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This committee examines issues related to gender fairness in the legal profession and develops programs that provide a forum for the discussion of issues related to gender fairness, including seminars and networking opportunities. The committee promotes awareness of these issues within the profession and encourages law firms and corporate legal departments to sign the “Gender Initiative Commitment Statement.”

2025-2026 Co-Chairs:

Anna Archer, Hicks Thomas LLP
Farrell Hochmuth, BakerHostetler
Monica Uddin, AZA
Brittney Williams, B. Williams Law Firm, PLLC 

Resources

View Lactation Pod Locations & Learn More

Learn more about the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Learn more about the PUMP Act

Learn more about the State Health Services Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite Program

Click Here to View Full List of Resources

Scan the QR code or watch the video below to learn how to download the Mamava App and view lactation pods near you!

For more information on this committee, contact HBA Associate Executive Director Ashley Steininger at ashleyg@hba.org or 346-471-3431.

This committee was proud to partner in the 2026 HBA Spring Days of Service!

Thank You to Our Lactation Pod Partners!

PAST EVENTS

The Evolving Law: Developments Impacting Women

Thank you to everyone who joined us on April 7 to learn about recent legislative, regulatory, and caselaw developments that are impacting women in the profession and beyond. The panelists talked about the interaction between legislation, regulations, and interpretation, at the local, state, and federal levels, and how these developments are re-defining the landscape.

Reimagining the Road to a Rewarding Career: A Women's History Month Event

On March 3, members celebrated Women's History Month at an event co-hosted by the Federal Bar Association, Southern District of Texas Chapter; the Association of Women Attorneys (Houston); and the Houston Bar Association Gender Fairness Committee. The program was designed to inspire women lawyers who may be trying to “balance” their many responsibilities and wondering whether they are on the right path.

A panel of leading women in the legal profession discussed their career paths, the turns they have taken, and the factors they considered along the way. The panelists hope to inspire women to reimagine their paths, wherever they are, by considering what is most important to them for growth—personally and professionally—and finding a way to move forward with those goals in mind, whether via a straight road or a winding path.

Breaking Tradition and Building Legacy: Women's Day Celebration CLE

On March 5, the State Bar of Texas Women and the Law Section, the Houston Lawyers Association, the HBA Gender Fairness Committee, and the Houston Association of Women Attorneys celebrated Women's Day with a special CLE, “Breaking Tradition and Building Legacy: How Women Lawyers Build Law Firms.”

12th Annual Speed Networking Event

On February 24, 1st–6th-year women attorneys networked and connected at the 12th Annual Speed Mentoring Event, featuring discussions on career advancement, self-advocacy, business development, career changes, and more!

Winter Book Club, January 15

On January 15, the HBA Gender Fairness Committee’s Winter Book Club Event featured author Melanie Bragg, who discussed her latest book: “Defining Moments: Insights into the Lawyer’s Soul”. The book includes personal interviews of leading lawyers on the events that triggered their most life changing moments and how they used these moments to strengthen their leadership skills and practices. In the book, Bragg applies the LEAD line leadership model to these stories, highlighting when each individual’s actions showed their dedication to Legacy, Excellence, Authenticity, and Determination.

During the program, Bragg discussed this leadership model, highlighting throughout the lawyer’s duty of competency and elements from the often-overlooked preamble to the disciplinary rules were covered.

Networking Panel & Practice

On October 9, the Gender Fairness Committee held a 30-minute panel presentation about networking for women lawyers followed by a reception.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for First Lactation Pod
Harris County Civil Courthouse
May 8, 2024

(Photo on left - L to R: Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton, 164th District Court and Gender Fairness Committee Co-Chair; Stephanie Noble, Vinson & Elkins LLP and Gender Fairness Committee Co-Chair; Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones; Judge Ravi K. Sandill, 127th District Court; Judge Latosha Lewis Payne, 55th District Court; 2023-2024 HBA President Diana Gomez)

One of the HBA’s key initiatives during the 2023-2024 Bar Year, 2023-2024 HBA President Diana Gomez partnered with the Harris County District Courts, led by Judge Latosha Lewis Payne, Judge Ravi K. Sandill, Judge Michael Gomez, and Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton, as well as the Harris County Commissioners Court, led by Commissioner Lesley Briones, the Administrative Office of the District Courts of Harris County, and the Office of the County Engineer to install lactation pods in the Harris County Court Complex. The first lactation pod opened at the Harris County Civil Courthouse on May 8, 2024.

The HBA led the fundraising efforts to purchase the lactation pods. These efforts were spearheaded by the HBA’s Gender Fairness Committee.

HBA President Diana Gomez said this is a crucial access to justice initiative that will make a material difference in the daily lives of many young mothers in the legal profession and greater Houston community.

(Photo on right - L to R: Cater Dugan, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and Gender Fairness Committee Co-Chair; 2023-2024 HBA President Diana Gomez; Judge Cheryl Elliott Thornton, 164th District Court and Gender Fairness Committee Co-Chair; and Stephanie Noble, Vinson & Elkins LLP and Gender Fairness Committee Co-Chair)

“As a mother, an attorney, and president of the Houston Bar Association, I am incredibly proud to join our partners in unveiling the very first lactation pod at the Harris County Civil Courthouse,” said Gomez. “These lactation pods underscore the importance of women in the legal profession and sends the message that women are welcome and belong in the courthouse.”

In addition to the funds raised for the pod being installed at the Harris County Civil Courthouse, the Houston Bar Association obtained funding for lactation pods to be installed in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center, Harris County Jury Assembly Room, and the Harris County Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library.

The lactation pod for the County Law Library is funded by a $24,500 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. The lactation pod for the Criminal Justice Center is funded by a $30,000 grant from the Houston Bar Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the HBA.*

(Photo on left - L to R: 2023-2024 HBA President Diana Gomez; Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones; Houston Bar Foundation Chair Linda Hester; Stephanie Noble, Vinson & Elkins LLP and Gender Fairness Committee Co-Chair; and former HBA Executive Director Mindy G. Davidson)

“The Houston Bar Foundation is proud to support such an important access to justice initiative,” said HBF Chair Linda Hester. “We are thrilled to support this lactation pod with funds from the Foundation’s new annual grant program, established to broaden the Foundation’s impact, which is dedicated to the Houston community.”

Stephanie Noble is a co-chair of the HBA Gender Fairness Committee and a partner at Vinson & Elkins, which generously donated funds for the initiative.

"This is a meaningful milestone for our legal community, not only because mothers now have much needed access to lactation spaces in our courthouses, but also because the Houston Bar came together to identify and address a need. Support came from everywhere, through firms, local groups, and individuals. It's lovely to see our legal community banding together to make lasting change."

The HBA’s partnership with Harris County entities to bring the lactation pod initiative to fruition was recently recognized by the 2024 State Bar of Texas Stars of Texas Bars Award for Outstanding Partnership.

(Photo on right - L to R: Alistair Dawson, Beck Redden LLP, Former HBA President and Project TRAIN Committee Co-Chair; Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones; William Hagans,Hagans Law Firm)

Thank You To These Donors For Supporting the Installation of Lactation Pods at the Harris County Court Complex

Houston Law Offices Commit to Gender Parity

Sixty-seven Houston law offices were the inaugural supporters of the Houston Bar Association’s 2021 Gender Fairness Commitment Statement. Originally drafted in 2006 and first revised in 2018 with a historical focus to advance women in the law, the current revised statement expands on previous versions to include gender diverse groups. It also broadens the language to better accommodate smaller firms, in-house legal departments, and other legal employers and removes a target date, allowing law offices to develop their own timeline for achieving measurable gender parity.

“We are proud that our members and member organizations are strongly supporting gender fairness in the legal environment,” said HBA President Jennifer Hasley.

The statement was developed by the association’s Gender Fairness Committee with input from the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the LGBTQ+ Committee and approved by the HBA Board of Directors. The statement is an opportunity for law firms, legal departments, and other institutions to pledge support for advancing gender equity in the legal profession.

Participants commit to address gender diversity in leadership positions with a material increase in representation by a target date set by the organization; implement objective, unbiased criteria and procedures for achieving equity and interrupting bias in recruitment, hiring, evaluation, assignment, retention, and promotion of attorneys into partner and/or leadership positions; and promote policies, practices, opportunities, transparency, and accountability to achieve gender equity.

Participants further pledge to obtain and act on feedback from employees and others regarding efforts to increase gender equity and equality; offer professional development opportunities that support gender equality for attorneys at all levels throughout their careers; identify and promote opportunities for gender diversity through leadership roles and advancement within the organization; and allow for flexible work arrangements that are an equitable option for all attorneys.

The following participants have demonstrated their commitment to the principles in the Houston Bar Association’s 2021 Gender Fairness Commitment Statement:

^{* Original signatory organization}

Videos

These recorded programs are available for CLE credit for HBA members at hba.org/watchcle.

"Work. Life. Unbalanced. Juggling Your Legal Career and Caregiving During COVID-19" from November 12, 2020.

"Business Development for Women: How to Overcome Obstacles and Thrive" from September 29, 2020. Co-sponsored by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Blank Rome LLP, and KoonsFuller PC (made possible by Shareholder Taylor Toombs Imel).

"Practical Tools and Information for Gender Equality in the Legal Profession" from June 30, 2020. Co-sponsored by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Blank Rome LLP, and KoonsFuller PC (made possible by Shareholder Taylor Toombs Imel). Program Agenda & Speaker Bios | Gender Fairness Toolkit

Thank you to all the firms who signed the 2018 Gender Fairness Commitment Statement.

Firms listed with an asterisk (*) signed the statement before March 1, 2019.