Michelle is the Managing Attorney of Transcendent Law Group, with more than fifteen years of law firm experience. She made history as the first African American woman to become a Partner in the New Orleans office of an Am200 regional law firm before stepping out on her own to create a practice that reflects both her values and her vision.

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Her education is as expansive as her career. She holds dual degrees, a Juris Doctorate and a Bachelor of Civil Law from the Louisiana State University Law Center, and she studied International and Comparative Law at the Université d'Aix Marseille III in Aix en Provence, France. Those years of study prepared her for a career that bridges worlds, connecting deep legal expertise with a practical understanding of how to serve both companies and communities.

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In her practice, Michelle guides organizations of every size through complex legal matters with skill and clarity. She has become a trusted counsel to charter schools, helping them from their earliest days through every stage of growth. She writes the policies that shape their classrooms, advises on governance, supports administrators, and ensures compliance every step of the way. She also serves as outside general counsel for multiple companies, offering not just legal strategy but thoughtful guidance on management and human resources. Her work even extends into innovation. She created Prosquire, a legal project management software designed to help small and mid-sized firms work more efficiently.

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Michelle is also deeply committed to the economic sustainability and development of New Orleans. She has served as chairperson and member of the Orleans Parish Civil Service Commission and as Secretary of the Downtown Development District. Her leadership in these roles reflects her belief that thriving communities require both strong systems and people who care enough to tend to them.

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At DiversiTea, Michelle has poured all of this experience into creating spaces where women can speak openly, connect meaningfully, and walk away with tools that transform their professional lives. She believes in conversations that lead to action, in mentoring that lifts others to new heights, and in building networks that last.

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Michelle is available to speak on advancing women in professional spaces, creating inclusive workplace cultures, equity in education and professional pipelines, and the power of conversation and connection. She brings years of legal expertise, executive leadership, and community building to these topics, offering audiences both practical strategies and inspiring insights. Whether she is discussing how to navigate male-dominated industries, build workplace environments that retain and uplift diverse talent, or create spaces where dialogue leads to meaningful change, Michelle’s approach is rooted in real-world experience and a deep commitment to equity.

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For more information or to invite Michelle to speak at your next event, please contact email info@diversiteadivas.org.