ABOUT BENDITA

Bendita Cynthia Malakia is a global justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) executive and talent cultivation expert whose aim is to ensure that individuals that are underrepresented, underserved and underestimated can thrive in the workplace. She serves as the Director of Diversity & Engagement at O’Melveny & Myers and the Founder & C-Suite JEDI Consultant at Malakia Group.

Bendita is a catalyst for underrepresented colleagues to be their authentic selves in the workplace and helps organizations structure for their success, including working across difference to create community – by building systems, inspiring investment, and fostering connections. With a people-centric, metrics-driven approach, Bendita also leverages her JEDI, leadership development, and executive coaching capabilities to help clients achieve their DEI ambitions.

Bendita draws on her prior experiences as a chief diversity & inclusion officer, a large law firm lawyer financing projects in emerging markets, in-house counsel at two global financial institutions, and as a diversity consultant for large and mid-size organizations, and a certified professional coach to co-create change individually and institutionally.

Bendita’s thought leadership and advocacy extend to being a prolific writer and speaker on JEDI in the workplace, with specialized capabilities in intersectionality, women of color and LGBTQ+ issues. She is President-Elect of the National LGBTQ+ Bar, and contributes to the development of JEDI more broadly through initiatives bringing metrics and accountability globally. Bendita graduated from Harvard Law School, Barnard College and Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

ABOUT TRAVIS

Travis Torrence is an accomplished lawyer, leader of global legal teams, board member, and philanthropist with a reputation for being a collaborative problem solver, strong communicator, and an inclusive strategic advisor to senior executive teams. As Managing Counsel – Litigation U.S. at Shell USA, Inc., Travis manages a regional team that handles commercial litigation matters for Shell USA’s Downstream, Trading &Supply, and Renewable Energy Solutions businesses. Travis is also a member of the Board of Directors of Premium Velocity Auto LLC, a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell that owns and operates nearly 400 Jiffy Lube service centers.

Travis graduated from Yale Law School in 2005 and received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, in Communication and Political Science from Tulane University. Before joining Shell, Travis was a senior associate at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP (now known as Norton Rose Fulbright). He began his career as a law clerk for the Honorable Edward C. Prado of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Travis currently serves as President of the Board of Directors of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Foundation, Chair of the Yale Law School Fund Board, Vice-Chair of the Hollyfield Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and the Alley Theatre. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Yale Alumni Fund and a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Tulane University’s School of Liberal Arts. He is the 2022 Grand Marshal of Houston’s LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration, a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy, and a former Chair of the Houston Bar
Foundation, member of the executive committee of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas, President of The Arthur L. Moller/David B. Foltz, Jr. American Inn of Court, President of the Bo’s Place Board of Directors, member of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation, and Chair of the Texas Minority Counsel Program.

Travis is a former champion of Dancing With The Houston Stars and an honoree in the Houston Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and has chaired numerous philanthropic events, including the World AIDS Day Luncheon, the Victory Fund Champagne Brunch, the Montrose Center’s Out For Good Gala, Dining Out for Life, the Camp For All Gala, and the Houston Boychoir Luncheon.

ABOUT LOUSENE

Lousene Hoppe is a litigator and criminal defense attorney at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., representing corporations and individuals accused of health care fraud, financial or tax crimes, and criminal felony and misdemeanor cases at both the state and federal levels. She also focuses on foreign corruption practices act (FCPA) investigations and due diligence, false claims act (FCA) litigation, investigations of alleged regulatory or licensing violations, and related commercial litigation matters.

Lousene is experienced in dealing with representatives/agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Labor (DoL), and other government agencies on behalf of clients under investigation for civil or criminal penalties. She assists companies and individuals with responding to grand jury or administrative subpoenas and civil investigative demands (CIDs). Lousene offers practical guidance for those who face exclusion from state and federal programs, including Medicare/Medicaid. Her commercial litigation practice focuses on shareholder disputes, civil fraud and misrepresentation, and the healthcare industry.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

Baker Wotring LLP

Blank Rome

Consilio

District of Columbia LGBTQ Bar Association

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Michelman & Robinson, LLP

O’Melveny Myers LLP

Ropes & Gray

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association and Foundation is proud to honor legal professionals who advance LGBTQ+ equality through words and actions to create more secure and welcoming workplaces. We invite you to join us as we honor our Board Presidents for their efforts to recognize and expand LGBTQ+ legal diversity in the profession.

For more information about sponsoring this and future events, please contact Seth Rosen or Nicole Fox by email (seth@lgbtqbar.org, nicole@lgbtqbar.org) or phone (202.637.7663).