Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP today announced Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice Group Chair LaKeisha Marsh in Chicago and Megan Costa DeLeon in Orlando have been selected as recipients of Corporate Counsel's 2022 Women, Influence & Power in Law Award, which honors law firm partners and corporate general counsel who demonstrate a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law.
Marsh, selected in the Thought Leadership category, has a proven track record of leadership in the legal profession. After serving as Assistant Vice President and Senior Counsel for TCS Education System, Marsh joined Akerman seven years ago and immediately created the Higher Education and Collegiate Athletics Practice, which she continues to chair. As this practice thrived, Marsh was appointed chair of the Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice Group and a member of Akerman's Board of Directors in 2020. In 2019, Marsh assumed the role of Deputy Chair of the Women's Initiative Network (WIN). Her leadership has earned her recognition in Chicago and nationally. Most recently, Marsh was named as one of the country's Most Influential Black Lawyers by Savoy Magazine, and Crain's Chicago Business recognized her as one of Chicago's Notable Minorities in Law and Notable Women in Law.
At Akerman, Marsh leads a bipartisan team of professionals providing strategic counsel on policy and regulatory issues in dealing with he United States and individual state governments. With a comprehensive legal background serving the higher education sector, including as an NCAA staff member, Marsh also serves as the chair of Akerman’s Higher Education and Collegiate Athletics Practice. She represents colleges, and universities on federal and state regulatory compliance, accreditation, state licensure, institutional governance, and collegiate sports and NCAA compliance-related matters. She has structured and executed transactional, restructuring, finance, and corporate governance matters for educational institutions.
DeLeon, selected in the Best Mentor category, has long been on focused on the promotion and mentoring of young women professionals. Early in her legal career, DeLeon formed a partnership between Akerman and the United Negro College Fund, and created and endowed a STEM Pipeline Scholarship designed to mentor at-risk minority students and to encourage them to pursue STEM degrees as an avenue to satisfying careers. She serves on the Board of Directors of Elevate Orlando, which focuses on mentoring and support for at-risk, urban youth.
Within Akerman, DeLeon serves on Akerman's Women's Initiative Network steering committee and head of the Orlando litigation team. In 2020, DeLeon was elected to Akerman's Board of Directors. She has put her leadership skills to use globally, serving on the Board of Directors of Lex Mundi, a global legal services platform with member firms in more than 100 countries, in 2021. DeLeon helped launch and support Lex Mundi's inaugural STARS program (Skills Training for Associate Retention and Success) as well as serving as an instructor for Lex Mundi's flagship training programs at the Lex Mundi Institute.
DeLeon focuses her practice in complex commercial, business, and real estate litigation in state and federal courts. On behalf of Fortune 500 publicly traded, and privately owned business, including builders, developers, investors, family enterprises, and corporate fiduciaries, she litigates contractual disputes, complex commercial matters, and derivative suits, including serving as lead counsel in dozens of trials and arbitrations.
The Akerman partners will be recognized at an awards dinner on Oct. 18 atthe Women, Influence & Power in Law Conference in Washington, D.C.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.