Penny Reid Selected as DAYL’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Mentor Award Recipient

Penny Reid is General Counsel and Partner in Sidley Austin’s Dallas office. She earned her B.B.A. with honors from the University of Texas in 1986 and she earned her J.D. from the University of Texas Law School in 1989, also with honors. Penny focuses her representation on accountants and professional liability, commercial litigation, securities law, and shareholder litigation. In addition to her trial accolades, Penny has also argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals and the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas.

Penny Reid has had an impressive career, where she practiced in New York for eight years prior to returning to Dallas in 2012. She has represented large clients such as Vivendi, General Motors, THL Funds, and many others in class action and multi-district litigation actions. In addition to shining brightly outside of her firm amongst co-counsel, opposing counsel, the court, and clients, Ms. Reid has also taken it upon herself to serve within her firm.

Ms. Reid is a mentor and a leader of the Sidley Trial Academy, where she assists with teaching valuable trial skills to junior attorneys at her firm. Additionally, she is a Chair of the Recruiting Committee and on the Associate Compensation Committee at her firm.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Reid somehow finds the time to mentor attorneys both professionally and personally. She has inspired and served as a role model for countless young lawyers, who aspire to her level of success, compassion, diligence, and work ethic. Many of her mentees describe her as engaging and always willing to provide meaningful direction. She challenges her colleagues and junior associates to take on tasks they may not otherwise be willing to and encourages first year associates to “speak up” and see their worth.

Ms. Reid professionally mentors the associates and junior partners at her firm constantly. She helps staff cases and provide opportunities that attorneys communicate to her they want. She also encourages her female colleagues to not compromise who they are to fit the mold of a male-dominated practice. This shines through her involvement in the firm’s recruitment and summer associate program, as Ms. Reid takes the time to have individual lunches with each of the summer associates and continues to follow up with them well after the summer work is over.

In her nomination packet, Tiffanie Limbrick described how Penny Reid was an invaluable resource to her in the midst of a difficult pregnancy and resulting post-partum depression. She credits her success to balancing the new challenges of life and work to Penny’s guidance and encouragement. Another author of a letter of recommendation, discussed how she no longer works with Penny, but that her mentorship never stopped. These are true examples of a mentor who is dedicated to helping others, and not just themselves.

Penny has an extensive record of service to the community. She has served in many roles and capacities throughout Dallas and in New York. She currently serves as a member of the New York Make-A-Wish Advisory Board, 1st VP Board Officer for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and is a sustaining member of Attorneys Serving the Community. She is a fellow of the American Bar Association, Litigation Counsel for America, and the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. She frequently writes and speaks on issues relating to arbitration and complex litigation for various bar organizations.

Penny is not only very successful in her career, but she also utilizes her position within her firm to help young attorneys grow. She has an interest in helping women rise to the top and ensuring that they stay there. She selflessly devotes her time and efforts to improving the practice of law for young lawyers and helping them strive to be the best version of themselves. For these reasons, Penny Reid was selected as the 2019-2020 DAYL Outstanding Mentor Award recipient.