Holland & Knight - Diversity & Inclusion: Inclusion in Action - 4th Quarter 2020 by Holland & Knight

INCLUSION IN ACTION Holland & Knight's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Newsletter Fourth Quarter 2020

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Welcome to Inclusion in Action. In this quarterly publication, we highlight details about the firm's ongoing efforts to build a more equitable, inclusive and diverse organization. If you have any questions, please contact our Diversity Partner Tiffani Lee or Business Analytics and Diversity Manager Hamlet Bonilla.

STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST RACISM A Conversation with Ben Crump, October 2020 With the heartbreaking killings of unarmed Black citizens, America's conversation about racial equity has become a global movement. At the pulse of that movement are the families seeking justice through attorney Benjamin Crump. Mr. Crump has become known as the go-to attorney for racial justice and represents the families of Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and Jacob Blake. Holland & Knight Government Section Leader Karen Walker spoke with Mr. Crump about his mission and his work in the webinar, which showed how his legal acumen has ensured that those marginalized in American society are protected by their nation's contract with its constituency.

Black Male Lawyers Detail Racial Bias Inside and Outside BigLaw, October 2020 Partner Duvol Thompson was interviewed for a Westlaw Today article discussing "176 Years Later: Real Life Stories of Black Male Lawyers in Corporate America," a recently issued report compiled by 1844, a group of Black male lawyers, to highlight members’ experiences with systemic racism inside and outside the legal profession. The name "1844" refers to the year when Macon Bolling Allen became the first Black person to be licensed as a lawyer in the United States. Mr. Thompson is a member of the group and was one of the authors and editors of the report. Among the findings were that 30 percent of members had changed jobs in the legal industry to escape bias, racism or a hostile work environment, and 42 percent had been called a racial slur in the last five years. Mr. Thompson explained that the report serves as a reminder of the persistence of racism in the workplace. "This is something that we as Black attorneys, and Black people generally, deal with every day," Mr. Thompson said. "That may be the first time some partners saw a George Floyd, but we've been seeing this for years. It's not anything new to us."

Latino Leaders Fight California's 'Unbelievably Regressive' Climate Policies, November 2020 West Coast Land Use and Environmental Group Leader Jennifer Hernandez was featured in a Forbes article discussing backlash against California's climate change policies. The state's Latinx community, the largest in the country, has opposed many of these policies because of their negative effects on middle- and low-income Californians. Ms. Hernandez is the lead attorney for The Two Hundred, a group of Latinx leaders who are among those opposing the regulations. She has filed multiple lawsuits against the state and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), claiming that the rules violate fair-housing and civil-rights laws because they drive up housing costs and disproportionately affect minority and low-income communities. Ms. Hernandez characterized one of the programs as "unbelievably regressive." Copyright © 2021 Holland & Knight LLP All Rights Reserved

Law Firm Clients Demand More Black Attorneys, November 2020 Partner Duvol Thompson was interviewed for a Wall Street Journal article that detailed efforts to diversify the legal profession and increase opportunities for Black lawyers. Corporate clients have been among those pushing for diversity, and some companies are asking law firms to explain how many diverse lawyers they employ and whether those lawyers are assigned meaningful work. The corporate advocates warned that if diversity benchmarks aren't met, firms may lose bonuses or not get hired. Their efforts aim to increase both the number of Black lawyers in the profession as well as the number of Black partners at firms. In the article, Mr. Thompson shared his thoughts on why the numbers have remained relatively unchanged for decades.

Holland & Knight Sponsors 4 Thrive Scholars in New Diversity Pipeline Initiative, November 2020 Holland & Knight has made an early commitment to sponsor four Thrive Scholars as it formalizes its new Thrive Scholars Law Track program. Thrive supports high-achieving, low-income students of color so they can succeed at top colleges and achieve their full career potential. The newly announced Law Track program aims to create a greater pipeline of Black and Latinx attorneys. Thrive Scholars will provide these students with the full range of support based on its proven program model – supporting the students through their junior year of high school onward to get them into the right colleges and top law schools so they can become attorneys. In addition to providing financial support, participating law firms agree to provide mentorship and internships during college to enhance the students' exposure to opportunities in the legal profession. While not required, participating law firms may choose to hire one or more of the students from law school. "We are very proud to be sponsoring four Thrive Scholars in three cities," said Holland & Knight Managing Partner Steven Sonberg. "This program gives us a unique opportunity to support high-potential students early in their academic careers and continue that support through college and law school. Our hope is to help improve the number of traditionally underrepresented candidates who enter the law firm recruiting pipeline, and ultimately create a more diverse and inclusive profession." In 2020, only 8.1 percent of equity partners were people of color, which represented a half of a percentage point increase compared to 2019, according to the National Association for Law Placement. According to Thrive Scholars, there are more than 50,000 low-income high school students of color in the United States who have the academic qualifications to get into a top 100 college, and many are interested in the law profession.

SIGNIFICANT PRO BONO MATTERS D.C. Partners Win Favorable Judgment for Service Member in Pro Bono Case, October 2020 Two partners from Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office successfully represented an active-duty service member who experienced harassment and theft from her landlord. Partner Rafe Petersen handled the case and was assisted by Partner Charles Naftalin. The team represented the service member, who had rented an apartment on the top floor of a house in Virginia's Fairfax County. The landlord began to harass her by sneaking into her room while she was asleep and pilfering her military gear. The landlord eventually forced the service member to leave the house but kept her security deposit. Mr. Petersen sued for the deposit and stolen gear, and won the case during a virtual trial in the Fairfax County General District Court.

Florida Pro Bono Team Helps Protect Single Mother and Her Family from Stalker, October 2020 Holland & Knight Associate Kayla Pragid led a pro bono team from the firm's West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale offices that represented a woman who was harassed, stalked and threatened by a man for more than five years. Partner David Spector provided guidance and additional counsel, with assistance from Associate Alexander Dudley, Paralegal Assistant Alexandra Amburgy and Practice Assistant Kim Roark. The stalker was able to get the victim fired from every job she acquired during the five-year period, made a disparaging website about the victim that he would email to anyone who associated with her, and began a smear campaign against the victim's two minor daughters and her boyfriend's autistic son. The stalker created websites with the children's photos, made false reports to the children's schools and to the Florida Department of Children and Families, and got the children kicked out of various extracurricular activities. In May, after five years of terror, the Holland & Knight team secured an ex parte temporary restraining order against the respondent. In June, the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida held a formal hearing and entered a permanent restraining order. The respondent ignored the court's orders by continuing to harass and stalk the victim. The team then moved for contempt of court and sought jail time for the respondent's nearly 50 violations of the court's restraining orders. At the July 9 contempt hearing, in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the respondent was arrested at the courthouse and held on a $1.4 million bond. A few weeks later, the Florida State Attorney's Office formally charged the defendant with four felonies and 32 misdemeanors based exclusively on the evidence that the Holland & Knight team uncovered and presented in the civil restraining order case. The defendant remained in jail for nearly three months until he pled guilty to all 36 counts and agreed to a very restrictive plea deal. A few months later, the defendant violated his probation and was taken into custody where he remains. The victim was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude to all of those who, according to her, helped get her life back.

Holland & Knight Successfully Represents Victim of Rogue Baltimore Police Unit in Federal Civil Rights Case, December 2020 Holland & Knight won a favorable monetary settlement on December 15 in its representation of the plaintiff in a federal civil case against the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), the mayor and city council, and various police officers of the Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), alleging federal civil rights violations for the unconstitutional and unlawful conduct of the defendants. Holland & Knight's client was robbed at gunpoint by four on-duty GTTF officers who threatened to blow off his head, stole $18,000 in cash and arrested him for a handgun in the car that, in truth, was planted there by the arresting officers. He spent six months in jail on this fabricated charge. Over many years, GTTF officers stole money, assaulted citizens, conducted unlawful searches and seizures, lied in internal documents and to the judicial system in testimony and affidavits, and illegally planted evidence, resulting in unfair and improper convictions such as in the case of the firm's client. To date, 13 BPD officers have been charged criminally, many of whom were convicted of engaging in a criminal racketeering conspiracy described by one of the officers as a "criminal enterprise." Copyright © 2021 Holland & Knight LLP All Rights Reserved

EVENTS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS Holland & Knight Celebrates LGBT History Month, October 2020 In light of the social gathering restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Holland & Knight's LGBT Affinity Group found an innovative way to help the firm celebrate LGBT History month in October. The group produced a video highlighting previous Pride celebrations and a history of the struggle for equality that the firm's staff and attorneys have participated in and witnessed through the years, creating a virtual Holland & Knight Pride parade.

Ditching the Label While Seeing the Able, October 2020 In recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 2020 and National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, Holland & Knight Attorney Michelle DeVos and Matthew Dietz, founding member of the Disability Independence Group, held an interactive webinar to help participants understand ways to destigmatize disabilities and how to better support the disability community at the firm and in the legal profession. Ms. DeVos' shared her deeply personal story about how she overcame her own disability to become a lawyer who helped Holland & Knight build a more inclusive and equitable workplace that supports and empowers the disabled. Approximately 25 percent of the population has a disability, and yet less than 1 percent of lawyers self-identify as having a disability. This statistical disparity highlights the impact of stigmas and stereotypes associated with having a disability. Ms. DeVos regularly presents to students about rising above bullies by discussing her story of life with Asperger syndrome and was previously featured in an October 26, 2020, Daily Business Review article, "Breaking the Silence for Disabled Attorneys."

Honoring the Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, October 2020 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (born March 15, 1933; died September 18, 2020) was a legal pioneer and trailblazing attorney for women's rights. She became the second woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she served for 27 years. Late in life, she became known by her rapper-inspired moniker, the "Notorious R.B.G." Her personal training workouts were as legendary as her dissents. She fiercely battled cancer four times. The stories abound of her brilliant mind and tireless work ethic. Justice Ginsburg has been described as the Thurgood Marshall of the women's rights movement, carefully selecting cases to persuade the all-male Supreme Court to recognize constitutional protection from discrimination based on gender. The importance of these early decisions to women are reflected in our everyday lives. To honor her legacy, the Holland & Knight Women's Initiative held a panel discussion with Judy Lichtman, senior advisor and former president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, and Nancy Gertner, retired judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and current Harvard Law School lecturer. Similar to Justice Ginsburg, the two panelists were pioneering advocates for women's rights and their paths continued to intersect over the years. While serving as executive director of the then Women's Legal Defense Fund, Judy Lichtman worked closely with Justice Ginsburg on the legislative effort to pass The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. Justice Ginsburg was the first woman to receive the ABA's Thurgood Marshall Award, and Judge Gertner was the second.

Why Diversity Must Remain a Core Business Imperative Post-COVID, October 2020 Chambers and Partners joined forces with Holland & Knight for an urgent and transparent discussion on the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on the progress of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. The presenters discussed guidance on establishing effective and inclusive responses to Black Lives Matter and how to adjust diversity, equity and inclusion programs to remote working environments. Speakers included Holland & Knight Directors Committee Chair Kelly-Ann Cartwright, Cable & Wireless General Counsel Ruchi Kaushal, Ford Motor Co. Managing Counsel Alison Nelson, Chambers and Partners Diversity & Inclusion Director Dee Sekar.

Video Salutes More Than 75 Holland & Knight Military Veterans, November 2020 In honor of Veterans Day, Holland & Knight celebrated all of its employees who are current or former members of the U.S. armed forces. The 2020 Veterans Day video featured more than 75 Holland & Knight lawyers and staff, and highlighted what our partner organizations have to say about the firm's impact on the lives of veterans. The American Bar Association's (ABA) Military Pro Bono Project, National Veterans Legal Services Program, Legal Services Corporation and GI Law provided commentary in the video, acknowledging the firm's Veterans Group and its contributions to Holland & Knight Veterans Group Business Partnership Chair Daniel Sylvester, their programs. The Veterans Group works to second from left, is joined by members of the American Bar Association, which support service members, veterans and their helped honor the firm's active and retired military members in a tribute video. families through legal, pro bono and community service activities. From 2016 to 2019, Holland & Knight has provided more than 18,480 pro bono hours valued at more than $11.4 million to help service members, veterans and their families.

San Francisco Office Donates Books, School Supplies to Local Schools, November 2020 Holland & Knight's San Francisco office partnered with Scholastic Corp. to provide books with diverse authors and themes to schools in the city's Bayview neighborhood. Holland & Knight also donated school supplies, such as notebooks, glue sticks, crayons and dry erase markers to the schools. Administrative Specialist Mele Finau-Nikolao and Office Manager Gina Roth organized the effort. For 10 years, the San Francisco office has hosted an annual book fair in the Bayview community as part of Holland & Knight's 9/11 Day of Service. The event was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal Makaela Manning at Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary School provided two videos (watch video one, watch video 2) showcasing Holland & Knight's donations. She expressed appreciation to the firm for its generous contribution of books, school supplies and essential items for the students. Copyright © 2021 Holland & Knight LLP All Rights Reserved

Firm Celebrates Native American Heritage Month, November 2020 Holland & Knight's Diversity Council and Native American Affinity Group celebrated Native American Heritage Month in November by recognizing the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Native American and Alaska Native people and acknowledging their important contributions. This included hosting the November 12 continuing legal education (CLE) webinar, "Meeting the Legal Needs of Domestic Violence Victims in Indian Country." Courtney Cole, the court solicitor for the Intertribal Court of Southern California (ICSC), provided an overview of the legal issues raised by domestic violence in Indian Country, with a focus on Southern California and the role of tribal courts in resolving these issues. Attendees learned about tribal court systems, the challenges they experience in addressing domestic violence on tribal lands and the ways in which attorneys can assist by providing pro bono legal representation to victims in tribal court. The ICSC is an American Indian tribal court system that provides a consortium of tribes from across Southern California with an independent and culturally sensitive forum in which to present and resolve disputes. The ICSC hears a variety of cases, including public safety issues, tort claims, child welfare matters, land disputes, conservatorships, enrollment issues, exclusions and more. The ICSC also offers arbitration and mediation services, and hears appeals. The ICSC functions as a circuit court, with judges traveling to each member tribal reservation to resolve disputes based on the tribe's laws, customs and traditions. Ms. Cole has worked with the ICSC for the past five years, previously clerked for the Native American Rights Fund and is a former president of the California Indian Law Association. Her presentation focused on meeting the legal needs of domestic violence victims in Indian Country.

Holland & Knight Sponsors the 2020 National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention, November 2020 As part of its commitment to promoting diversity in the legal profession, Holland & Knight sponsored the 2020 NAPABA Convention | Virtual Experience. The conference provided a new digital experience that allowed attendees to learn the latest legal insights and trends, discuss differing perspectives, and network with colleagues.

Racial Diversity and Inclusivity Roundtable: Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee, ABA's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, November 2020 Maritime Partner Christopher Nolan was joined by the Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee of the ABA's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section for their joint webinar, "Racial Diversity and Inclusivity Roundtable." Mr. Nolan moderated four panelists (two of whom are Holland & Knight alumni) in a discussion about how the maritime industry should take meaningful steps to encourage greater racial diversity, equality and the inclusion of Black and Brown voices in boardrooms and courtrooms, as well as the galleys, wheelhouses, decks and engine rooms. In doing so, they shared their career experiences in private practice in BigLaw, small firms and within the government.

Creating a Place in BigLaw for Veterans to Thrive, Law360, November 2020 Partner and Holland & Knight Veterans Group Business Partnership Chair Daniel Sylvester was interviewed by Law360 about the challenges veterans face when transitioning from the military to being attorneys in a civilian law firm setting. "From my perspective, we [as veterans] have a lot to offer an organization with our experience and the skills that we bring," Mr. Sylvester said. "But there are certain needs that veterans have, so you want to make sure they are taken care of like any other affinity group out there."

Celebrating the Centennial of the 19th Amendment: A Fireside Chat with Michelle Duster, November 2020 Michelle Duster, the paternal great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, is a writer and advocate for racial and gender equity in public history. She has initiated and supported dozens of local, state, and national initiatives to have street names, markers, murals, and monuments honor her greatgrandmother and other historic Black women. Ms. Duster has worked on PBS documentary films and authored, edited or contributed to eleven books, including Ida In Her Own Words, Ida From Abroad and Michelle Obama's Impact on African American Women and Girls. Her latest book, Ida B. the Queen, was published in January 2021. Ms. Duster joined Holland & Knight attorney Lisa Kpor for an engaging discussion about her great-grandmother's incredible journey from being a school teacher in Memphis to becoming an internationally recognized investigative reporter and influential women's suffrage leader. In 2020, Ida B. Wells was honored posthumously with a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for her "outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African–Americans during the era of lynching."

We're Better Than This – A Discussion with Maya Cummings, November 2020 Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., Diversity Committee hosted a discussion with Maya Cummings, wife of the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, to discuss the former lawmaker's book, We're Better Than This.

Fort Lauderdale Lawyers Host Diversity Webinar with Bottom Line Partners, November 2020 Holland & Knight coordinated a webinar focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, which was sponsored by Bottom Line Partners. More than 200 attendees heard from senior human resources leaders who shared their companies' experiences building a workforce culture that prioritizes inclusion and in which all employees can thrive. Panelists included Terry Arnold, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits senior vice president and chief human resources officer; Donna Kimmel, Citrix executive vice president and chief people officer; and Margie Vargas, Memorial Healthcare System senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Johnny Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), gave a special video presentation. Deborah Shelton, Right Management executive vice president for C-suite services, welcomed participants and introduced Mr. Taylor. Bottom Line Partners is a nearly 30-year networking partnership of Mahoney & Associates, Holland & Knight, Right Management and Diversified Search.

Trans Awareness for the Workplace, LGBT Bar Lavender Link, November 2020 Holland & Knight Senior Counsel Jamie Rodriguez of the Washington, D.C., office gave a webinar for the LGBT Bar's Lavender Link program on issues affecting transgender people in the workplace and ways to create inclusive workplaces for transgender employees. Ms. Rodriguez was introduced for the program by Tysons Associate Fernando Tevez.

Moving Forward in a New Normal: Working Remotely, Confronting Gender and Racial Bias, and Creating Opportunities for All Women to Succeed, December 2020 Corporate counsel and law firms have had to adapt and pivot in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and actively confront racial and social justice issues in response to numerous acts of violence against Black people. Holland & Knight held a panel discussion on how companies and legal teams have responded to these and other issues, including the impact on their relationships with and expectations of outside counsel. The panel explored the 2019 and 2020 Open Letters by various corporate legal departments to the legal community, which reiterate the importance of diversity and inclusion efforts by their outside counsel.

Insights for Law Student Veterans, December 2020 Holland & Knight's Veterans Group held a virtual panel discussion featuring professionals from across the country talking about their careers, how they used their military experience to obtain jobs, insights into what it takes to succeed, unique challenges that military and veteran law students face, and the opportunities available in the legal field. The Honorable Patrick Murphy provided opening remarks and moderated the panel discussion. Among other accomplishments, Mr. Murphy was the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress and served as the 32nd Undersecretary of the Army.

Women-Roses-Water, Adrienne Arsht Center, December 2020 Partner Marilyn Holifield was featured in Women-Roses-Water, a virtual dance performance by the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County in Miami. The performance by the Peter London Global Dance Company was a fusion of contemporary and AfroCaribbean dance, along with music commissioned by The Ballet and Dance Orchestra conducted by Ezra Haugabrooks. Ms. Holifield narrated excerpts from her chapter in the collaborative memoir, Seven Sisters and a Brother: Friendship, Resistance and Untold Truths Behind Black Student Activism in the 1960s.

D.C. Women's Initiative Spotlights New Endeavors by Women, December 2020 The D.C. Women's Initiative hosted a virtual event that provided an opportunity for service engagement with New Endeavors by Women (NEW). Participants heard from NEW Development Director Sarah Gochenaur, who spoke about the organization and the resources it provides for women in the D.C. area. NEW helps transform lives by providing housing, fostering the development of life skills, and promoting education and employment to end the cycle of homelessness. The D.C. Women's Initiative made a contribution to support NEW's efforts, and attendees appreciated the chance to learn more about an important local service organization.

AWARDS AND ACCOLADES Jennifer Hernandez Named One of California's Top 100 Lawyers, October 2020 Partner Jennifer Hernandez was named one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California for 2020 by the Daily Journal. The publication's annual list recognizes California lawyers who are involved in the most cutting-edge work in litigation, regulation and corporate transactions, and have the most impact in the legal industry. Ms. Hernandez was profiled in a special edition of the Daily Journal that notes she filed a civil rights suit in March 2020 on behalf of a minority advocacy group over new state rules designed to promote housing development near mass transit to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The suit targets what she described as modern-day redlining that is re-segregating California.

21 Massachusetts Attorneys (7 Diverse) and 28 New York Attorneys (5 Diverse) Named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2020 Super Lawyers magazine has named 21 attorneys, seven of whom are minorities, in the firm's Boston office and 28 attorneys, five of whom are diverse, in the New York office as "Super Lawyers" for 2020. The magazine annually identifies outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The magazine names exceptional attorneys annually in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The selection process includes independent research, peer nomination and evaluation. Once an attorney has been nominated, he or she is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement through a third-party researcher. Attorneys are recognized in more than 70 practice areas.

16 Holland & Knight Attorneys, 10 Practices Listed in IFLR 1000 Guide, October 2020 The International Financial Law Review recently honored 16 Holland & Knight attorneys as leading corporate finance lawyers in its annual guide, IFLR 1000. In addition, 10 regional practices were recognized. The IFLR 1000 is published annually by Euromoney Institutional Investor and is the international legal market's leading guide to the top law firms advising on international corporate finance. Firm and lawyer rankings are based on transactional evidence, as well as peer and client feedback.

Holland & Knight Recognized in The Legal 500 Latin America Guide, October 2020 Holland & Knight is recommended as one of the top international law firms in Latin America, including Colombia and Mexico, in The Legal 500 Latin America 2021 edition. The firm earned 27 practice rankings and 16 of its attorneys received recognition in the guide, earning the titles of "Leading Lawyer," "Next Generation Partner" or "Rising Star." The Legal 500 Latin America is an authoritative guide to Latin America's leading law firms, relied upon by thousands of professionals in the legal marketplace. It provides a detailed qualitative review of commercial law firms across key jurisdictions in the region (as well as those involved in international practice) across all relevant practice areas.

Tamsen Plume Listed Among Bay Area's Most Influential Women, October 2020 Holland & Knight Partner Tamsen Plume has been named one of 2020's Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times. Ms. Plume joined her fellow honorees for a virtual awards ceremony on October 9. The publication's annual list celebrates approximately 100 Bay Area women who demonstrate leadership, achievement and influence in their industry and community. In her profile, Ms. Plume shared that she believes her biggest accomplishment is her success in forming and maintaining 20-year relationships with colleagues, clients and other professionals in the land use and real estate field in California, while her biggest challenge has been learning to balance a full-time career with being a parent to her two children.

Kayla Pragid Selected for State Farm's Rising Stars Academy, November 2020 Holland & Knight Associate Kayla Pragid has been selected by State Farm's legal department to participate in its exclusive Rising Stars Academy. The program is part of State Farm's commitment to increasing diversity in the legal profession in conjunction with the American Bar Association's Resolution 113, which urges legal service providers to expand and create opportunities for diverse attorneys and urges buyers of legal services to direct a greater percentage of their spend toward diverse attorneys. This year, State Farm selected a small group of diverse lawyers from across the country and from a variety of practice groups to participate in the program, which culminates in a two-day, inperson meeting at State Farm's corporate headquarters in Bloomington, Illinois. The program is designed to expose a talented pool of outside counsel to the company's business and culture, as well as assist in honing leadership skills and building business acumen. Ms. Pragid, a member of the firm's Insurance Fraud and Recovery Team, focuses her practice on complex federal litigation, including complicated business disputes, the investigation and litigation of sophisticated fraud schemes, and healthcare and Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-related litigation.

16 Attorneys Named Among 2021 Best Lawyers in Mexico, Colombia, November 2020 Eleven attorneys from Holland & Knight's Mexico City office and five attorneys from the Bogotá office have been selected for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in Mexico and The Best Lawyers in Colombia guides. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation, during which researchers ask leading attorneys from specific practice areas and geographic regions about the professional abilities of their colleagues. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed.

Susan Booth, Mary Nix Named 2020 BTI Client Service All-Stars, December 2020 Eleven Holland & Knight partners, including Mary Nix and Susan Booth, have been recognized as 2020 Client Service All-Stars by the BTI Consulting Group. Of the 181 firms represented on the list, Holland & Knight ranks third by the number of lawyers recognized. The 2020 BTI Client Service All-Stars list features 475 attorneys who have been identified as leaders in superior client service by corporate counsel. Copyright © 2021 Holland & Knight LLP All Rights Reserved

SPOTLIGHT ON RECENTLY HIRED DIVERSE ATTORNEYS 

Alexis Alonzo is a real estate attorney in the Los Angeles office, where she focuses on complex real estate

transactions. Her counsel includes representing institutional investors, real estate funds, opportunity funds, and public and private homebuilders in real estate joint ventures, as well as the acquisition, disposition and financing of all classes of commercial real estate. She has represented borrowers and lenders in a number of mortgage and mezzanine financing transactions, including construction loans and revolving lines of credit facilities. 

Kevin Gooch is a financial services attorney in the Atlanta office. His practice focuses on representing

financial institutions, non-bank lenders, corporate borrowers and private equity funds in complex finance and restructuring transactions. These include syndicated credit facilities, bilateral loan transactions, acquisition financings, asset-based financings and notes offerings. In connection with these transactions, he drafts and negotiates loan documentation, including credit agreements, security agreements, pledge agreements, promissory notes, resolutions and legal opinions. Mr. Gooch has represented various clients in more than $20 billion of financing and restructuring transactions. 

Eddie Jauregui is a partner in the Los Angeles office and a member of the White Collar Defense and

Investigations Team. A litigator and former federal prosecutor, he focuses on internal corporate investigations, corporate compliance and training, government enforcement, white collar criminal defense and complex business disputes. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Jauregui served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Los Angeles U.S. Attorney's Office, where he prosecuted high-profile fraud and public corruption cases. As an advocate for diversity in the legal profession, Mr. Jauregui has led diversity, recruiting and mentoring efforts for more than 10 years in both private practice and government service. He has developed programming aimed at building the pipeline of diverse attorneys and federal prosecutors, as well as mentored numerous young lawyers throughout his career. 

Jessica Laughlin is an environmental attorney in the San Francisco office and a member of the West Coast

Land Use and Environmental Group. Her practice includes environmental, land use, renewable energy and natural resources law, with a particular focus on advising project developers, public agencies, local governments, cities, counties, Indian tribes and trade associations on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other environmental laws. 

Madelaine Harrington is a litigation attorney in the Washington, D.C., office, where she focuses on media and

entertainment law, as well as data security and privacy issues. In her media practice, Ms. Harrington represents reporters and news publishing companies in a wide range of First Amendment issues, including reporters' privilege and access to public records. She also assists authors, musicians and filmmakers with matters regarding copyright, licensing, production and distribution of artistic work. In her data strategy, security and privacy practice, she advises on internal investigations of data breaches and class action defense. She also counsels clients on information governance, including privacy policies, procedures and best practices. 

Nicolo Lozano is a corporate attorney in the Miami office. He represents private and public companies,

including private equity funds, in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate governance and other general corporate matters. He also represents insured parties and underwriters in connection with representations and warranties (R&W) insurance policies. During law school, he worked as a law clerk at a Fort Lauderdale law firm, where he gained securities and investment experience, specifically on investment opportunities in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.

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Nicole Sappingfield is an attorney in the Chicago office and a member of the Corporate Services Team. Her

practice focuses primarily on M&A for publicly and privately held companies in a variety of industries. She routinely advises clients on legal issues relating to the disposition and acquisition of equity or assets, as well as negotiates and drafts transaction documents to ensure that the business deal is clearly effectuated. In addition, she has substantial experience in advising on general corporate governance matters and negotiating day-to-day contracts with vendors, suppliers and customers. 

Brandon White is a litigation attorney in the Miami office, from where he advises business and financial

institutions in individual and class action litigation matters in state and federal courts. His practice focuses on litigation and regulatory compliance matters concerning the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA). He has extensive experience litigating matters concerning revolving credit accounts, auto loans, mortgages and other consumer financial products. 

Oliver Silva is a real estate and litigation attorney in the firm's Miami office. His practice focuses on all

aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including the financing, acquisition, disposition, leasing and development of real estate assets. In addition, he assists as a litigation attorney for the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice, focusing on complex commercial litigation and breach of contract matters.