Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2020
In association with:
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Sponsored by
Chambers D&I Awards: North America 2020 Overview
We are delighted to host the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2020 virtually. These awards celebrate the fantastic achievements of firms and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion across the USA and Canada.
Since 2012, the Chambers team have conducted in-depth research and hosted numerous diversity seminars across the US which include events and awards in both New York and Miami.
This year’s awards provide the opportunity to shine the spotlight on role models and trailblazers in pro bono and corporate social responsibility as well as inclusion. The 2019 awards welcomed over 300 attendees with categories covering all strands of diversity and inclusion.
We are delighted to also announce that our charity partner for the awards will be MLDI – Media Legal Defence Initiative.
Our hosts for the awards will be our Diversity & Inclusion Director, Dee Sekar and Diversity & Inclusions Advisor, Luke Vincett.
Time: 02:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.
We are also very proud to announce that the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) will be performing during the virtual awards ceremony. GMCLA sings for a future free from homophobia and all other discrimination. You can learn more about GMCLA, watch their performances and how you can get involved here.
The awards are in association with Kirkland and Ellis.
Sponsored by
The shortlist was judged by the D&I team and USA and Canada Editors. The client referees feedback also forms part of the judging process in choosing final winners. You can find out more about why each winner was selected by reading our post-event summary, here.
Winners and Shortlists for the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2020
Lifetime Achievement Award
Joel Stern – NAMWOLF
Since March 2014, Joel Stern has been the CEO of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, Inc. (NAMWOLF). NAMWOLF, founded in 2001, is a non-profit trade association comprised of over 195 minority and women owned law firms in 42 states. NAMWOLF’S mission is to provide corporations the premier place to go to locate and hire minority and women owned law firms of the very highest caliber.
Prior to his role as CEO with NAMWOLF, Joel headed his own consulting practice, providing a range of services to corporate law departments and law firms. While working at Accenture, he was tasked with leading a team of attorneys to create a ‘best in class’ diversity and inclusion legal program, which he remains very proud of.
USA Shortlists
Private Practice – Individual Awards
Future Leader – Diversity & Inclusion:
Sruti Swaminathan – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Tasha Schwikert – Munck Wilson Mandala LLP
Brandon Román – Squire Patton Boggs
Janea J Hawkins – Jackson Lewis P.C.
CJ Donald – Haynes and Boone, LLP
Allison M. Stewart – Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Danielle Toaltoan – Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Jacquelynne M. Hamilton – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Daniel T. Sylvester – Holland & Knight
TaLona Holbert – Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Lariss Maldonado – Stinson LLP
Teri H. Peeples – Sidley Austin LLP
James Roberts – Burr & Forman LLP
Keola Robert Whittaker – McGuireWoods LLP
Binta Mamadou – Milbank LLP
Winner: Teri H. Peeples – Sidley Austin LLP
Highly Commended: Danielle Toaltoan, Associate – Davis Wright Tremaine
Diversity & Inclusion Lawyer of the Year:
Nandini Nair – Greenspoon Marder LLP
Alex Rene – Ropes & Gray LLP
Francine Griesing – Griesing Law LLC
Michelle Crockett – Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC
Marques P.D. Richeson – Squire Patton Boggs
Arleen Nand – Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Narges Kakalia – Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Rehan Hasan – Hasan, L.L.C
Justin D. Lee – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Brian P. Donnelly – Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Christine Yun Sauer – Robins Kaplan LLP
Kenneth A. Polite Jr. – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Judith M. Mercier – Holland & Knight
Macey Russell – Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
Traci Bransford – Stinson LLP
Yendelela Holston – Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
George Keith Martin – McGuireWoods LLP
Maurice Bellan – Baker McKenzie
Sameer Advani – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Sherrese Smith – Paul Hastings
Winner: Yendelela Holston – Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Highly Commended: Rehan Hasan, Attorney and Managing Partner – Hasan LLC
Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year:
Kirsten Mayer – Ropes & Gray LLP
Neal Manne – Susman Godfrey LLP
Susan M. Finegan – Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Claudia Hammerman – Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Susan Baker Manning – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
George E. “Buddy” Schulz Jr – Holland & Knight
Amy Warr – Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP
John Thompson – McGuireWoods LLP
Cameron Smith – Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Tawfiq S. Rangwala – Milbank LLP
Mary Eaton – Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP
Winner: George E. “Buddy” Schulz Jr – Holland & Knight
Highly Commended: Mary Eaton, Partner – Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP
Outstanding Ally award:
Amanda Greenspon – Munck Wilson Mandala LLP
Charles “Chuck” F. Smith – Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
Robert I. Bodian – Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Christina Melendi – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Mark Hinderks – Stinson LLP
Michael Martz – Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
Regine Corrado – Baker McKenzie
Robert T. Grand – Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Winner: Robert I. Bodian – Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Outstanding Contribution to Furthering the Advancement of Diversity in the Legal Profession:
Maren R. Norton – Stoel Rives LLP
Chanler Langham – Susman Godfrey LLP
Tracy Richelle High – Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Yalonda T. Howze – Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Christopher L. Garcia – Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Joan Haratani – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Patricia Konopka – Stinson LLP
Candace Ali Blydenburgh – McGuireWoods LLP
Alan Mills – Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Karen Wong – Milbank LLP
Kim Walker – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Joseph M. Hanna – Goldberg Segalla
Terrence Franklin – Sacks Glazier Franklin & Lodise LLP
Terrance J. Evans – Duane Morris LLP
William Munck – Munck Wilson Mandala LLP
Michele Jacobson – Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Winner: Joan Haratani – Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Highly Commended: Terrence Franklin, Partner – Sacks Glazier Franklin & Lodise LLP
Private Practice – Firm Awards
Pro Bono Program of the Year:
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Morrison & Foerster
Dentons
Kirkland & Ellis
McGuireWoods LLP
Milbank LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Wilkinson Walsh
Winner: Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Highly Commended: Wilkinson Walsh
Inclusive Firm of the Year:
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Ropes & Gray LLP
Bookoff McAndrews
Labaton Sucharow
Selendy & Gay PLLC
Munck Wilson Mandala LLP
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Holland & Knight
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Baker McKenzie
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Winner: Bookoff McAndrews
Highly Commended: Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Most Innovative Program for Employee Health and Well-being:
Ropes & Gray LLP
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Winner: Ropes & Gray LLP
Highly Commended: Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Veterans Program of the Year:
Hunton Andrews Kurth
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
Holland & Knight
McGuireWoods LLP
Winner: Holland & Knight
Highly Commended: McGuireWoods LLP
Outstanding Firm for Furthering Diversity and Inclusion:
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
Morrison & Foerster
Rivero Mestre
Dentons
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
McDermott Will & Emery
Stinson LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Stoel Rives LLP
Hunton Andrews Kurth
Selendy & Gay PLLC
Duane Morris LLP
Munck Wilson Mandala LLP
Squire Patton Boggs
Hogan Lovells US LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Griesing Law, LLC
Fenwick West
Wilkinson Walsh
Winner: Rivero Mestre
Highly Commended: Kirkland and Ellis
In-House – Individual Awards
Future Leader – D&I:
Noopur Garg, Senior Counsel – Securities, M&A and Project Development, Dominion Energy
Lan Marinelli, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary, HubSpot, Inc.
Margot Miller, Global Legal Head of M&A, Treasury, & Antitrust, Anheuser-Busch InBev
Akshay Verma, Legal Operations, Outside Counsel Management, Facebook, Inc.
Christina Hollander, Senior Counsel, Global Litigation & Competition, Visa, Inc.
Winner: Akshay Verma, Legal Operations, Outside Counsel Management, Facebook, Inc.
Highly Commended: Noopur Garg, Senior Counsel – Dominion Energy
D&I Lawyer of the Year:
Carlos Brown, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief, Compliance Officer, Dominion Energy
Kathy Henry, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Eastern Bank
John Mbiti, Director and Counsel, AM US Credit & Liquid Transact & LatAm, Credit Suisse Asset Management
Kristan Lansbery, Senior Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, Regeneron
Lisa Hageman, General Counsel, Diageo North America
David McAtee II, Senior Executive VP and General Counsel, AT&T
Dev Stahlkopf, Corporate Vice President & General Counsel, Microsoft Corporation
Tracy Preston, Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, General Counsel, Neiman Marcus Group
Lucy Fato , General Counsel, AIG
Anna Richo, Corporate Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer & Corporate Secretary, Cargill
Jana Litsey, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Huntington Bancshares Incorporated and The Huntington National Bank
Alisa Margolis, Director, AWS Tax, Amazon
Winner: John Mbiti, Director and Counsel, AM US Credit & Liquid Transact & LatAm, Credit Suisse Asset Management
Highly Commended: Jana Litsey, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel – Huntington National Bank
Corporate Social Responsibility Lawyer of the Year:
David DePippo, Senior Counsel, Dominion Energy
Marc Vockell, Assistant General Counsel, The University of Texas System
Winner: David DePippo, Senior Counsel, Dominion Energy
Outstanding Contribution:
Monica Lopez Reinmiller, Managing Counsel, Legal Affairs & Compliance, T-Mobile
Lance Wolf, Esq., Deputy General Counsel, Freddie Mac
Laurie R. Bishop, General Counsel, Berklee College of Music
Bradley M. Gayton, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Ford Motor Company
Marshall Sprung, Sr. Managing Director, Legal & Compliance, Blackstone
Phuong Phillips, Chief Legal Officer, Zynga Inc.
Matthew Morningstar, Executive Director & Senior Counsel, Morgan Stanley
Winner: Phuong Phillips, Chief Legal Officer, Zynga Inc.
Outstanding Ally Award:
Sandra Leung, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Bristol Myers Squibb
David Peim, Deputy General Counsel, Honda North America
Michael Schwartz, Senior Vice President, IP Litigation, Xperi Corporation
Winner: Michael Schwartz, Vice President, Patent Litigation, TiVo Corporation
In -House – Company Award
Outstanding Company for Diversity and Inclusion:
Dominion Energy
Freddie Mac
Novartis AG
Columbus Blue Jackets
Nationwide
Liberty Mutual Group
Prudential Financial
LPL Financial
Intel
Zynga Inc.
Cargill
Uber
The Huntington National Bank
Ford Motor Company
Mastercard Inc.
Winner: Novartis AG
Highly Commended: Intel
Canada Shortlists
Private Practice – Firm Award
Outstanding Firm for Furthering Diversity and Inclusion:
Bereskin & Parr
Aird & Berlis
Dentons
McCarthy Tetrault
Winner: Bereskin & Parr
In-House – Individual Award
Outstanding Contribution
Marian Van Hoek, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, BASF Canada
Julia Shin Doi, General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Governors and University Privacy Officer, Ryerson University
Jennifer Suess, SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, RioCan REIT
Winner: Julia Shin Doi, General Counsel and Secretary of the Board of Governors and University Privacy Officer, Ryerson University
In-House – Company Award
Outstanding Company for Diversity and Inclusion:
RioCan REIT
Interac Corp.
Winner: RioCan REIT
Sponsorship opportunities for Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards 2020
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact our Business Development Manager, Egle Maconkaite: Egle.Maconkaite@chambers.com
