Elizabeth Khoury Ali

Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

40 Under 40 Category: Legal Services

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Message from Elizabeth Khoury Ali
Biography:

Elizabeth Khoury Ali is a Partner in Morgan Lewis’s Transactional Finance practice, resident in Houston and New York.  She represents leading financial institutions and corporate borrowers in domestic and international commercial finance transactions. Her practice focuses on syndicated debt financings, asset-based financings, acquisition financings and multinational credit facilities, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) loan transactions, mezzanine financings, and other strategic financings that span a number of industries and business sectors.  Elizabeth handles domestic and international loan workouts and restructurings, and she advises clients in general corporate and compliance matters.

As hiring partner in Morgan Lewis’s Houston office, Elizabeth devotes much of her time to recruiting as well as mentoring and training junior associates. 

Elizabeth is active in various community and minority organizations. She is an elected member of the Texas Bar Foundation and serves at several pro bono clinics offering free legal advice for low-income individuals and veterans as well as women entrepreneurs looking to launch a business.

Elizabeth has attained Massachusetts Super Lawyers “Rising Star” recognition from 2013 through 2017, and Texas Super Lawyers “Rising Star” recognition in 2019 and 2020. She was also named a Law360 “Rising Star” in Banking in 2018.

What is the best professional advice you have been given and how have you implemented it? 

Start building your network and relationships (both internally and externally) from the onset of your career and find a trusted mentor or sponsor within your organization who can advocate for you.  I was involved early on at my firm and with external trade and community organizations like SFNet.  By being involved, I was able to build relationships that have been valuable to both my personal and professional development as a corporate finance attorney.  I was also fortunate to find a sponsor who has been crucial to my career trajectory and success.   

How have you managed to stay in touch with colleagues and clients during this time of working remotely?

It is important to take a few moments out of your day to reflect broadly about how others might be faring in this remote environment.  Everyone has their individual struggles, yet we are sharing as a whole in the experience of unprecedented uncertainty and isolation.  Now more than ever in these challenging times, it is essential to maintain the connection (both personal and professional) with our clients and colleagues.  I will typically set aside some time each week to check in on various clients directly to ask how they and their families are.  I want each and every one of them to know that I am ready to listen, provide support and help find resolutions.

Fortunately, my team keeps in regular close contact through the course of our daily workflow.  We also engage in routine, virtual gatherings to check in with each other, which helps keep up spirit, morale and a sense of camaraderie. No agenda, just open dialogue.  Limiting the groups to a more intimate size has proven to be most conducive to inclusivity, and we have gotten to learn and appreciate more about each other on a personal level.  It’s very positive and beneficial for the collective team, both on the junior and senior level.    

What advice do you normally give to the junior talent you mentor?

Strategic self-promotion at all stages of your career is important to your success.  It is encouraged to express your career objectives to your mentor and supervisor from the very beginning to guide your trajectory.  While pursuing your career goals, learn to embrace change and be flexible.   Success in any endeavor requires persistence. 

How would you encourage young professionals to become more involved in their community or volunteer? How have these activities outside of work helped shape your professional life? 

Being involved in your community can help you (1) further shape your core values, (2) build on your leadership and innovative skills, (3) build on your personal and professional network, and (4) gain a sense of responsibility and empowerment.

My pro bono and community work has helped me find connections and friends with common interests and values.  It also helps me balance work with other activities that I am passionate about while making a tangible positive impact.