Athena Ponce joined De Leon, Washburn & Ward in 2012, after working for many years in the state legislature. She handles matters involving commercial litigation, business transactions, employment law, construction and real estate, administrative law, and appellate law, while also assisting pro bono clients. A board member of the Texas Law Review, she brings an unmatched level of diligence and persistence to each project, fully committing her skills for each client.

Before law school, Athena worked for Texas State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa for almost a decade, gaining firsthand experience in working with all levels of state and local government as a policy analyst. She worked on criminal justice, education, and state appropriations policies including public school finance reform in 2005, groundbreaking juvenile justice reform in 2007, and Sunset bills reorganizing public safety agencies. She also worked with Senator Hinojosa, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst, and The American Heart Association in passing life-saving legislation that placed automated external defibrillators in schools all over Texas.

Athena enjoys photographing all Austin has to offer, reading, and caring for rescue animals.