Finnegan Recognized by Leadership Council for Legal Diversity as a 2024 Top Performer and a Compass Award Recipient

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2024

WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan is proud to announce that the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity (LCLD) has recognized the firm as both a 2024 Top Performer and a Compass Award winner. Committed to building a more equitable and diverse legal profession, LCLD is an organization comprised of over 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners, who have pledged themselves to further the mission of the organization through targeted diversity initiatives that promote inclusiveness and create tangible results.

The Top Performer award recognizes the firms and corporations who were the most engaged with LCLD’s programs, activities, and initiatives throughout the year. The Compass Award honors the individuals, firms, and corporations that fulfilled each of the following requirements in a single calendar year:

• Member (Managing Partner or General Counsel) engagement with LCLD;
• Nominate an LCLD Fellow;
• Nominate an LCLD Pathfinder;
• Participate in an LCLD pipeline program (the 1L Scholarship Program or the Success in Law School Mentoring Program)

This year, three Finnegan attorneys were selected to participate in the 2024 LCLD cohort, including Safiya Aguilar, Lynn Parker Dupree, and Alexander “Zan” Newkirk.

Lynn Parker Dupree, partner and leader of Finnegan’s privacy practice, will participate in the 2024 Fellows Program. She focuses her practice on privacy compliance, governance, and counseling for clients navigating the dynamic legal and regulatory privacy landscape. Her years of privacy experience provide her with the sharp ability to provide actionable privacy advice and guidance, and a keen understanding of the ways technology can be used to protect individual privacy. The Fellows Program is designed for high-potential attorneys with at least eight years of professional experience who demonstrate a commitment to attorney mentoring, and are on a path toward leadership. Fellows participate in a year-long professional development curriculum that includes class conferences, soft skills training, and peer group projects designed to foster collaboration and networking.

Safiya Aguilar and Zan Newkirk will participate in the 2024 Pathfinder Program. Safiya is a former Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) law clerk and patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who uses her extensive knowledge of patent office practice to help firm clients navigate post grant proceedings and various aspects of pre-trial preparation, including validity and infringement analyses. Zan focuses his practice on patent litigation, prosecution, and client counseling in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and medical device areas. The goal of the Pathfinder Program is to equip participants with the necessary practical tools, such as foundational leadership skills, career development strategies, and tips on building relationships and professional networks, as they journey through their careers.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are the cornerstones of Finnegan’s mission and success, evident by the firm’s commitment to DEI focused programs and initiatives. From participation in external programs such as LCLD, to internal initiatives such as Finnegan FORWARD and the Finnegan Diversity Scholarship, Finnegan takes great pride in the efforts the firm has made to make the firm and the greater legal community a more diverse and inclusive place. Finnegan is frequently recognized for its DEI efforts by organizations, including Mansfield Rule, Law360, The American Lawyer, and Seramount.

Contacts

Erika H. Arner, Managing Partner
erika.arner@finnegan.com

Anand K. Sharma, Chair
anand.sharma@finnegan.com

About Finnegan
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP is one of the largest IP law firms in the world. From offices in Atlanta, Boston, London, Munich, Palo Alto, Reston, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington, DC, the firm practices European, German, UK, and U.S. IP law. In addition to services related to all aspects of patent, trademark, and copyright law, including counseling, prosecution, licensing, and litigation, Finnegan provides counseling and litigation services in advertising, privacy, and a wide spectrum of additional IP-adjacent commercial matters, including trade secrets, international trade, the Internet, e-commerce, government contracts, antitrust, and unfair competition. For additional information on the firm, please visit www.finnegan.com and follow us on LinkedIn.