Our Firm
Community Impact
Built on Trust. Grounded in Service.
At Shields Legal Group, community involvement isn’t a program—it’s part of how we operate. For more than a decade, we’ve partnered with Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) to serve North Texas alongside our employees, families, clients, and peer companies.
We believe business can—and should—be a force for doing good.
Why Community Matters to Us
Our firm was built on long-term relationships, stewardship, and trust. Giving back is a natural extension of those values.
Through our partnership with CFT, we’ve seen how service strengthens not only the community, but our culture and connections inside the firm. It’s helped us better understand what matters most to our people—and given us a meaningful way to act on it.
As Jim Shields often says, “If you’re fortunate enough to succeed in a community, there’s a responsibility that comes with that—to give back.”
Our Partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas
In 2014, we began searching for a trusted organization that could help businesses engage meaningfully with the community. That search led us to Communities Foundation of Texas.
From the beginning, CFT offered more than opportunities—they provided guidance, structure, and a platform to serve with purpose. Shields Legal Group was proud to become one of the first Center for Business Impact cornerstone sponsors, deepening our involvement while supporting CFT’s mission across North Texas.
This partnership has shaped our culture—and continues to guide how we show up.
CFT Partnership Timeline
2014
Shields joins Communities Foundation of Texas
Early Years
Launch of firm-wide volunteer initiatives
Cornerstone Sponsorship
Partnership through the Center for Business Impact
Growth
Expansion of volunteer time-off (VTO) and employee-led causes
Today
Continued service focused on food, education, and housing
Employee Volunteer Program
Through CFT, our employees volunteer with vetted nonprofits throughout North Texas. We support this commitment with a generous Volunteer Time Off (VTO) program and encourage participation from day one.
What’s made this experience meaningful isn’t just the work—it’s doing it together. From food banks to river cleanups and family-friendly service days, these shared moments have become some of our strongest team connections and most lasting memories.
A Culture Shaped by Service
Community involvement is one of our core values, and it influences how we hire, lead, and grow. We look for people who care about serving others—and we support that commitment with time, resources, and opportunity.
As Kathy Hoke shared, “Doing good is the right thing to do—but we’ve also seen that it’s good for culture, good for relationships, and good for business.”
Featured Video: Business as a Force for Good
A brief look at how our partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas has shaped our firm, our people, and our approach to leadership and legacy.
Recognized by Communities Foundation of Texas
Shields Legal Group was featured in the 2025 CFT Annual Report as a long-standing Center for Business Impact cornerstone sponsor and an example of how businesses can build workplaces rooted in purpose and service.
This recognition reflects what matters most to us: consistency, commitment, and showing up year after year.
Looking Ahead
Service isn’t a season for us—it’s a constant. Our work with Communities Foundation of Texas is part of an ongoing commitment to lead with purpose and invest in the communities we serve.
For us, this isn’t a milestone—it’s a continuation.
As David Shields shared, “I hope our firm’s commitment to service is something that outlasts me.”
That belief continues to guide how we serve today—and how we prepare the next generation to lead.
The mission of Shields Legal is to bring strategic business insight, professional judgment and competence to your company’s business and legal issues.