The Noche de Luz awards were presented at the annual
Noche de Luz Gala on October 22, 2022, at the Dallas Museum of Art from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM.
Congratulations the 2022 Noche de Luz Award Recipients!
| Regina Montoya is the CEO and Chairperson of Regina T. Montoya, PLLC. She is a Harvard-trained attorney who has been nationally recognized as one of the top lawyers in the country, and she is a former award-winning television commentator. Most recently, Ms. Montoya was appointed by President Biden to the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. She is an active part of the community and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), Foreign Policy for America, Every Texan, National Development Council, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Inc., Dallas Education Foundation and Executive Women of Dallas. Ms. Montoya is a National Co-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Forum of the Democratic National Committee. She is the Secretary of the Board of Emerge, and she is a Board member of the Latino Victory Fund. C. She is a Harvard-trained attorney who has Juan Suarez received his Juris Doctorate in 1993 from Cornell University Law School with a concentration in Trial Advocacy and his Bachelors of Arts in Public Administration in 1990 from the University of Oklahoma. In 2000, Juan was the first Hispanic lawyer hired at Southwest Airlines Co. where he served as Managing Director, Deputy General Counsel prior to being named Vice President of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) in 2021. In addition to his dedication to Southwest Airlines, after serving as the 2021 Chair of the Board for Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, Juan serves on the Habitat for Humanity Board and is also a member of the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce and is on the Board of the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation. Berenice Medellín Pruettiangkura is an Associate Attorney at Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith. She effectively advocates for her clients by providing practical and focused representation tailored to the desired outcome for each matter she handles, and the business goals of each of her clients. She counsels clients through all phases of litigation in state and federal courts throughout Texas. Berenice has been named by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch” in the area of construction law since 2021, which was the inaugural year for this category. She is very involved in her community, and currently serves as the DHBA Board Treasurer. She also serves in several DHBA committees including the Annual Event Committee with which she has volunteered for over three years and has been instrumental in planning the Noche de Luz event. She is also chair of the Social Committee, which ensures we connect our members socially and meaningfully. Maria Alonso is an International Trade and Compliance Attorney for Tokyo Electron U.S. Holdings, Inc. (TEL), a semiconductor equipment manufacturer. Maria advises TEL on a broad range of international trade and national security matters. She has extensive experience advising on a variety of trade compliance matters, including trade compliance procedures and trainings, import and export audits, voluntary disclosures to government agencies regulating trade, corporate investigations, and due diligence reviews for trade compliance. Maria also has experience counseling on the potential national security risks of proposed transactions and seeking clearances from CFIUS for transactions subject to review. Maria received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, and her Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from SMU Dedman School of Law. Maria is licensed to practice in Texas. Maria is on the Board of the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association and the Region XII, Hispanic National Bar Association. Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. Founded in 1973 as an industry-focused firm, Epstein Becker Green has decades of experience serving clients in health care, financial services, retail, hospitality, and technology, among other industries; representing entities from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Operating in offices throughout the U.S. and supporting clients in the U.S. and abroad, the firm’s attorneys are committed to uncompromising client service and legal excellence. For more information, visit www.ebglaw.com. The Law Firm Excellence Award is presented to a law firm that has led the Dallas legal community by taking substantive positions on issues of importance to the Hispanic community, advancing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and identifying, sponsoring, and promoting Hispanic attorneys so that they may become part of the next generation of leaders in Texas. |
Estrella Award: This award is presented to an up and coming attorney in the DHBA membership who has distinguished himself/herself within DHBA and in giving back to the Hispanic and legal communities.
Corporate Counsel Diversity Award: This award is given to recognize outstanding achievement by a corporate counsel in demonstrating a sustained and meaningful commitment to increasing and retaining diversity in the legal profession and in creating programs or initiatives that increase the awareness of and commitment to corporate legal diversity.
La Luz Award: This award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the Dallas legal community by serving as a trailblazer in helping light the way for success of the Hispanic community through his or her legal-related contributions.
Law Firm Excellence Award (NEW): This award is presented to a law firm that has led the Dallas legal community by taking substantive positions on issues of importance to the Hispanic community, advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and identifying, sponsoring, and promoting Hispanic attorneys so that they may become part of the next generation of leaders in Dallas.
Volunteer of the Year (NEW): This award recognizes an active DHBA member who has provided continuous exceptional service on DHBA committees or projects, or made other significant contributions to the advancement and growth of the DHBA as an organization.