Perspectives on DE&I: Candid Thoughts from the Field

• Date: 01 December 2022
• Author: Garry Brown Jr., Nathaniel Lancaster

Published in Landslide, Volume 14, Number 2, 2022. © 2022 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion

thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the

American Bar Association.

52

I

n the wake of recent events of violence and discrimination in our

nation, most industries, including law rms and in-house legal

departments, have begun addressing diversity, equity, and inclu-

sion (DE&I) issues to develop an understanding of the societal

importance and economic value of having diverse practitioners

in the legal practice.

In this article, adapted from the 2021 ABA-IPL Section Annual

Meeting virtual program “Promoting a Culture of Inclusion &

Diversity in IP Law,” ve leading diverse intellectual property (IP)

lawyers share their thoughts on and tips for increasing DE&I in

IP law. Mareesa Frederick (mareesa.frederick@nnegan.com) is

a partner at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner

LLP.Donna Suchy (donna.suchy@collins.com) is the managing

counsel, intellectual property at Collins Aerospace. Dr. Keisha

Hylton-Rodic (khrodic@hyltonrodiclaw.com) is the founder and

managing principal of Hylton-Rodic Law PLLC and president-

elect of the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law

(FADIPL). Jonathan D. Goins (jonathan.goins@lewisbrisbois.

com) is a partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP and

vice-chair of the rm’s IP and technology practice. Angela B.

Freeman (afreeman@btlaw.com) is a partner in the Indianapolis

ofce of Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

Image: Getty Images

Perspectives on DE&I

Candid Thoughts from the Field

By Garry

Brown Jr.

and Nathaniel

Lancaster