Speakers

Rich Bracken

Rich Bracken is an award-winning global keynote speaker & media personality who is also a notable thought leader in the legal industry. He routinely speaks with law firms, legal associations, and in-house counsel teams across the country on topics such as emotional intelligence, leadership, client service, and executive presence. A former in-house legal marketing and business development executive, he has worked with firms to differentiate their strategy and brand to grow revenue through client service and external marketing. He has presented keynotes and workshops for numerous Fortune 100 in-house attorneys, AM Law 200 firms, and some of the top legal associations in the country including Legal Value Network, International Lawyers Network, Mackrell International, In-House Connect, and the Legal Marketing Association. He is also a frequent writer for Law.com, Attorney at Work, and JD Supra.

James Johnston, Summit Midstream Partners, LP

James Johnston has been the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Summit Midstream Partners, LP since September 2020 and the Secretary since March 2021. Prior to joining Summit, James worked in the corporate legal department for Crestwood Equity Partners as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, after serving as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at Crestwood. Prior to joining Crestwood in 2013, James served as Assistant General Counsel for Kinder Morgan and in various legal and commercial roles of increasing responsibility at Kinder Morgan, El Paso Corporation and Sonat, Inc. from 1997 to 2013. James holds a bachelor’s degree from Western University in Ontario, Canada and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

Gláucia Jones, Ravago Americas LLC

Gláucia Jones is the Associate General Counsel for the Ravago Group, where she and her team oversee and manage all legal aspects for the Ravago Group's commercial dealings with customers, suppliers, and supply chain partners in North America.  The diversified businesses and operations that Gláucia and her team are responsible for represent the buying, transporting, selling, and recycling of millions of metric tons of plastic resins, specialty chemicals and rubber raw materials throughout North America.  Gláucia is also the Corporate Secretary for Blue Polymers, a joint venture between the Ravago Group and Republic Industries.  

Gláucia recently returned to Ravago after a few years away, during which she gained experience working in legal departments across various industries, including two publicly traded companies: Xylem, Inc., The American Automobile Association (AAA), and most recently, CAVA.

Born and raised in Brazil, Gláucia moved to the USA in 2003 to attend college. She currently resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, two teenage daughters, and two dogs.

Ankita Puri, Independent Financial 

Ankita is the Chief Legal Officer for Independent Financial and oversees and manages the legal affairs of the Bank and its holding company. She is responsible for setting the overall strategy of the legal department and managing major legal and regulatory issues throughout all disciplines of the organization, including corporate governance, litigation and claims, employment matters, M&A, and legal support for all business units and executives.  Prior to joining Independent Financial, Ankita was an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius for majority of her career. Ankita is a native Houstonian and relocated to the DFW area in 2020 with her German Shepherd, Lenya, to join Independent Financial. 

Jenny Taylor, Trademark Property Company 

Jenny Taylor is an accomplished sales, marketing, and management professional with more than 25 years’ experience in hospitality, retail, entertainment, and other industries.

In her role as General Manager of Market Street in The Woodlands, Jenny oversees day to day operations, including the management of the property’s operations, maintenance, budgeting, leasing, and business development departments.  A high-touch, hands on property manager, she is well known for maintaining community, tenant, and public relations to not only support the shopping destination but the community as well.   

She is a member of ICSC, IREM, The Woodlands EDP and has served on BOD of several various organizations including Visit The Woodlands, The Woodlands Chamber Board of Directors, Visit The Woodlands Board of Directors, Inspiration Ranch Board of Directors, and many others within her community throughout the years.   

Peter Trombley, Western Midstream Partners, LP 

Peter Trombley has served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Western Midstream Partners since November 2019.  He leads a team of attorneys that provides legal support for Western’s commercial and marketing activities as well as its regulatory, land, power, and joint venture needs.  With over 30 years of experience in the energy industry, he has served in various inhouse roles at Anadarko Petroleum and Kinder Morgan and in private practice at Jones Day and McDermott, Will & Emery.  Prior to becoming an attorney, Peter managed regulatory affairs for Shell Oil Company and special projects for American Electric Power.  Peter sits on the Law360 “Energy Law” Editorial Advisory Board and is an active member of the Energy Bar Association. 

MODERATOR: Cary Gray

As managing partner of Gray Reed from 2006 through 2022 and now the firm's chairman, Cary Gray has a unique set of skills he brings to the table. Cary concentrates on growing a modern and democratic partnership – one that puts the clients before anything else.  He describes the Gray Reed values as those of “an old-time law firm,” focusing on the smartest kind of productivity – the kind that promotes their clients’ interests. He is also intensely dedicated to developing and retaining the firm’s top talent, and to attracting other lawyers with complementary strengths and values to help serve the firm’s growing client base.