Law Students

Ex-Big Firm Attorneys Open First Female and Minority-Owned Multi-Office Global Law Practice

By Kat

Two women lawyers have opened a U.S.-based, global law firm, Dziire & Bangudi, focusing on immigration law, international law and global business law.  One of the women, Patrice Dziire, is American, and the other, Mayabanza Bangudi, is from Africa, lending diversity to the new firm's leadership.

The two women, former DLA Piper colleagues, decided to open their own firm in order to be able to practice law in a manner that reflects to a greater degree their diverse experiences as mothers, internationalists, immigrants and young leaders.  "The reason I wanted to start the firm was really to get back to my core passion, which is working on international legal issues," said Dziire, New York University School of Law, J.D. "I worked in human rights in South Africa prior to law school, chose NYU because of its reputation in international law, and joined Shearman & Sterling right after law school to work in international financial law. I see the firm as an opportunity to expose younger lawyers, particularly lawyers of color, to the vibrancy and sophistication of global law."

Dziire and Bangudi are also trying to build their new firm based on a different business model.  "We are not just trying to be lawyers of files or matters, but lawyers who partner with our immigrant and business clients to lead them through their global journeys, challenges, and dreams," said Bangudi, Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. "We want to make a difference in the lives of every client we touch and change the perception that legal representation must be unfeeling to be effective."

For more information on Dziire & Bangudi click here.

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Full post as published by Ms. JD on September 08, 2009 (boomark / email).