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Womble Bond Dickinson Patent Agent Azie Aziz, Ph.D. has been honored with the 2023-2024 Houston Intellectual Property Law Association’s 2023-24 Excellence in Diversity Award.
The Excellence in Diversity Award recognizes an outstanding Houston-area attorney, corporation, IP professional, or law firm making an impact in the areas of diversity and inclusion in intellectual property law.
Aziz imagined and curated one of the most innovative diversity projects the firm has ever done—the Art & Diversity Initiative.
This annual initiative, which launched in December 2023, is a series of rotating art exhibitions organized to engage with local artists and create visibility for them. The initial installation, ‘Nos Populi: We the People’, exhibits art from diverse Houston artists that highlight the diverse cultures, perspectives, and identities of Houstonians. The exhibition is installed across the main floors of Womble Bond Dickinson’s Houston office.
“Azie has done an outstanding job envisioning and guiding this important project,” said Jeff Whittle, Managing Partner of WBD’s Houston Office. “We believe that this exhibition reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusion to and within the greater Houston community, and we are excited to share it with the community broadly.”
“Azie has done an outstanding job envisioning and guiding this important project. We believe that this exhibition reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusion to and within the greater Houston community, and we are excited to share it with the community broadly.”
Jeff Whittle, Houston Office Managing Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
WBD Partner Karthika Perumal, Ph.D., who received the 2022 HIPLA Excellence in Diversity Award, said, “As a Malaysian immigrant who has made Houston home, Azie personally understands the importance of diverse perspectives and why it diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are so important. The Art & Diversity Initiative has been a passion project of hers and it serves as a reminder of how diverse our community is. It also has given the artists a chance to share their work with a new audience."
“As a Malaysian immigrant who has made Houston home, Azie personally understands the importance of diverse perspectives and why it diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are so important. The Art & Diversity Initiative has been a passion project of hers and it serves as a reminder of how diverse our community is. It also has given the artists a chance to share their work with a new audience."
Karthika Perumal, Ph.D., Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
In addition, Aziz leads WBD’s participation in ADAPT, an industry-wide effort to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the intellectual property profession. ADAPT offers programs designed to improve representation, including:
- The Microsoft #MakeWhatsNext Patent Program, which offers female inventors patent support and mentorship so they can protect their ideas and further their innovation.
- The Street Law Inc. Legal Diversity Pipeline program, which partners law firms and corporate legal departments with nearby, diverse high school classes.
- The Patent Pipeline Program, which offers women and minority candidates training, development, mentoring and career opportunities over a six-month period. Upon successful completion of the program, the candidates will be offered a full-time position with ADAPT partner firms and/or companies as a technical specialist or patent agent.
She also is a long-time mentor with the EMERGE Fellowship Mentor Program, having mentored five college students in the program. EMERGE empowers and prepares high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges across the nation.
Finally, she is an active member of NAPABA (the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association), representing WBD at several of the organization’s annual conventions.
Aziz received her award at the HIPLA Annual Dinner, which took place Feb. 15 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Houston.
