Alicia Vaz Recognized as “2024 Women, Influence & Power in Law” Award Honoree by ALM’s Corporate Counsel
LOS ANGELES - Cox, Castle & Nicholson Partner and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Alicia Vaz was recognized as a “2024 Women, Influence & Power in Law” award honoree in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Law Firm category by ALM’s Corporate Counsel. The WIPL awards honor in-house and law firm women leaders and allies who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law. She will be recognized at the Corporate Counsel’s 2024 WIPL awards dinner on September 24th as part of the Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference in Chicago.
For years, Alicia has played a key role in championing Cox Castle’s efforts to increase diversity within the firm and in the legal community at large. Under Alicia’s guidance, Cox Castle has increased overall awareness of DEI issues within the firm to create a positive work environment that encourages awareness and understanding of diverse voices and why they are important. This includes providing training and tools to build awareness and understanding within the firm such as a DEI speaker series and DEI Challenges.
Alicia was influential in Cox Castle’s decision to participate in Diversity Lab’s Midsize Mansfield Rule certification process, the goal of which is to increase the representation of diverse lawyers in law firms and their leadership. DEI is a top priority for Cox Castle and participation in the third cohort of the Midsize Mansfield Rule is part of Cox Castle’s commitment to recruit, develop, and promote diverse lawyers. Under Alicia’s tutelage, Cox Castle has achieved Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus status, which signifies that in addition to successfully meeting the consideration and transparency requirements, the firm achieved at least 30% representation of historically underrepresented lawyers in current leadership roles and pipeline activities.
Alicia also helped establish the Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP Endowed Scholarship in Law at UCLA School of Law to award tuition and aid to incoming students who demonstrate significant financial need and have confronted considerable obstacles in life such as socio-economic disadvantage, disability, being the first in their family to attend college, attending under-resourced schools, or other extensive hardships or challenges.
In addition, Alicia helped Cox Castle create the Mario Camara 1L Diversity Scholars Program, named in honor of the firm’s former managing partner Mario Camara. The 1L Diversity Scholars Program is open to first-year law students who have exhibited perseverance and excellence on their path toward a career in law and a commitment to advancing diversity in the legal profession.
About Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP
Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP was founded in Los Angeles in 1968, with the goal of providing superior and comprehensive legal services to businesses, institutions, and individuals in all aspects of the real estate, finance, and construction industries. Cox Castle is now one of the largest full-service law firms specializing in real estate in the United States and has over 140 transactional and litigation attorneys in its Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Francisco offices.
The firm has substantial expertise in matters involving land and improved property acquisitions and dispositions; joint ventures; single and multifamily residential development; land use, entitlement and regulatory compliance (including coastal commission and condemnation); office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use development, leasing and management; commercial lending and institutional investment; loan workouts and financial restructuring; construction; resort and hospitality; labor and employment; risk management and insurance; environmental compliance; renewable energy and natural resources; and tax and estate planning. For more information, please visit www.coxcastle.com.