Features Region: Southwest

Lucas Tesoriero recently went back to being a student. He began taking private language lessons, an interest rooted in his Italian heritage and a lifelong appreciation for the language and culture that came with it. Anyone who has tried to learn a new language knows the process rewards patience, steady practice and a willingness to […]

There is a scene Josh Smith still pictures clearly: a living room, his grandparents beside him on the couch, and Ben Matlock on the television. The fictional Georgia attorney had a gift for cutting through noise and finding the truth in unexpected places, and something about that simplicity stuck with the boy watching. It was […]

The conversation that changed Flora Francis’s life lasted maybe ten minutes. She was in Atlanta, attending an event where Elizabeth Holtzman — the legendary former Brooklyn district attorney — was speaking. After the talk, Francis made her way over, introduced herself, and asked Holtzman about the office. Holtzman described the work, the culture, the energy […]

The dinner rush at Spud’s Restaurant & Pubs rarely followed a script. Orders piled up unexpectedly, employees called out at the last minute, customers needed attention, and problems had a way of appearing without warning. For eight years, Kate Cook managed that environment, learning how to handle pressure while juggling personalities, priorities, and constant unpredictability. […]

A career built at the intersection of business, law, and strategy has defined Steve Burdumy’s professional trajectory long before he ever held a C-suite title. Today, as chief business officer and general counsel for Footprint, Burdumy operates at the center of a fast-scaling, mission-driven company working to redefine the future of sustainable packaging. His role […]

At Centurion American Development Group, every acre of land tells a story, and every deal reflects a deliberate set of choices about risk, timing, and community impact. As general counsel, Matt Kollinger operates at the center of those choices. His role is not to slow momentum or retreat into legal theory, but to translate vision […]

Stephanie Fuller has built her career on the premise that relationships, when cultivated with intention and follow-through, become the most valuable currency in business. As a managing director at BRG, she operates at the intersection of litigation strategy and business development, serving as a connector between attorneys and the expert witnesses who can help shape […]

At the intersection of innovation, leadership, and purpose, Phyllis Turner-Brim has built a career defined not only by professional range but by intention. As senior vice president and deputy general counsel overseeing products, services, and commercial legal matters at HP Inc., she leads one of the company’s most complex global legal portfolios while remaining deeply […]

Brett Ross joined TPC Group expecting a role that balanced litigation with broader commercial and compliance work. Instead, adversity arrived almost immediately. His first week coincided with Hurricane Harvey, which forced the company to manage operational disruptions, legal issues, and rapid decision-making under pressure. Two years later, an explosion at the company’s Port Neches plant […]

Leslie Holland did not set out to become a lawyer. Her unconventional career path has shaped one of the most distinctive legal careers in live entertainment. As senior vice president of legal affairs for media and sponsorship at Live Nation, she occupies a role that blends dealmaking, risk management, creativity, and human judgment in an […]