Munck Wilson Mandala’s award-winning litigation section was honored by Texas Lawyer this past week as the Litigation Department of the Year in the general litigation/midsize firm category. William A. Munck, MWM’s managing partner, was honored as a Diversity & Inclusion Champion, and Tasha Schwikert, a corporate and sports law associate, was honored as a lawyer On the Rise. These awards were announced during the virtual Texas Legal Awards presented by Texas Lawyer, an American Lawyer Media publication focused on news and insights in the legal industry in Texas.
Each year, Texas Lawyer honors those attorneys and judges who have made a remarkable difference in the Texas legal profession, whether in shaping the law, achieving outsized results for their clients, or assisting those in need of legal services. The honorees have had extraordinary careers and are considered impact players in the Texas legal community. Top regional and national law firms and in-house legal departments submit nominations for these listings.
“We are incredibly proud to be honored and congratulate all of the other winners. It is humbling to be among such an impressive group of attorneys and law firms,” said Michael McCabe, Co-Chair of MWM’s Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section.
MWM’s litigation team makes a formidable opponent in the court room, often rivaling Am Law 100 firms with significantly larger litigation teams. Through meticulous and masterful research and trial skills, MWM has won many landmark cases, including two Texas Hall of Fame verdicts.
Thomson Reuters, Best Lawyers in America©, D Magazine’s Best Lawyers, and other publications frequently honor and recognize MWM’s litigators, both associates and partners, for their outstanding legal work. Many of MWM’s litigators serve on boards, stay involved in leadership organizations, and mentor through mock trials and other opportunities.
“Despite a challenging year, we are so proud of the hard work and focus we have seen from our attorneys and staff,” said Jenny Martinez, Co-Chair of MWM’s Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution Section. “This recognition affirms our efforts and sacrifices. Our entire MWM team is honored to win litigation department of the year in the midsize category.”
In the category of Diversity & Inclusion Champion, Munck was nominated for MWM’s involvement in two women’s empowerment events that were held in North Texas. The events focused on panel discussions and keynotes about societal issues that affect women and minorities. MWM’s focus on providing a workplace culture that supports women and minorities and addresses the challenges they face has led to the firm successfully recruiting more female attorneys, growing the number from 28 percent to 40 percent in two years.
In the category of On the Rise, MWM’s Tasha Schwikert was nominated for her advocacy work. As a former Olympic gymnast, Schwikert became an advocate for institutional change within USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee. Her passion motivated her to attend law school in her late 20s and she now serves as co-chair of the special committee for over 500 Larry Nassar survivors. Schwikert and her sister Jordan are among those survivors.
In addition to co-chairing this special committee, Schwikert is involved in ongoing efforts to advocate for sexual assault victims in all 50 states. In May 2019, she was instrumental in the effort to extend the Texas statute of limitations for child sexual abuse victims as a result of her testimony before the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee.
“Tasha is world class. There is no other way to say how impressed we are with her advocacy work and her story,” said Munck. “She is an excellent corporate attorney as well, and she is a big part of our efforts moving forward to build our sports and entertainment practice.”
Munck Wilson Mandala is a technology-focused law firm with offices in Dallas, Austin, and Marshall, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. The firm offers full-service counsel in the areas of intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property portfolio development, corporate transactions and securities, and employment law. Munck Wilson Mandala represents clients from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Learn more about the firm at http://www.munckwilson.com.
