Global law firm Baker McKenzie is proud to announce that Partner Abhishek Dubé has been selected to the 2024 class of Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows, a year-long, professional development program connecting the legal industry's emerging leaders with general counsel, managing partners, and their peers for mentoring and career guidance. In addition, associates Ajanthana Anandarajah and Halli Spraggins have been accepted into the LCLD's 2024 Pathfinders program, a seven-month, multifaceted program designed to provide early-career lawyers with opportunities to learn foundational leadership and relationship-building skills. Both programs aim to engage and advance high-potential lawyers to the next level of their careers.
Abhishek Dubé is a member of Baker McKenzie's North America International Commercial Practice Group and is based in Dallas. He focuses his practice on complex US and international franchise, distribution, and brand expansion matters, including structuring and negotiating domestic and cross-border franchise transactions, registration and disclosure, US and international franchise law compliance, exemptions-based franchising, and mergers and acquisitions. Abhi counsels many leading brands across industries including food and beverage, hotel and lodging, retail, fitness, automotive, and alcohol. He is a Certified Franchise Executive, serves on the boards of the ABA Forum on Franchising's International Division and the International Franchise Association's Diversity Institute, and is the current president of the South Asian Bar Association - Dallas.
Ajanthana Anandarajah is a member of Baker McKenzie’s North America Employment and Compensation Law Practice Group and is based in Toronto. AJ assists clients with all aspects of the employment relationship across Canada. She advises and represents employers in complex issues related to employment standards, wrongful dismissals, human rights, labor relations/arbitration, pay equity, executive compensation, and pension benefits. AJ has an extensive trial and advocacy practice, representing clients in a wide range of labor and employment matters before administrative tribunals, labor arbitrators, and all levels of courts in Ontario. In addition to her practice, she has been the co-chair of the Toronto office’s Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee for the past three years.
Halli Spraggins is a member of Baker McKenzie's North America Antitrust and Competition Practice Group and is based in Washington, DC. She routinely counsels clients on all aspects of the antitrust regulatory and litigation processes. Her experience includes representing clients in litigation, civil and grand jury investigations by federal agencies, and advising on antitrust compliance. She has represented clients in a variety of industries, including technology, financial institutions and consumer products, as well as before the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, US courts and foreign competition authorities.
"Congratulations to these rising stars on their selections to LCLD's esteemed programs," said Marredia Crawford, Baker McKenzie's Chief Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Officer. "Abhi, AJ and Halli exemplify the qualities of future leaders of our Firm, and we commend their continued commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity in the legal profession."
LCLD is an organization of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who have pledged themselves to create a truly diverse US legal profession. Their action programs are designed to attract, inspire, and nurture the talent in society and within our organizations, thereby helping a new and more diverse generation of attorneys ascend to positions of leadership.