Celebrating Black History Month | Matthew Bourda
Associate, Parkins & Rubio LLP
The successful implementation of DE&I initiatives at any corporation begins from the top down. A key factor in these initiatives is having diversity in leadership and advocates to support them. Diversifying the turnaround and restructuring field has long been a goal of Matthew Bourda, Parkins & Rubio LLP (TMA Houston).
Bourda had a wholesome upbringing. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, he was the first in his family to go to college and on to grad school, paving the way for his younger sister, who is currently in her second year of law school. Growing up, his love for the great Mr. 007 himself, James Bond, steered him to want to become a secret agent, but by middle school, that evolved into wanting to be an ophthalmologist. Once Matthew got to college, he did a complete 180 when he realized that science wasn’t his strong suit and began his journey in law.
After interning for Bankruptcy Judge Jeff Bohm (S.D. Texas – retired), Bourda saw value in choosing bankruptcy as his practice. When asked if it was easy for him to enter the field, he replied, “Not at all, and there are only a handful of attorneys who look like me that do Chapter 11 restructuring in Houston. I had to clerk my way into the Chapter 11 world. In other words, I obtained a clerkship from Judge Bohm during his last months on the bench before being able to break into the Chapter 11 world.”
Bourda shared some of the challenges he faced: “Learning how to network, learning how big firm life works, learning how to deal with imposter syndrome, and learning how to navigate microaggressions in the workplace, which I deal with today still.”
Despite these challenges, he has been able to find gratitude in his work by helping companies get back on their feet and by helping individuals obtain a fresh start financially.
Bourda credits his involvement in TMA with helping him find new opportunities. “I’ve been able to meet other attorneys and financial advisors in my field. This has included having the opportunity to work on cases by referral and also being able to bring financial advisors into cases in which I file. I’ve been involved [in TMA] since early 2022. Our current chapter president, Deirdre Carey Brown, nominated me for a director position at the end of 2021, and I happily accepted,” he said.
Bourda is big on giving back and seizes every opportunity to do so. He’s involved in various organizations that focus on diversifying the field of law. Bourda knows the importance of being able to walk into a room and see someone who looks like you. He also believes that advocates to help put well-qualified people of color in these positions are few and far between, so he has become one—taking it upon himself to visit colleges to speak to students of color about seeking a path in restructuring and turnaround.
Bourda said, “The restructuring field is small, and the number of lawyers of color in it is even smaller, but I would tell those aspiring lawyers not to give up and not to let anyone tell them that bankruptcy is not for them. They, like myself and others, belong in this field. I think every aspiring lawyer should consider bankruptcy as a practice. It’s one of the few practice areas that touch everything, it changes so often, and it’s extremely interesting.”
Bourda said businesses could elevate their diversity efforts “by forming DE&I committees (having allies and those who listen without any offense or biases), incorporating DE&I policies in your hiring process, seeking talent outside of your networking pool, and going to where students of color are to recruit.” Bourda also offered some advice for those of color already in the turnaround and restructuring field: “When you make it to the top don’t forget to send the elevator back down to help someone else up to the top.”