Heather Souder Choi

Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Partner

[email protected]

Washington, D.C.

P: +1.202.639.7859
F: +1.202.508.9305
Heather Souder Choi

Heather Choi is Baker Botts’ first-ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Heather is responsible for all aspects of the firm’s global equity and inclusion strategy. She collaborates with firm leadership to integrate diversity best practices, with a focus on shaping programs around recruitment, retention, promotion and client engagement. Heather also chairs the Baker Botts Diversity & Inclusion Committee – working closely with the firm’s executive leadership to drive and accelerate institutional diversity and inclusion priorities.

In her leadership role, Heather serves as an ambassador for Baker Botts and collaborates with clients as they advance their own diversity and inclusion priorities. Heather believes that creating a more equitable and inclusive workforce is paramount, and that where we work should reflect the world around us. She is committed to advancing this principle at Baker Botts and within the legal profession as a whole.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, Heather has spent her entire legal career with Baker Botts. In tandem with her role as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Heather is a leading corporate investigations and competition partner who represents corporations and individuals in complex criminal and civil enforcement matters before the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal and state enforcement agencies. She represents clients across a broad range of industries including automotive, energy, diversified manufacturing, beverage distribution, and technology.

Related Experience

Government Enforcement & Corporate Internal Investigations

  • Halliburton – Represented company in an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission, the UK Serious Fraud Office and the law enforcement authorities of other jurisdictions into alleged improper payments relating to the construction and expansion of an LNG facility in Nigeria.
  • Fortune 500 Energy Company – Conducted internal investigations into potential FCPA violations following whistleblower complaints in India, Bangladesh and Ecuador.
  • Fortune 500 Company – Conducted internal investigations into potential FCPA violations following whistleblower complaints in Vietnam, Thailand and China.
  • Major Beverage Distributor – Conducted internal investigation and represented company in simultaneous investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau into allegations of bribery, wire fraud, and accounting fraud.
  • Major Waste Management Company – Conducted internal audit into compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations following internal whistleblower complaint.
  • Private Wealth Manager – Represented private wealth manager from major financial institution in insider trading investigations conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Founder & CEO – Represented CEO of software company against allegations of violations of the Anti-Kickback Act by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina

Antitrust Investigations & Civil Litigation

  • Auto Parts Manufacturer – Counsel for Japanese auto parts manufacturer and its North American subsidiary in simultaneous criminal antitrust investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, the Japanese Fair Trade Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, and other jurisdictions into alleged bid rigging, price fixing, and other anti-competitive conduct.
  • Auto Parts Manufacturer – Defended Japanese auto parts manufacturer and various wholly-owned subsidiaries in multiple class actions in multi-district litigation against allegations of price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and various state statutes.
  • Fortune 50 Company – Represented company in investigation by the Department of Justice into alleged group boycott through standard-setting activities.
  • In the Matter of Respondent McWane, Inc. – Represented manufacturer of ductile iron pipe fittings in an 8-week "Part 3" trial before the Federal Trade Commission in a matter awarded Global Competition Review's "Behavioral Matter of the Year-Americas." The full Commission subsequently dismissed six of seven conspiracy and monopolization charges against the company. The dismissals marked the first time in nearly two decades that the Commission ruled against itself following an administrative trial in its in-house court.
  • In re Ductile Iron Pipe Fittings Antitrust Litigation – Represented McWane, Inc. in follow-on "copycat" private class actions purporting to represent direct and indirect purchasers of ductile iron pipe fittings, alleging price fixing and monopolization.

Awards & Community

Recognized by Washington D.C. Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” 2014, 2016 and 2017

2015 Leadership Council On Legal Diversity Fellow

News

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Heather Choi

Savoy Magazine

Savoy Magazine

Thought Leadership

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TechGC Virtual Panel: Navigating Challenges to Foster a Culture of Inclusion

Speeches & Presentations

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