Meyling "Mey" Ly Ortiz, Managing Counsel of Labor & Employment, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
Mey is Managing Counsel for Labor & Employment at Toyota Motor North America, where she manages litigation, provides employment advice & counsel, develops training across the organization and catalyzes strategic company initiatives. Prior to Toyota, she practiced in the Dallas office of the largest employment law firm in the world, where she was recognized by D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas for Labor & Employment and a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine. While she was at Littler, she served as the President of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers in 2014.
After having moved to Toyota, Mey was recognized by D CEO as Outstanding Corporate Counsel – an “Up & Comer.” Other accolades include Best Lawyers Under 40 by the State Bar of Texas’s Asian Pacific Interest Section, Top Ten International In-House Counsel between 30 and 39 by the Association of Corporate Counsel, and as one of the 500 Most Powerful Leaders of DFW in 2020 by D CEO.
In addition to being a highly sought-after thought leader and speaker in the law and in business, Mey has received widespread acclaim for her contributions to DFW’s legal community and the community-at-large as a mentor and volunteer (she has been very accurately described as a “pro bono ball of fire”). Mey is active in the legal and philanthropic community, currently serving as Board Chair of the Terry Scholars Fund, providing full-ride scholarships to future leaders of Texas, the Emerging Leaders Board of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and a member of the Orchid Giving Circle. She is also President of the Podium, a non-profit focused on amplifying the voices of Asian American women lawyers, which she co-founded in 2020. Her proudest achievement to date is co-chairing the Equal Access to Justice Campaign for the Dallas Bar Association that raised a record-breaking 1.3 million dollars in spite of the pandemic for legal aid for those who cannot afford legal assistance.
She is the proud wife of a Navy veteran and Ironman, who she met in a running store. While she herself has completed 6 marathons, 21 half-marathons, 3 sprint triathlons and 1 Olympic distance triathlon, it was before she earned her favorite title of all – which is mom. It is with her infant, preschooler and Kindergartener that she spends her time away from the office. When she’s not chasing them, she’s chasing her best self on the Peloton.
Finally, Mey is very influential on social media, with thousands of followers on LinkedIn. She also has a popular personal blog: TheMeybe.com, and since 2021, Mey has been a regular contributor for Above the Law and Attorney at Work.
What is your proudest achievement?
Co-chairing the Equal Access to Justice Campaign for the Dallas Bar Association that raised a record-breaking 1.3 million dollars in spite of the pandemic for legal aid for those who cannot afford legal assistance
What is the most influential piece of advice (professional or personal) you have received?
When sharing setbacks or issues, also share potential solutions. No one wants a problem as a "Just a FYI"
What is/are your favorite extracurricular activity/activities?
Impromptu dance parties with the family in the kitchen when I'm listening to music (that is too loud) while cooking, reading when I'm supposed to be sleeping, and trying out every Omakase I can.
What is one thing people should know about you but don't?
I"m the proud daughter of Kim and Jenne Ly -- refugees who escaped the "Killing Fields" of Cambodia, born a month after they arrived in the United States. My siblings and I are their American dream.
Name your hometown/where you were born/where you grew up and where you live now.
I grew up in Kaufman, Texas - behind the counter of a convenience store, owned and operated by my parents
If you were not a legal professional, what other line of work would you pursue?
If I weren’t a lawyer, I'd be a published author or a professor. Who knows? I might still
Anything else you would like to share?
As chaotic as they are, I am obsessed with my 18 month-old, 5 year old and 7 year old. They have enriched my life beyond measure.
Published August 16, 2023.
