Chicago – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has named Chicago partner Christopher Hines as its 2021 representative to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows Program and associates Ashley Hersutamto (Boston) and Reymond Yammine (Newark) 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, and has trained nearly 2,000 mid-career lawyers since its inception. 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.

Hines is a member of K&L Gates’ IP procurement practice group, where he focuses on counseling high technology companies on the development of intellectual property assets. He has experience advising clients on acquiring and managing patent portfolios in a variety of industries including software, networking and social platforms, blockchain, machine-learning, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things, among others. He also counsels on a wide range of licensing and technology-related transactions, including software licensing, reseller relationships, cloud services, joint ventures, and IP-focused mergers and acquisitions. 

Hersutamto advises investment managers on legal, regulatory, compliance, and operational matters, particularly in connection with the formation and operation of hedge funds, private equity funds, and other types of private funds. She also advises institutional investors with respect to their investments in private fund vehicles and other investment transactions.

Yammine concentrates on complex litigation matters, with a focus on insurance recovery as well as construction disputes. He also counsels on government enforcement matters including compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Pallavi Wahi, K&L Gates’ co-managing partner, United States, and chairwoman of the firm’s diversity committee, commented: “We look forward to continuing our firm’s longstanding relationship in advancing diversity and inclusion with LCLD through Chris’ participation in this year’s program as K&L Gates’ eighth Fellow and Ashley and Reymond’s involvement as our newest Pathfinders. The LCLD programs and other similar programs are increasingly important in the development of talented individuals within the legal profession, and we are proud to have witnessed K&L Gates’ past Fellows and Pathfinders grow immensely as a result of their participation.”

Founded in 2009, LCLD is made up of more than 350 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive legal profession. 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 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.