Former AZA Partner Fletcher Featured on Cover of National Lawyers Magazine

HOUSTON – Former AZA partner Lizzie Fletcher, now a U.S. Congresswoman from Texas’ 7th District, was featured on the cover of the Spring 2019 edition of Best Lawyers’ Business Edition in a story about her path from litigator to legislator.

In the article “In-House Counsel,” Ms. Fletcher discussed her career move from Big Law to litigation boutique Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing, or AZA, where she became the first woman to make partner.

“AZA was one of the leading firms when I went over there and got terrific opportunities to be on the front lines,” she said. “Every experience I had, every case I worked on gave me perspective.”

Ms. Fletcher said she ran for office because she felt the 2016 election results did not represent her community. At the time she thought: “I represent people for a living. How hard can politics be?” In fact, she learned it is very different to go from representing one person or entity to representing 700,000 people.

In one congressional hearing, she had the urge to object as if she were back in the courtroom. But that wasn’t an option. Still, she’s found that the listening skills she developed as a lawyer have served her well so far in politics.

Her partners at AZA all were supportive, she said, even those who didn’t agree with her politically. And one of her goals is to work with people with whom she doesn’t always agree. “There are so many places where we can, and do, work together,” she said. “We need to move beyond labels and start talking to each other like neighbors.”

AZA founding partner John Zavitsanos said the firm is supremely proud of Ms. Fletcher and how hard she is working in Congress. “It’s no surprise that she would appeal to people from both parties both in the election and in Congress. She is thoughtful, measured and thorough. She’s exactly what we need in Washington,” he said.

AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing, is a Houston-based law firm that is home to true courtroom lawyers with a formidable track record in complex commercial litigation, including energy, intellectual property, and business dispute cases. AZA is recognized by Chambers USA 2018 among the best in Texas commercial law; by U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms as one of the country’s best commercial litigation firms for seven years running including 2019; and previously by Law360 as a Texas Powerhouse law firm. National corporate counsel named AZA one of the country’s best in client service among law firms serving the Fortune 1000.