Global law firm Baker McKenzie is pleased to announce that San Francisco Partner Joyce Smith has been selected as a Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) 2021 Rainmaker in recognition of her success leading strategic client initiatives and developing high-value business offerings that cross practice group lines. Joyce is Chair of Baker McKenzie's California International Commercial Practice Group, Head of the Global IP Transactions and Tax Business Unit, and Member of the Firm's Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee, North America Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and Global Taskforce on Racial and Ethnic Diversity.
Joyce's practice focuses on advising multinational companies on complex global business transactions, transformations and expansion, including tax, corporate and supply chain restructurings, IP migrations, spin offs, M&A, and post-acquisition integrations with a particular focus on the commercial, IP/tech and compliance aspects involved with the design, planning and implementation of these transactions. She has represented clients ranging from start-ups to large multinational corporations in a variety of industries, with a focus on technology, healthcare, and life sciences.
As part of her client service excellence and priorities, Joyce puts diversity, equity and inclusion front and center with clients, designing and implementing I&D initiatives, events, and conversations to help move the needle on inclusion, allyship, and anti-racism within organizations and communities. She has been named one of The Recorder’s Women Leaders in Tech Law (2014) and a Most Influential Black Lawyer by Savoy Magazine (2018).
The 2021 Rainmaker honorees will be recognized at MCCA’s 2021 Creating Pathways to Diversity Conference on October 12 and at the 2021 Diversity Gala on October 13, 2021.
About Baker McKenzie's North America International Commercial Practice Group
Baker McKenzie’s North America International Commercial Practice Group advises clients on critical cross-border legal issues impacting global business strategy. With attorneys located across the United States, Canada and Mexico, our cross-disciplinary, multicultural and multilingual team helps clients to optimize global business opportunities and address strategic, operational and compliance challenges. As trusted advisors on franchising and distribution/brand expansion, international trade compliance, foreign investments, data privacy, aviation/transportation, future mobility, and business transformations, we provide practical and comprehensive legal solutions tailored to clients' unique risk profile and strategic objectives.