Akerman is proud to announce three of our attorneys have been recognized by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) this year. Eric Coleman has been named an LCLD Fellow, while Teresa Gancedo and Jani Mikel have both been named Pathfinders.
The LCLD Fellows program offers high-potential, mid-career attorneys from diverse backgrounds professional and personal development opportunities as well as leadership training, relationship-building resources, and access to other LCLD members, including managing partners and general counsel, for mentoring and guidance.
The Pathfinder program provides participants with the opportunity to learn from top leaders in the legal profession, as well as career development experts. The seven-month program is designed to train high-performing attorneys who are early in their careers on foundational leadership and relationship-building skills.
"This is a tremendous honor and opportunity for these very talented young attorneys," said Dr. Cassandra Caldwell, Akerman's Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. "The recognition is well-earned and I am certain that Eric, Teresa, and Jani will continue to impress."
Coleman is a litigation partner based in the firm's Fort Lauderdale office, and he also serves as the co-chair of Akerman’s Black Internal Network Group. He handles a wide variety of complex business litigation matters, including commercial disputes, breach of contract claims, business torts, personal injury, and shareholder derivative actions. Coleman represents clients from a number of industries, including construction. He has represented clients in federal courts, state courts, and arbitration tribunals (AAA and FINRA) across the county.
Gancedo is a real estate associate based in Miami where her work includes representing borrowers and lenders in construction loans, mortgage loans, real estate-related asset-based loans, mezzanine loans, leasehold mortgages, and distressed properties. She further handles the acquisition, sale, financing, development, management, operation, and leasing of real estate, including automotive dealerships.
Mikel is a litigation associate based in Chicago where her practice is focused on complex commercial litigation. She represents a wide array of corporate and individual clients in a range of matters, including toxic torts, antitrust and trade regulation, products liability, restrictive covenant violations, and other commercial matters in both U.S. state and federal courts. This work includes advising clients in all stages of trial and appellate litigation, as well as complex antitrust issues.
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.