Clark Hill Honors Firm Leaders

At its firmwide retreat in July in Las Vegas, Clark Hill announced the recipients of its internal distinctions for 2024.

Paola Armeni, Member-in-Charge of the Las Vegas office, earned the Pro Bono Award. Linda Watson, Executive Committee Member, Co-leader of the global litigation practice and Chair of the Automotive and Manufacturing Industry group, was named Mentor of the Year. The Senior Attorney of the Year award went to Dallas attorney Audrey Hornisher, and the 2024 DEI award was presented to Ray Koenig, who is also Co-Chair of the global Litigation practice.

“All four of these honorees exemplify the best of Clark Hill,” said CEO John Hensien. “It’s a privilege to celebrate their talent, generosity, and leadership. We thank them for their efforts to enhance the Clark Hill culture with their selfless dedication to advancing our profession and firm.”

In her practice, Armeni litigates civil rights actions and criminal defense cases. In addition to being recognized for her pro bono efforts by Clark Hill, Armeni has been recognized for several years by Legal Aid as part of its 50 or 100 hour club for pro bono hours. She also mentors other pro bono lawyers at the request of Legal Aid of Southern Nevada.

Watson represents businesses and public corporations in business and commercial litigation, supply chain matters, contractual actions, property issues, and copyright and trademark law. She was also the first woman elected to Clark Hill’s executive committee, leads the firm’s DEI initiatives and has co-chaired Clark Hill BOLD, which champions the professional growth and promotion of women in the firm.

Hornisher is a corporate restructuring attorney and focuses her practice on the commercial real estate, manufacturing, and finance industries. She is Chair of Clark Hill’s Associate/Senior Attorney Leadership Forum, Core Team Member of the Commercial Real Estate Industry Team and is a member of the 2024 class of Clark Hill’s RISE Leadership Program. Outside of Clark Hill, she served as President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Young Bankruptcy Association and on the Board of the State Bar of Texas Young Bankruptcy Lawyers Committee in 2023.

Koenig, a trust and estate controversy lawyer, is also on the firm’s Executive Committee. He is an active member of Clark Hill’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and co-chairs the firm’s PRIDE Committee. Koenig recently concluded his term as the first openly LGBTQ president of the Chicago Bar Association, where his theme for his bar year was inclusion in the law.