Boston – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has named partner Christopher Valente (Boston/Washington, D.C.) as its 2022 representative to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows Program and associates Marissa Leon (San Francisco) and Lanette Suarez Martin (Miami) as members of this year’s LCLD Pathfinder Program.

Launched in 2011, LCLD’s Fellows Program works to identify, train, and advance the next generation of high-potential attorneys from diverse backgrounds in order to foster diversity at the leadership levels of law firms and corporate legal departments. Designed to supplement training initiatives at LCLD member corporations and law firms, LCLD’s Pathfinder Program provides participants with practical tools for developing and leveraging internal professional networks, foundational leadership skills, and an understanding of career development strategies.

Valente represents clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States and focuses on complex civil litigation in the areas of commercial disputes, financial services, insurance coverage, and construction. He serves on the firm’s diversity committee and co-chairs its LGBTQ subcommittee.

Leon focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, general corporate governance matters, and venture capital transactions for start-ups and emerging companies.

Martin focuses her practice on financial institutions and services litigation, compliance, and enforcement matters, with an emphasis on fair and responsible lending and servicing.

“We are delighted that Chris, Marissa, and Lanette will participate in the LCLD Fellows and Pathfinder Programs,” said Pallavi Wahi, K&L Gates’ co-managing partner, United States, and chairwoman of the firm’s diversity committee. “All three have shown a real commitment to K&L Gates’ diversity, inclusion and equity efforts, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth in this crucial area both within and outside the firm.”

Founded in 2009, LCLD has grown to an organization of more than 400 members who serve as either general counsel of major corporations or managing partners of the nation’s leading law firms. It is one of numerous diversity-related programs in which K&L Gates serves as a sponsor or participant, along with others such as Diversity Council Australia, Equality Campaign Australia, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), the National Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association, and the Stonewall (UK) Global Diversity Champions Program.

To read more about K&L Gates’ commitment and approach to diversity and inclusion, please visit the firm’s website.