Page 27 - Briefcase Volume 36 Number 2
P. 27

MUHAMMAD “MO” AZIZ ’03






                                                        As a personal injury lawyer and partner at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols,
                                                        Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz, Muhammad “Mo” Aziz represents clients involved
                                                        in high-profile tragedies on a local and national scale.
                                                         Among many other cases, the 2003 alumnus of the University of
                                                        Houston Law Center currently represents homeowners impacted by
                                                        Hurricane Harvey, sexual assault survivors who were abused while
                                                        competing for USA Gymnastics and victims of the mass shooting in
                                                        Las Vegas.
                                                         “I develop a pretty close relationship with my clients,” Aziz said. “I really
                                                        try to empathize with their situation. It gives me the energy and dedication
                                                        to work the way I work.
                                                         “I love handling these type of cases. They take a toll on you because you
                                                        keep on seeing people who have gone through probably the worst thing
                                                        that’s going to happen to them in their lives, whether they have lost loved
                                                        ones or not. It’s difficult, but it’s rewarding.”
                                                         Aziz is a member of several legal organizations, including the
                                                        American Board of Trial Advocates, Houston Bar Association, and Texas
                                                        Bar Foundation. Even with his heavy case load, maintaining an active
                                                        presence in the legal community is a priority for Aziz. He encourages
                                                        other attorneys to consider devoting their time to law beyond their
                                                        everyday practice.
                                                         “You always want to give back to the community in some way that you
                                                        can,” Aziz said. “It keeps you involved in other activities that involve the
                                                        law and other attorneys. It’s important for people to be involved in these
                                                        activities because it really helps the community and it helps your career.
                                                         “Lawyers get a lot of criticism, and there are a lot of negative sentiments
                                                        out there. It’s good for the community, our city and there are a lot of other
                                                        positives to being involved with the legal community, like promoting our
                                                        profession.”
                                                         Attesting to his devotion to the legal profession, Aziz has received
                                                        numerous awards and accolades during his career. He was selected to the
                                                        Top 100: Texas Super Lawyers list in 2017 and has been selected to the Top
                                                        100: Houston Super Lawyers list since 2016 and the Texas Super Lawyers
                                                        list since 2013. He was recently given the Distinguished Member Award
                                                        from the South Asian Bar Association.
                                                         “It means a lot, and it validates all the hard work,” Aziz said. “There’s a
                                                        lot that goes on behind the scenes with what I do. Ultimately you get a case
                                                        to trial or mediation, but in some cases there are hundreds or thousands
                                                        of hours spent in preparation and getting ready for depositions. It takes a
                                                        lot of background work, so it means a lot that after years of experience, my
                                                        colleagues recognize the hard work. It’s very rewarding.”
                                                         As an attorney from an underrepresented background, Aziz said
                                                        diversity among practicing attorneys gives strength to the legal profession
                                                        and society in general.
                                                         “Diversity is important in every aspect of our lives,” Aziz said. “A lack of
                                                        diversity breeds closed-mindedness and stereotyping. The same principles
                                                        apply to the law. Houston, to me, is the best city in the country and the
                                                        world because when I go try a case, we bring a jury panel in and see all
                                                        aspects of the community and all sorts of people.
                                                         “It’s important to have diversity in the legal community. Ultimately,
                                                        it comes down to your qualifications and hard work. But I think it’s
                                                        important that our city and our legal community keep on growing and
                                                        flourishing, and diversity is part of that.” ■

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