Julia A. Simon is a seasoned legal and business strategist with over 30 years of experience in litigation, risk, compliance, regulatory, communications, and governance. She recently joined the nationally renowned litigation firm, Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann where she represents clients in high stakes disputes.   

Julia spent more than 23 years at Mary Kay Inc., a leading global consumer goods manufacturer and distributor. She retired from her position as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary in late 2023. While at Mary Kay Julia oversaw the company's worldwide legal, risk management, corporate governance, compliance, public affairs, corporate communications, and corporate social responsibility functions. She also served as the company’s first Chief Privacy Officer and its Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Under her leadership the company successfully defended and expanded its independent direct seller business model, opened new markets in South America and Europe, issued its first comprehensive global sustainability report, maintained operations during the COVID pandemic, and navigated challenging international sanctions and geopolitical disputes that impacted Mary Kay markets. 

Before her tenure at Mary Kay, Julia was an associate and partner at Locke Liddell & Sapp in Dallas, specializing in commercial litigation and labor & employment law. She began her legal career at McGlinchey, Stafford, Nealy & Lang in New Orleans.

Julia earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. 

She is on the Board of the Center for American and International Law, currently serving as Vice Chair. She also serves on the Board of the National Association of Women Lawyers, the SMU Tower Center, and the UT Southwestern President’s Advisory Board. 

Julia is recognized as one of the Top 500 Business Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth by D CEO magazine. She received the Robert H. Dedman Award for Ethics & Law from the Texas General Counsel Forum. She was spotlighted by Business Insider as one of the most influential businesswomen in the United States and listed as one of the most powerful executives in corporate America by Black Enterprise. She has been recognized many times for her work in advancing diversity and inclusion in the law.