As a first-generation college student from a small North Texas town, Jenn Bickley ’06 considered becoming an agricultural extension agent after completing a bachelor’s degree in agricultural development from Texas A&M.
People in her circle encouraged her to become a doctor or a lawyer instead, and she decided to pursue a J.D. degree. “A person can do so many different things with a law degree, and I decided to see if I could do it,” Bickley said.
While her soldier fiancé prepared to deploy to a war zone with the U.S. Army, Bickley readied herself to attend law school. “South Texas College of Law Houston was the best choice for me,” she said. “I knew I would get a great education, and I could live rent-free with my in-laws in Houston.”
Bickley became a 1L and an Army wife at the same time, getting married during her first week of law school. Her husband was heading off to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, and she jumped into her studies.
At the start of law school, Bickley’s focus was uncertain. Then she discovered advocacy. “I loved to write, and it seemed like a good fit,” she said. “Prof. Gerald Treece, Dean James Alfini, and South Texas Law really put me on a trajectory. I learned I could be successful if I worked hard.”
Planning on a career in litigation after graduation, she served for two years as a briefing attorney for Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina ‘89.
“I never imagined myself arguing cases and points of law with a Texas Supreme Court Justice, but there I was,” said Bickley. “That was Justice Medina’s expectation of his clerks, and it was a bit unreal at first.” Eventually, she became accustomed to the process and enjoyed it. “He has become a great friend,” she said.
After clerking for Justice Medina, Bickley spent a few years at a boutique litigation firm. She then became an associate with Chamberlain Hrdlicka, where she was trained and mentored by Kerry Williams, a shareholder with a portfolio of international oil and gas clients. Bickley soon became outside counsel to the massive Japanese engineering firm MODEC — one of her mentor’s clients — and its many global subsidiaries. She advised them on contract disputes, trade sanctions, anti-corruption laws, and other issues related to their business.
That experience allowed Bickley to make the transition from outside counsel to the first-ever general counsel and head of compliance at SOFEC, Inc. — one of the MODEC companies that creates highly specialized, extremely precise engineering solutions for the offshore energy market.
“I think of my engineering colleagues as the brain surgeons of the oil and gas industry,” Bickley said. “I came on board to put processes in place that make operations smoother. Doing that allows more time for handling complex issues and being proactive. Not only do I negotiate deals and contracts, but I also make sure the deals are in line with all the regulations and ensure we maintain a high degree of accountability to the board of directors.”
Working out of the firm’s Houston office and frequently traveling to corporate headquarters in Tokyo, she spends a great deal of time analyzing trade sanctions while also overseeing contracts, project-related disputes, compliance, risk mitigation, and intellectual property issues.
“I wear many hats in this position,” she said. “I stay challenged all the time in this very fluid and dynamic business environment.”
Bickley spends much of her personal time helping others. In addition to family-oriented activities like Little League, Boy Scouts and PTA, she serves on the board of a nonprofit that helps military veterans transition into civilian life. “NextOp helps our enlisted men and women find their place in the world outside the military,” she said. “I saw how difficult that process was for my husband. We want to make it easier for veterans to find good careers and enjoy a healthy, productive life.”
Whether she is engaging with the complexities of international business or encouraging employers to hire veterans, Bickley finds joy in making a difference. Her plans include continuing with service-related work and hopefully returning to South Texas Law as an adjunct professor and advocacy coach when the demands of family life allow it. “It’s so great to know that what you are doing matters,” she said.
