Akin Gump announced that Nimesh M. Patel has joined the firm as its chief diversity and inclusion officer, resident in its Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Patel joins Akin Gump from WilmerHale, where he was director of diversity and inclusion.
Having worked in both the private sector and the federal government, Mr. Patel has nearly 25 years of experience advancing diversity and inclusion issues. He was a 2017 recipient of Diversity Journal’s Diversity Leader Award, presented to “[those] advancing the evolution of diversity and inclusion, and the diversity officers working to achieve that goal.”
Mr. Patel will lead Akin Gump’s diversity and inclusion strategy and initiatives, ensuring that the firm’s core principles of inclusiveness and diversity are reflected across its internal and external policies, work and practices. In this capacity, he will work directly with Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith and will report to the firm’s management committee.
“Akin Gump’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has been a core principle of our firm since our founding, and Nimesh will be instrumental in helping us carry that vision forward in the years ahead,” said Ms. Koopersmith. “He brings great ideas and a thorough understanding of the value that diversity and inclusiveness represent to our firm and our clients.”
Akin Gump is a five-time recipient of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Thomas L. Sager Award, which is presented each year to a large law firm that demonstrates “sustained commitment to improving the hiring, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys.” In addition, for 11 consecutive years, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation has awarded the firm a perfect score on its Corporate Equality Index, which ranks companies regarding LGBTQ workplace equality.