24/7 Rapid Response - On Call Transportation Attorneys | 24/7 Data Breach Response - breachresponse@lewisbrisbois.com

News

Lewis Brisbois Honors Black History Month

(February 2021) - In honor of Black History Month, we will be highlighting our outstanding Black attorneys from around our nationwide network. We begin the month with some inspiring words from New York Partner and Chair of the firm's Diversity & Inclusion Committee Karen L. Campbell.

Karen, who is also co-chair of Lewis Brisbois' General Liability Practice, has over three decades of experience as a trial attorney, maintaining an active practice that includes the zealous representation of hospitality clients, long-term care providers, social services clients, and others in a range of civil actions.

Though she grew up in the Bronx, she attended high school in Massachusetts through the A Better Chance (ABC) program. As one of a few Black students, Karen considers her stint in a non-diverse school and community her first introduction to a host of diversity-related issues and the source of her interest in inclusivity.

Learn more about Karen's professional background here.

Continuing with our recognition of Black History Month and the stellar Black attorneys who are part of the Lewis Brisbois family, we spotlight Alexis Crump, a partner in our Los Angeles office.

Alexis is Chair of the firm's National Commercial Lending Practice and Vice-Chair of its National Corporate and National Italy Practices. She has over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, real estate, municipal finance, and mergers and acquisitions, and has led over $1 billion in finance transactions during her career.

In 2015, Alexis was named one of the 100 Top Women Lawyers in California by the Daily Journal Corporation, in 2017, she was named one of the top 50 Most Influential Woman Lawyers in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and in 2020, she was named one of the 2020 Women in Law by Lawyer Monthly Magazine.

Learn more about Alexis' background here.

As part of our ongoing recognition of Black History Month, we share some thoughts from Tampa Associate Lovecia A. Oglesby. 

Lovecia is a member of Lewis Brisbois' General Liability Practice and focuses primarily on liability defense, insurance defense, and general litigation. While attending law school at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, Lovecia participated in the Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Competition, successfully advancing through multiple rounds. Prior to her private practice work, she clerked at the Ft. Lauderdale Office of the Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division. 

We thank Lovecia for sharing her experience with us and for her commitment and contributions to the firm, her clients, and her community.

Learn more about Lovecia's background here.

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, we shine a spotlight on Los Angeles Partner Tricia M. Pride, who powerfully describes the trailblazers who have inspired her and the significance of Black History Month. 

As a member of Lewis Brisbois’ Workers' Compensation Practice, Tricia leverages her 15 years of experience to counsel, defend, and negotiate on behalf of public and private companies. Known for her smart and aggressive litigation style, she regularly achieves successful outcomes in employment litigation and has received several Take Nothing defense verdicts before the Workers’ Comp Appeals Board. 

Throughout her career, Tricia has consistently focused on advancing diversity in the workplace and her community. 

Learn more about Tricia’s professional background here.

As part of our series highlighting the remarkable Black attorneys at Lewis Brisbois throughout the country, we share a contribution from San Bernardino Associate Keith Willis. 

In reflecting upon the significance of Black History Month, Keith describes the importance of mentoring young people and how grateful he is for the Black leaders who sacrificed so that he could enjoy the journey and privilege of becoming an attorney. As a member of Lewis Brisbois’ Healthcare Practice, Keith handles all phases of litigation in matters related to healthcare, medical malpractice, and elder law. He also defends public entities, including school districts, in disputes involving juvenile dependency, harassment, and abuse. 

Learn more about Keith's professional background here.

As we continue to honor Black History Month by focusing on the experiences of our outstanding Black attorneys, we shine a spotlight on Tampa Associate Sophia Bernard, who shares her thoughts on overcoming adversity and paying it forward. 

Sophia is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ General Liability, Transportation, and Healthcare Practices. Prior to joining the firm, Sophia worked in-house at a billion-dollar transportation logistics company and uses that experience to bring invaluable industry insight and practical knowledge to her clients. She is an active member of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and was recently included in the National Black Attorneys' Top 40 Under 40 List. 

Learn more about Sophia's professional background here.

As we continue to highlight Lewis Brisbois' exceptional Black attorneys in our series honoring Black History Month, our next contribution comes from Wilmington Associate Chauna Abner, who eloquently shares her thoughts regarding the importance of reflecting upon the past and seizing opportunities to educate future leaders. 

Chauna is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practice, where she handles high-stakes disputes between corporations and stockholders, members and managers of limited liability companies, among others. Chauna has co-authored several articles published by the Delaware Business Court Insider, and she was recently included in the National Black Lawyers' Top 40 Under 40 List. 

Learn more about Chauna's professional experience here.

Up next in our series of spotlights on the firm's stellar Black attorneys, Atlanta Associate Precious Johnson provides some reflections on the support she has received and the importance of prioritizing service. 

Precious is a member of Lewis Brisbois' General Liability Practice. After receiving her law degree from Emory University, Precious clerked for the Honorable Ivan L.R. Lemelle of the Eastern District of Louisiana, where she gained valuable insight into the handling of complex litigation. She was recently inducted as Secretary of the Gate City Bar Association, Georgia's oldest African-American bar association, and she uses what remaining free time she has to volunteer with Cool Girls, Inc., an organization dedicated to the self-empowerment of at-risk girls in Atlanta. 

Learn more about Precious' professional experience here.

As we enter the final week of Black History Month, we hear from New York Partner Alecia Walters-Hinds about taking this time to reflect not only on the contributions of historical Black Americans, but also on her own journey as a Black immigrant in this country. 

Alecia is a vice-chair of the firm's General Liability Practice and an experienced trial attorney who specializes in the handling of high-exposure and catastrophic injury claims. In 2019, she was appointed President of the NYC Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), and last year she was presented with the “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Merit Award” by a coalition of Queens bar associations in recognition of her contributions to the African-American community. 

We thank Alecia for sharing her reflections, and for her commitment to the promotion of diversity in the law. 

Learn more about Alecia's professional background here.

Continuing with our Black History Month spotlight series on the outstanding Black attorneys that are part of the Lewis Brisbois family, Los Angeles Associate Thomas Russell, III discusses the challenges that many Black attorneys face when building their practices and how those seeking legal representation can be a part of the solution. 

Thomas is a member of the firm's Professional Liability, Corporate, and Entertainment, Media & Sports Practices. A seasoned trial attorney, he represents a wide variety of professionals and private companies in litigation, as well as sports & media franchises, professional athletes, and others in the industry in connection with entertainment and general corporate matters, serving as a trusted business and legal advisor. 

Learn more about Thomas' professional background here.

As we continue to honor Black History Month, we hear today from New York Partner Dale McLaren on taking this time to be thankful for those who paved the way for Black attorneys like him. 

Dale is a member of Lewis Brisbois' General Liability Practice, with experience in a broad array of insurance defense matters in both state and federal court. He is committed to the zealous representation of his clients in all phases of litigation, from preliminary investigations to court appearances and mediation/settlement conferences. 

Learn more about Dale's professional background here.

In our penultimate Black History Month spotlight on the talented Black attorneys of Lewis Brisbois, New York Partner Sheryl Fyffe describes how the integrity and determination of Black leaders has inspired her. In doing so, she shares her own journey of migrating from Jamaica, attending law school in the evenings while working a full-time job, and ultimately achieving the position of Partner. 

As a member of Lewis Brisbois’ General Liability Practice, Sheryl focuses on commercial motor vehicle, premises liability, and dram shop matters, regularly handling complex and high-exposure litigation. Outside of her practice, Sheryl serves as Co-President of the Caribbean Attorneys Network.  

Learn more about Sheryl's professional background here.

In our final spotlight post celebrating Black History Month and the many impressive Black attorneys at Lewis Brisbois, we hear from Fort Lauderdale Partner Vincent Alexander, who makes the case that "Black history" is American history and invites us to raise our collective awareness of the issues that drive racial disparity.

Vincent is a member of the firm's Bankruptcy & Insolvency and Complex Business & Commercial Litigation Practices, with extensive experience in bankruptcy-related and other complex litigation. Last year, he was recognized by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite as both a Legal Leader and an Up & Comer, joining the less than 2% of active Florida Bar members who appear on this exclusive list. While in law school, Vincent interned for the Honorable Robert A. Mark, Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and before becoming a lawyer, he was a linebacker in the NFL with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.

Learn more about Vincent's professional experience here.

A Closing Message from our Diversity & Inclusion Committee


Related Attorneys

Find an Attorney

Each of the firm's offices include partners, associates and a professional staff dedicated to meeting the challenge of providing the firm's clients with extraordinary service.