Olivia Roberts, a Houston-based Associate and co-chair of the firm’s Black Affinity Network, highlights some crucial areas of focus 

At the firm, I am the co-chair of the Black Affinity Network (BAN) which was formed in 2020 with the mission of expanding the connectivity and communication among Black attorneys and business personnel. 

“Having a safe space where Black attorneys and business professionals can come together and connect can have such a strong impact on their personal and professional experience.”

Over the past three years, my BAN co-chair Shawn Spearman and I have been able to host a number of events covering topics such as Black skincare, Black career success and the Black experience when buying a home. It has been such a joy and passion of mine to create meaningful, impactful, and educational programming that exposes firm personnel to different perspectives and experiences. 

Outside of the firm, I spend my time attending sparring classes at a boxing gym and gaming. I love to do things that require me to focus on something unrelated to work because I am a firm believer that mental health is equally as important as physical health. I also love spending time with my family and friends. They are the village that keep me motivated and grounded. 

Giving back to the community by mentoring other law students who have an interest in pursuing transactional law is a passion of mine. Financial literacy within the Black community is also a very important issue. My mission is for young people to know it’s possible to achieve their dreams and goals despite perceived financial challenges.

Beyoncé once said “Power’s not given to you. You have to take it.” My hope is that the work I do and the time I take to give back to others around me will empower them and leave a positive impact. That would be a win.