As a child, Marissa Marquez had to navigate an educational system not designed for kids like her.
A native Spanish speaker raised primarily by a grandmother without a high school diploma, Marquez learned English in school and worked her way into the gifted and talented program, eventually graduating eighth in her high school class of about 800 students.
Now labor and employment counsel at Houston Methodist Hospital, her life work and volunteerism “reflect a through line” in her life, “from her earliest experiences as a bilingual student to her current leadership roles, of using her skills and lived experience to uplift others,” said Jackson Walker partner Sang Shin.
Marquez is this year’s award recipient of the Senior Counsel of the Year for a Nonprofit or Governmental Agency presented by the Association of Corporate Counsel Houston Chapter and The Texas Lawbook.
“Marissa Marquez exemplifies the highest standard of in-house legal leadership, combining exceptional professional achievement with a lifelong commitment to service, advocacy and community impact,” said Shin, who nominated her. Her early experiences navigating systems not designed for her “shaped her ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.”
At Houston Methodist, Marquez manages an immigration team of four as well as one full-time employee responsible for handling Americans with Disabilities Act accommodation requests. She serves as the department’s...
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