As one of the many initiatives under the HB Communities for Change, the firm is sponsoring a monthly Speaker Series to address a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion topics. Building upon the firm’s Diversity Equity & Inclusion educational programming, the purpose of the series is for the Husch Blackwell community to gain wider exposure to diverse perspectives.
Our inaugural session will feature our own Maurice Watson, Of Counsel and former Chairman, sharing special viewpoints and experiences from his career. Moderated by Associate Tricia “TJ” Jackson on Wednesday, August 12 at 10 a.m., Maurice will talk about lessons in leadership, tips for law firm success and America's racial justice challenges. He'll also share his experiences about entering the legal profession in the late 1980s, when there were few Black lawyers and the world was not LGBTQ-friendly. He'll offer a look at what he's doing today in the world of philanthropic giving.
About Maurice
Maurice began his career at Husch Blackwell in 1987 after serving as a senior aide to U.S. Sen. John Danforth in Washington, DC. He became chairman in 2012 and served in that role until April 1, 2018. While chairman, he was a champion of LGBTQ advancement and recruiting attorneys of color, always encouraging empathy as a means of broadening perspectives. Throughout his legal career, he focused primarily on advising educational institutions concerning their legal issues, including employment discrimination claims and constitutional rights issues, and he continues to work with HB clients. Maurice currently is also the founder and principal of Credo Philanthropy Advisors LLP, a consulting service that partners with individuals, families and foundations to have a greater impact with their philanthropic efforts. He brings significant leadership experience in the health care and education sectors, having served on numerous community and national boards, including Children’s Mercy Hospital, the National Association of Children’s Hospitals, Saint Luke’s Health System, the National Association of Independent Schools and others.
About TJ
TJ joined Husch Blackwell in December 2018. Her law practice focuses primarily on real estate transactions in the field of renewable energy. She counsels domestic and international corporations through the financing, investment, property rights acquisition, and development stages of utility scale wind and solar projects. She excels in this area because it utilizes two of her greatest skills: an ability to clearly communicate while accurately analyzing situations to solve complex problems. TJ is proficient in Spanish and frequently travels throughout Central and South America, as she loves to connect with local people and cultures. She enjoys running and regularly trains for 5K and 10K competitions. Earlier this year, she was named to the National Black Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” list in Texas.