Joyce currently serves as Co-Managing Partner – External Affairs for the firm, prioritizing lateral recruiting, marketing and business development, innovation, strategy, and growth. She is also Chair of the IMPACT Committee, a position she has held since 2017, and leads the Finance Section at the firm.
Joyce has maintained a wide and varied finance practice for over 20 years. Her clients include domestic and foreign banks, private lenders, administrative agents, and public and private companies who are involved in secured and unsecured financings, such as asset-based loans, syndicated, club and single lender credit facilities, real estate loans, acquisition financings, letter of credit facilities, equipment loans, note purchase and sale transactions, leasing transactions and debt workouts and restructurings. She is a trusted advisor who guides clients as they navigate complex transactions from term sheet to closing.
Before joining Porter Hedges, Joyce served as Associate General Counsel in the legal department of a NYSE-listed company at its corporate headquarters in Houston. In that capacity she handled various corporate matters, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions.
Honors & Recognitions
Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
Houstonia Magazine, “Top Lawyers - Banking and Financial”
Law360, Named as “Minority Powerbroker”
Law360, Named as “Female Powerbroker”
Texas Super Lawyers, Banking - Top Women Attorneys in Texas
Texas Rising Stars, Banking
State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section (APIS), Champion of Diversity, 2025
Practice Areas
Credentials
Education
J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School, 1997
B.A., Vanderbilt University, cum laude, 1994
Harvard Law School Executive Education, LCLD Institute for the Modern Inclusive Leader, 2024
Harvard Law School Executive Education, Women's Leadership Initiative, 2019
Admissions
Texas
Experience
Joyce’s representations have included the following:
- Administrative Agent in a syndicated revolving credit facility to a private equity fund.
- A marine transportation company in a $295,000,000 secured term loan facility.
- One of the top asset-based lenders in the United States with more than $10.0 billion in commitments.
- Administrative agent and lead-left arranger in infrastructure financing for the development and construction of gas storage facilities.
- Lessor, administrative agent, and lead arranger in a $600 million synthetic lease for a headquarters building.
- Equity investors in a liquefaction project and related due diligence matters.
- Buyer/borrower in the acquisition of Tesoro Hawaii by Par Petroleum Corporation.
- Lender in financings involving a regasification project and related collateral.
- Sale-leaseback transaction for retail convenience store operator.
- DIP financings.
- National bank’s Corporate Trust Department in its capacity as indenture trustee, collateral agent, and depositary bank in numerous capital market transactions.
Newsroom
News
Media Mentions
Speaking Engagements
Affiliations
State Bar of Texas, Member
American Bar Association, Member
Houston Bar Association, Member
Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
Breakthrough Houston, Advisory Board Member (2023-current) and Board of Directors and Executive Committee (2019-2023)
Asian American Bar Foundation, Advisory Board Member (2023- current) and Chair of the Board of Trustees (2019-2022)
Asian American Bar Association of Houston, Chair of the Board of Directors (2014 and 2015) and Director (2011 and 2012)
Asian American Bar Association of Houston, President (2010), President-Elect (2009), Vice President of Programs (2008), Gala Co-Chair (2007)
Judy’s Mission Possible Luncheon, Host Committee (Spring 2017)
Women’s Finance Exchange, Houston Chapter, Board Member (2008-2009)
Child Care Council of Greater Houston, Inc., a United Way Agency, Board Member (2007-2009)
Vanderbilt University, Oak Leaf Society
Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, 1983 Society
