(HOUSTON) Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C. (Munsch Hardt), a Texas-based, mid-sized commercial law firm, is pleased to announce that Mary W. Koks has been appointed to Managing Shareholder of the Firm’s Houston office, effective Jan. 1. In this new leadership role, Koks will also sit on the Firm’s Operations Committee, overseeing both business and administrative functions for the Firm’s Houston office and its 58 Houston-based attorneys and staff members.
Koks joined Munsch Hardt in 2005, marking 2020 as her 15th year with the Firm. In recognition of her nearly 40-year career in the environmental arena, Koks is a multi-year honoree on the Texas Super Lawyers List and The Best Lawyers in America®, having also received Best Lawyers’ prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” award in 2017 – a significant accolade only given to a single lawyer in each practice and designated metropolitan area per year.
Koks succeeds Mitch McFarland, who led a successful four-year term in the role. During McFarland’s tenure, Munsch Hardt added 24 new attorneys to its Houston office. McFarland will continue to serve as a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors and Compensation Committee.
“As we continue to strategically grow our Houston office in both size and presence, the Managing Shareholder’s role is essential in furthering the Firm’s goals – both short term and long term,” said Phil Appenzeller, CEO of Munsch Hardt. “Mitch has served with selflessness and led with distinction over the past four years, and we appreciate and recognize his contribution to the Firm’s growth and development. We are excited to have someone like Mary bring fresh thinking and build upon the Firm’s strategic initiatives. Her broad experience will bring a positive, dynamic approach to this role, and I am confident we will continue to take the Houston office to new heights under her leadership.”
As Koks takes on this new role, her vision and goals for the office include expanding our litigation, real estate, bankruptcy, and energy practice areas in the Houston market, as well as maintaining our commitment to the recruitment and retention of diverse team members.
“It is both a great honor and a privilege to have been selected by my peers to follow in Mitch’s footsteps and serve Munsch Hardt’s rapidly-growing Houston office,” said Koks. “Munsch Hardt is committed to its focus on diversity and inclusion, which has greatly enriched our Houston office and our ability to better serve our clients. Built on a reputation for providing practical legal expertise and innovative solutions for our clients, the overall Firm and its Houston office have experienced substantial growth in recent years. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to continue this growth and foster an inclusive workplace for our attorneys and staff.”