champion, leader within legal and nonprofi t organizations, and a litigator. After graduating from Tulane Law School, West prac-
ticed with a number of law fi rms in New Orleans before tak- ing an in-house position with Entergy Corporation, based in his hometown of New Orleans. He was initially a senior counsel for litigation from 1999 to 2004 and then became the corporation’s assistant general counsel for litigation until 2007. He had fi rst chair responsi- bility for all aspects of complex litigation matters and devel- oped a stellar reputa- tion as a formidable trial lawyer. “I still tell young lawyers about Joe West’s
litigation
days. Watching him in trial was a treat, better late!”
than choco- says
Sandra
tion. All seven of their children have a college degree and at least one graduate or professional degree. “I am honored and humbled to have been selected
SELECTED TO LEAD MCCA, AN ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH I HAVE A
HUMBLED TO HAVE BEEN “I AM HONORED AND TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF RESPECT.” —JOSEPH K. WEST
Diggs-Miller,senior counsel for the com- pany. While at Entergy, Joe was an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at Tulane Law School. He joined Walmart’s legal department in 2007. Joe and his wife, Nadine, a practicing Ob-Gyn, were
honored in 2007 for their heroic eff orts to help save the lives of her patients and others during hurricane Katrina. His favorite pastimes include “spending time with my kids, playing golf, reading political, biographical, and his- torical works and—being a typical New Orleanian—I’m a lifelong Saints fan and love to cook.” West comes from an educationally distinguished family—a trait he aims to pass on to his children. His parents were both high school principals and placed a tremendous emphasis on educa-
MCCA.COM
to lead MCCA, an organization for which I have a tre- mendous amount of respect,” West says. “I believe my experiences working in law fi rms and within Fortune 500 corporations will ensure that I focus on collabora- tion with all of MCCA’s stakeholders. While managing outside counsel at Walmart, I learned the importance of appreciating, supporting, and nurturing the tremendous wealth of talent that is represented by diverse attorneys in law fi rms and law departments, and I am confi dent that those insights will help us to achieve MCCA’s mission.”
MCCA’s board chair agrees. “Joe brings a broad range
of experience to this position as an accomplished attor- ney and the knowledge of in-house and outside counsel challenges, as well as the workings of legal associations and nonprofi t organizations,” says Mary Snapp, who is corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Microsoft Corporation. “He also brings extensive govern- mental, corporate, and legal perspectives. T e board and I are excited about this new stage in MCCA’s develop- ment and look forward to working with him. Under Joe’s leadership, we expect MCCA programs and initiatives to grow and continue to advance a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.” D&B
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 DIVERSITY & THE BAR®
47
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