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Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Selects Marshall Gerstein Partner Jonathan Hughley to 2022 Fellowship Program

February 17, 2022

Associates Kwanwoo Lee and Shannon Hughes Mastick have also been selected to the LCLD Pathfinder’s Program for diverse, high-performing, early-career attorneys

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP congratulates partner Jonathan Hughley on his selection to participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellowship Program for 2022. Associates Kwanwoo Lee and Shannon Hughes Mastick have also been selected to the LCLD Pathfinder Program.

Launched in 2021, the LCLD Fellowship Program provides diverse, high-potential, mid-career attorneys at LCLD Member Organizations like Marshall Gerstein with professional development opportunities, leadership training, relationship-building opportunities, and networking access. To be selected, attorneys must demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, significant impact within their organization and community, and a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Marshall Gerstein first became involved with LCLD in 2021 as part of its high priority effort to support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the legal industry and Chicago community. The firm, along with several of its clients, has participated in numerous LCLD activities.

“LCLD has provided us with additional resources that we have leveraged in taking action on our diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments,” said Jeffrey Sharp, managing partner of Marshall Gerstein. “We are pleased to be involved and to be expanding our relationship with LCLD as we continue to learn and experience their holistic approach to helping firms and clients expand their diverse talent and support their inclusion and belonging as members of the legal industry here in Chicago and nationally.”

Jonathan Hughley previously participated in the inaugural Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms’ Pathway to Partnership Fellowship Program class, an organization that seeks racial and ethnic diversity in the legal profession. He has additionally received numerous awards and accolades for his exceptional legal work and service to the broader industry and local community. He was recently named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’s 2021 Notable Rising Stars in Law. Profiles in Diversity Journal also identified him as one of its inaugural Black Leaders Worth Watching. 

Inventors and in-house counsel alike rely on Jonathan’s legal experience and technical background as a mechanical engineer to assist them in developing strategic patent protection solutions. With his substantial knowledge of numerous technological areas, he has earned the trust of leading multinational corporations to protect their most valuable innovations. In addition to his work preparing and prosecuting patent applications involving mechanical, electro-mechanical, and software technologies, Jonathan serves on Marshall Gerstein’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and previously has served on the Chicago Committee’s Associate Board as chair of the Nominations Committee and a member of the Partner Roundtable Committee.

“Jonathan’s contributions to his clients, our firm, and the community are both numerous and immense,” said Sharp. “His selection to the LCLD Fellowship Program is welcome recognition of his excellence as a lawyer and his leadership advancing critical diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout the legal industry. His commitment to not only achieving success for himself and his clients, but to create a path for others in the process inspires us all. We are also pleased LCLD has chosen to recognize Kwanwoo and Shannon to the Pathfinder Program. They, too, are exceptional attorneys whose involvement in this innovative program will undoubtedly shape the future leadership of our firm and legal community.”

Kwanwoo Lee and Shannon Hughes Mastick will take part in the LCLD’s Pathfinder Program. Both have demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout the early stages of their legal careers. Drawing on his electrical engineering degree and related work experience as a technology analyst at Accenture, Kwanwoo prepares and prosecutes patent applications for a broad range of technological innovations in the electrical arts. Shannon focuses her practice on obtaining and protecting intellectual property rights in a post-Alice eligibility environment in the areas of computer science and software, as well as machine learning, neural networks, and other types of artificial intelligence. Through the Pathfinder Program, Kwanwoo and Shannon will gain practical insights and resources to build their professional networks. The program also focuses on foundational leadership skills and strategies for continuous career development.

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