Belinda Martinez Vega

Belinda Martinez Vega is a partner and co-chair of Venable LLP's West Coast litigation group. Her commercial litigation practice includes matters of unfair business practices, securities, intellectual property, real estate, contracts, and fraud.

"I really enjoy helping clients. I know it sounds geeky, but I like getting academic," said Vega, explaining that even after 20 years in practice, she still sometimes pulls an all-nighter to write briefs.

She counts among her recent victories the dismissal of all claims in a fraud lawsuit brought against Las Vegas Resort Holdings LLC, which owns Sahara Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Hongfei Qu et al. v. Henry Global Consulting, et al., Docket No.: JAMS, Ref No. 1220058323; BC685035 (L.A. Sup. Ct., filed Nov. 30, 2017). Chinese nationals who invested in the hotel's redevelopment alleged securities fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, initially claiming $135 million in damages.

Beyond the office, the Los Angeles native contributes significant time to nonprofit work. Vega is a mayor-appointed member of the board of airport commissioners for the Los Angeles World Airports. She also serves on the board of directors for the Los Angeles chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and sits on the executive board of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust.

Vega often speaks on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the boardroom and workplace, including at the Minority Corporate Counsel Association's Virtual Global TEC Forum last year. Government mandates for diverse boards of publicly held companies, like state Assembly Bill 979 and state Senate Bill 826, help nudge entities toward equality, she said.

"It's controversial. We don't like to talk about 'quotas,' but it's important to set goals," she said. "There's a lot of work to be done."

- JenniferMcEntee