Honoring Emily Parker
In honor of Women’s History Month, we are proud to highlight the accomplishments of Emily A. Parker, the Firm’s first female attorney and Partner. Over the course of her career, Emily has excelled in industries and practice areas not traditionally associated with women, breaking through the glass ceiling with her litany of “firsts.”
After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1970, Emily wanted a career beyond the traditional roles for women at the time. She joined Thompson & Knight as the Firm’s first female attorney in 1973 with a degree from SMU Dedman School of Law. She became the Firm’s first female Partner in 1979, and within her first 28 years of practice at Thompson & Knight as a tax lawyer, she became the first woman to serve as Practice Group Leader, Hiring Partner, and member of the Management Committee. Emily briefly left the Firm from 2002-2004 to work for the IRS in Washington, D.C., and very quickly took on the role of Acting Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel. Thankfully, she returned to Dallas and rejoined Thompson & Knight. Following her return, she again served as a member of the Management Committee and served as the Firm’s first female Managing Partner.
Emily is considered one of the top tax litigators in the United States. Historically, tax controversy and oil and gas taxation have been dominated by men, and many of her clients, colleagues, and competitors have been men. Her success, rising to the very pinnacle of her profession, is a testament to her intelligence, professional judgment, and leadership skills. Among her accolades, she was the first woman to receive the “Outstanding Texas Tax Lawyer” award, the highest award given by the State Bar of Texas Tax Section, and in 2016 was selected to deliver the annual Griswold Lecture by the American College of Tax Counsel. She has also been honored by The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA, The Legal 500 US, Texas Super Lawyers®, D Magazine, and as one of the “Most Influential Leaders in North Texas” in The Dallas 500 by D CEO. Later this year, Emily will receive the ABA Section of Taxation “Distinguished Service Award,” which honors individuals with distinguished careers in tax law and who have provided an aspirational standard for all tax lawyers to emulate.
Emily leads not only through example—by being the first to step through so many previously closed doors and inspiring other female attorneys to achieve their own successes—but also by being a dedicated and effective mentor, teacher, coach, and advocate. Emily’s successes made the way much easier for the women who have followed her – she opened doors by proving to be equal, or more than equal, to her male colleagues. She has met the false stereotypes associated with women in the workplace head on and, by triumphing over them, has paved the way for other women to follow in her footsteps.