(TEXAS) – Munsch Hardt proudly announces the appointment of Shareholders Claire Carroll (Dallas) and Casey Minnes Carter (Houston) as Co-Chairs of the Firm’s Women’s Initiative Group (“WIG”), succeeding Deborah M. Perry who served in the role since 2018 and will continue to focus on her full-time Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice. In their leadership roles, Carroll and Carter will spearhead programming and mentorship efforts designed to support the advancement, retention, and visibility of women attorneys across the Firm.
WIG’s mission is to equip women attorneys with the tools, networks, and opportunities necessary to thrive – both professionally and personally – within the context of a fast-paced, full-service, middle-market law firm. From leadership development and cross-selling strategies to real-time business development coaching, WIG programming is designed for impact, not just intention.
“With Munsch Hardt celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it's the perfect moment to double down on investing in our next generation of female leaders,” said Carroll. “Our goal is to offer our female colleagues the support and visibility they need to grow and lead their own practices.”
Under Carroll and Carter’s leadership, WIG will continue to expand on the Firm’s core initiatives, including hosting roundtable discussions, interactive panels, client engagement events, and open forums that promote honest conversations about growing a practice, balancing competing priorities, and navigating the challenges unique to women in the legal field. Among this year’s signature events are “speed networking” – an internal pitch workshop where women attorneys repetitively introduce themselves and their practices while gaining exposure to colleagues across offices and sections in an effort to foster internal referrals and increased collaboration.
“As Co-Chairs, we’re committed to making WIG programming practical, engaging, and relevant,” Carter said. “We hope to create real value for the women at our Firm – whether through targeted development, business generation opportunities, or peer support.”
In line with mentoring and developing the next generation of female attorneys, Munsch recently welcomed its second all-female summer associate class in May 2025. To learn more about each candidate for the bar, click here.
About the Co-Chairs
Claire Carroll is a commercial litigator with a track record of success in complex business disputes and real estate litigation. She recently obtained a temporary restraining order in a high-stakes corporate governance matter, prevailed in a landmark contract case before the Texas Supreme Court, and successfully defended a corporate client in an EEOC investigation. Carroll is a leader both inside and outside the Firm, with active involvement in Attorneys Serving the Community, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, and The Real Estate Council’s 2023 Associate Leadership Class. She has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021–2025) and Texas Rising Stars (2022–2024).
Casey Minnes Carter represents clients in high-value, high-complexity litigation across a variety of industries including energy, real estate, healthcare, environmental, insurance, and products liability—both in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. With her sharp litigation skills and a strategic mindset, Carter has secured and negotiated multimillion-dollar judgments, dismissals, and favorable settlements for Fortune 500 companies, privately-held businesses, and individuals alike. And Carter is deeply engaged in the Houston legal community, serving as a Fellow for the Houston Bar Foundation and the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, sitting on the Houston Bar Association’s Gender Fairness Committee, and holding membership in the Houston Association of Women Attorneys. She has been recognized as a Texas Rising Star and a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch honoree for Commercial Litigation (2022–2025).