is a real honor.”

Individual: Scott Ellis, Managing Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

Scott Ellis has served as a member and co-chair of the HBA’s DEI Committee, as well as a member of the HBA’s Implicit Bias Task Force. Last year, he was appointed to the University of Houston Law Center Alumni Board of Directors, where he works with law students to advance and develop their trial advocacy skills before they graduate. According to his nomination submission, Ellis uses his leadership positions to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the forefront of recruitment and retention efforts within the firm.   

“The strength and success of the legal profession requires the inclusion of people with different insights and experiences, which results in more creative and innovative solutions to the problems that we as lawyers are tasked to solve,” said Ellis. “Fostering a culture of inclusion and respect for everyone is a moral imperative, and something that I care deeply about and strive to achieve.  I’m incredibly honored and humbled to receive the 2023 HBA Diversity Award.”

The HBA Diversity Awards were created in 2019 by HBA President Benny Agosto, Jr. (2019-2020) to recognize outstanding achievements and dedication by law offices, legal departments, and individuals in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. Recipients are chosen by a committee made up of representatives from the HBA’s Gender Fairness Committee; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; and LGBTQ+ Committee. The awards were presented during the HBA’s 25^th Annual Summer Associate Luncheon held July 26 in downtown Houston.

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The Houston Bar Association is a nonprofit professional organization for attorneys that provides education and service programs for the legal profession and the community. With over 10,000 members, the HBA is one of the largest metropolitan bar associations in the nation.