Emily Reed and Katy Jo Richards Selected for Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation LEAD Academy Class of 2026

Dykema is proud to announce that Emily Reed and Katy Jo Richards were chosen by the Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation to be participants in its LEAD (Lead. Empower. Advance. Develop.) Academy Class of 2026. 

The LEAD Academy aims to assist women attorneys in attaining the highest level of success in their firms and organizations, their communities, and the legal profession by teaching class members to lead in a way that is authentic and effective; empowering themselves with self-awareness and self-confidence; advancing in their firms or organizations; and developing robust professional networks. 

Reed focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and corporate governance matters. She assists clients on both buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions and works with clients across a wide range of industries, including food and beverage, healthcare, banking, SaaS, manufacturing, and investment management. Additionally, Reed has experience in private securities and investment transactions. She has assisted both investors seeking to buy into a private company, as well as private companies offering investment opportunities to employees and other third-party investors.

Reed earned a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a B.S. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Richards focuses her practice on employment and workplace litigation, representing clients in both state and federal court in a variety of matters. She also has experience advocating for general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and project owners in various capacities, including litigation, negotiations, contract review, and appeals. Richards previously served as a public affairs intern for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Richards earned a J.D. from Baylor University School of Law and a B.A. from Texas A&M University.