Andrews Kurth Announces New Director of Professional Development

HOUSTON -- Andrews Kurth is pleased to announce that Amy Sladczyk Hancock has joined the firm in the newly created position of Director of Professional Development. Ms. Hancock, who has extensive experience in designing and implementing professional development programs for AmLaw 100 firms, will work closely with the firm’s management to lead the expansion of professional development programs for attorneys in the firm’s nine offices.

The Professional Development Department is responsible for designing and administering skill-building, training and coaching programs to enhance legal skills, ethics, professionalism, client relationship management and practice management skills, business development and marketing skills, understanding of law firm economics, and work-life balance.

“At top-rated firms, attorney development and training is quickly becoming the cornerstone of successful recruiting programs for both law school and lateral attorney recruiting,” says Ms. Hancock. “The commitment of the firm’s leadership, combined with the strong support of the professional development, recruiting and associate committees, will enable us to collaboratively build one of the strongest professional development programs in the industry.”

A 1997 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and an elected member of the Order of Barristers, Ms. Hancock clerked for the Texas Supreme Court and two major Texas law firms in litigation and corporate practices. Upon graduation, she served at the University of Texas School of Law as the Director of Admissions and as a career counselor and placement coordinator. In 1999, she became the Associate Director of Attorney Recruiting for a national legal placement firm based in Houston. From 2001 to 2003, Ms. Hancock served as Director of Attorney Development at Baker Botts, LLP and most recently, as the Manager of Attorney Development at Fulbright & Jaworski.

Howard Ayers, Managing Partner of Andrews Kurth says “With her professional experience and recognition as a national speaker on attorney professional development, Amy brings the perfect experience, knowledge and vision to the firm. Her hiring further demonstrates our commitment to professional development and will enable us to better focus on the needs of our attorneys and better serve our clients.”

For more than a century, Andrews Kurth LLP has built its practice on the belief that "straight talk is good business." Real answers, clear vision and mutual respect define the firm's relationships with clients, colleagues, communities and employees. With more than 400 lawyers and offices in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, The Woodlands, and Washington, DC, Andrews Kurth represents a wide array of clients in all areas of business law.