Abbott Simses has a tradition and on-going commitment to diversity in our workplace. We value diversity and promote the expression of different viewpoints. We are committed to the recruitment of legal professionals from diverse, social, economic, cultural and personal backgrounds. The retention and individual professional development of our diverse workforce is a crucial factor in the Firm's success.

The Firm's superior service and performance is dependent on teamwork. Our attorneys and staff work closely together to contribute to all aspects of the Firm's business. The Firm's diversity brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our practice. Therefore, we strive continually to foster a pleasant and supportive work environment for the Firm's attorneys and staff.

Abbott Simses actively promotes various diversity-related initiatives. Examples of our ingrained commitment to support diversity include:

• Diversity Scholarship Program, which provides a scholarship to a third-year minority student at Loyola University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana

• Participation in local and regional minority job fairs, including the E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Minority Job Fair and the Sunbelt Minority Job Fair

• We actively recruit at law schools with diverse student bodies including Southern University Law School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Texas Southern University School of Law in Houston, Texas; and Mississippi College of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. We also strongly consider students at other, similar institutions.

• Firm-wide luncheons to celebrate Black History Month, National Asian-American Heritage Month, National Hispanic Month, and Women's History Month

• Initiating and supporting efforts to increase diversity within the firm through literature circulation informing all employees of significant contributors to the diversity of our country, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "Letter From A Birmingham Jail" in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Day, and other events

• The Firm is actively involved in and committed to the principles of the DuPont Women Lawyers' Network (DWLN).  The DWLN was founded to positively impact the business of DuPont by promoting legal excellence through the success, development and professional advancement of the women lawyers representing DuPont. The Firm has participated in all of the DWLN Annual Meetings and in many of the mini-conferences held regionally.




Abbott Simses has created a Diversity Committee charged with the responsibility of developing, monitoring, and evaluating the Firm's strategies and progress in recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. Additionally, the Diversity Committee is responsible for educating the Firm's members regarding diversity as a management principle, for developing diversity initiatives that broaden the Firm's outlook with regard to litigation practices, client base, the legal profession, and community involvement, and for ensuring that a positive work environment is maintained for all employees.

The Diversity Committee consists of shareholders, associates, and staff members who have a wide variety of diverse backgrounds. These individuals share a strong commitment to increasing the Firm's diversity and use their unique backgrounds to support and further that goal. 

The Diversity Committee members (listed below) meet regularly to formulate both long-range goals and specific diversity initiatives.

Richard Simses, Chairperson and shareholder in the Houston office

Charles Miers, shareholder in the Houston office

Christine Changho Bruneau, associate in the New Orleans office

Eric Carter, associate in the New Orleans office

Lisa Talbot, associate in the Houston office

Michael Kivort, associate in the Houston office

Dawn Wenzel, staff member in the Houston office

Sandra Grimes, staff member in the New Orleans office

Shannon Shaw, staff member in the Houston office

For additional information regarding the Firm's diversity initiatives, please contact any member of the Diversity Committee.