Yvette Ostolaza

Ostolaza has distinguished herself at the highest echelons of law firm practice. An expert in commercial litigation, securities law and regulation, she’s successfully represented clients across industries, from HalliburtonHAL +2% and Southwest AirlinesLUV -1.2% to NPR and Zale Corporation.

But one of her biggest points of pride is the trail she’s blazing for young attorneys coming up behind her—particularly Latina lawyers, who currently comprise only 2% of the profession. As Sidley Austin’s management committee chair, she’s the first Hispanic female leader of any Am Law 100 firm.

“I am proud of this accomplishment and the fact that Sidley, a 158-year-old firm, was the first to do so,” Ostolaza says. “My hope is that diverse lawyers entering the legal space today will have no memory of this accomplishment, because leadership of Big Law is reflective of the clients we serve.”