Locke Lord Announces Retirement of Yuniedth Midence Steen; Crystal Ford to Join Firm as Public Policy Advisor

(AUSTIN) June 15, 2016 – Locke Lord LLP announces that Government Affairs Consultant Yuniedth Midence Steen retired effective May 31, and that Crystal Ford is joining the Firm as Public Policy Advisor effective July 1. Ford will be part of the Firm's Public Law Practice Group, which since 2004 has consistently been ranked the No. 1 law firm lobby practice in Texas.

Steen joined Locke Lord in November 2000 as a member of the Public Law team. She advocated for Firm clients before the Texas Legislature, administrative agencies and local governments.

As a bipartisan legislative staffer, Crystal Ford's tenure at the Texas Capitol includes serving as clerk for the House Public Health Committee under then-Chair Lois Kolkhorst, followed by serving as chief of staff and chief policy advisor for Rep. Carol Alvarado. She holds a B.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

"We are grateful to Yuniedth for the 16 years of leadership she has provided to our team and our clients, but we understand her wish to spend more time with her family," said Robert Miller, Chair of Locke Lord’s Public Law Practice Group. "At the same time, we are pleased to have someone with Crystal Ford's background and reputation join our Texas Public Law team.

"Crystal's skills and experience make her a natural choice for our Firm and we know she will be an integral part in helping our top-ranked practice assist clients with Texas governmental relations issues."

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service, international law firm of more than 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 125 years and is a worldwide leader in the middle market sector. Locke Lord advises clients across a broad spectrum of industries including energy, financial services, fund formation, health care, insurance and reinsurance, private equity and venture capital, real estate, and technology, media and telecommunications, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory and transactional teams.