Jerry Clements Named 2015 Baylor Lawyer of the Year

May 5, 2015

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Clements, recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers, honored during Austin luncheon

WACO, Texas (May 5, 2015) – Jerry Clements, J.D. ’81, chair of the international firm Locke Lord, has been selected by the Baylor Law Alumni Association Executive Committee as the 2015 Baylor Lawyer of the Year.

Baylor Law School hosted a luncheon May 5 in Austin to honor Clements, who serves on Baylor’s Board of Regents, as a distinguished leader in her professional achievements and service to the community.

“Jerry does it all and has been recognized as a leading light in our profession,” said Brad Toben, J.D., dean of Baylor Law School. “She is one of the few ‘go to’ lawyers on everyone's list. She never fails to impress all whom she meets, both professionally and personally. And she gives to each person, regardless of circumstances, the full measure of her best efforts and service as a stand-out professional and as a caring person.”

“I am humbled and honored to be counted among a group of such prestigious Baylor Lawyers of the Year,” Clements said. “To be the first woman makes it even more meaningful. Baylor Law School gave me a wonderful education, many dear friends and the opportunity to achieve things that this girl from Ft. Worth could never have imagined. For that, I am forever grateful and indebted.”

While practicing law for more than 30 years, Clements has transformed the legal landscape and forged a path in the world of women lawyers. As chair of Locke Lord, with approximately 1,000 attorneys and 23 offices worldwide, her consistent determination and integrity motivates colleagues to follow her example.

Clements specializes in commercial litigation, working as a top litigator with clients in Fortune 500 companies and key industry players around the globe with an impressive record of resolutions. She oversees operations of Locke Lord through regular meetings with the executive leadership team, and she encourages teamwork among lawyers across the entire firm. She also played the lead role in the recent merger between Locke Lord and Edwards Wildman Palmer as she collaborated with partners to ensure integration, cross-selling and teamwork among all offices.

Recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers by the National Law Journal, her commitment to diversity in the legal arena catches national attention. Clements is dedicated to the improvement of trial advocacy and legal justice through her fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers. She was also named one of the 30 Extraordinary Women in Texas by Texas Lawyer.

Clements is a loyal supporter of her alma mater. She is a lifetime member and past president of the Baylor Law Alumni Association. She stands behind the mission of Baylor Law School in developing lawyers who are practice ready, committed to integrity and strive for academic excellence. As an active member of the United Way of Central Texas and Dallas, Clements advances initiatives for opportunities for all through education, job stability and personal health. Through her service on the board of directors of the National Women’s Council, Clements empowers women of all backgrounds through mentorship and support. She was selected as a Yellow Rose of Texas by former Gov. Rick Perry for the positive impact she left on the state through her compassion and initiatives to improve the lives of others.

“On top of all Jerry has achieved professionally, she is also a very good and decent person,” Toben said. “She loves and is committed to her husband and family. She is sincere in word and deed. She is a woman of character and integrity. She has an abiding faith in God and in people. She is self-effacing and looks always to lift up others. Jerry is not only one of the finest lawyers going, but even more importantly, one of the finest persons whom I have ever had the privilege of knowing.”

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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

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Established in 1849, Baylor Law School was the first law school in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school has more than 7,200 living alumni. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Baylor Law School has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide on a career in public service. The Law School boasts two Texas governors, many members or former members of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court, members of the Texas Legislature, and many bar leaders, including two former presidents of the American Bar Association among its notable alumni. In its law specialties rankings, U.S.News & World Report ranked Baylor Law’s trial advocacy program as the third best in the nation. Learn more at www.baylor.edu/law.