National LGBT Bar Association names 'Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40' for 2015

The nation’s largest organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied legal professionals released its 2015 “Best Under 40” list today, recognizing the country’s most accomplished young LGBT legal professionals. The National LGBT Bar Association's list includes young lawyers from across the country who have distinguished themselves in their field, and demonstrated a strong commitment to LGBT equality. The awards will be presented during the organization’s Lavender Law® Conference & Career Fair in Chicago on August 6th.

 “This year’s ‘Best Under 40’ demonstrates the depth and breadth of legal expertise within the LGBT community,” said D’Arcy Kemnitz, executive director of The Bar. “These young professionals represent the very best of our profession. They come from law firms, non-profits, corporations and the government. Their extraordinary accomplishments underscore the significant talent the LGBT community brings to the legal profession, and highlight the real change our members make in the lives of their clients, their community and their country, every single day. We’re proud to honor them.”

 This year’s honorees (in no particular order) are:

Aaron Tax, Director of Federal Government Relations, SAGE, Washington, DC

Alana Chazan, Los Angeles, CA

Anna Baldwin, Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section, Takoma Park, MD

Benson Cohen, Sidley Austin LLP, New York, NY

Cameron Smith, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, New York, NY

Daniel J. Franklin, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, New York, NY

Dennis Corkery, Washington Lawyers Committee, Washington, DC

Emma Cheuse, EarthJustice, Washington, DC

 Jo Michael, Equality California, Sacramento, CA

Joshua Bosin, Holland & Knight LLP, Atlanta, GA

Julie Wilensky, Lewis, Feinberg, Lee & Jackson, Oakland, CA

Mario Sullivan, Johnson and Sullivan, Ltd., Chicago, IL

Meghan Freed, Freed Marcroft LLC, Hartford, CT

Nicholas Melissinos, NYS Division of Human Rights, New York, NY

Rachel Einbund, Law Office of Rachel Einbund, PC, New York, NY

Rudy Kleysteuber, Sullivan + Cromwell LLP, New York, NY

Shin-Ming Wong, National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, CA

Susan Hazeldean, Cornell Law School, Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NY

Zachary B. Allen, Arnold & Porter LLP, San Francisco, CA

Adam Pulver, Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, Washington, DC

Amanda Goad, Los Angeles, CA

Anthony Andricks, Thompson Hine LLP, Rocky River, OH

Brian Seaman, Stradley Ronon, Philadelphia, PA

Corey W. Duersch, Office Depot, Inc. - Legal Department, Boca Raton, FL

David S. Flugman, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, NY

Don Davis, The Noble Law Firm, PLLC, Durham, NC

Erica Gloger, West & Feinberg, PC, Bethesda, MD

Jodi "Jo" Argentino, Argentinp & Jacobs, Morristown, NJ

Joshua Glick, JPMorgan Chase & Co., New York, NY

Kevin Minoli, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC

Matthew Skinner, LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York, New York, NY

Mike Schultz, Foley & Lardner LLP, Boston, MA

Peter Catalanotti, Manning & Kas, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP, San Francisco, CA

Robert Koch, Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Washington, DC

Sarah Baker, Quarles & Brady LLP, Chicago, IL

Spencer Jones, eBay Inc., Draper, UT

Tim Caballero, NBC Universal, Universal City, CA

Zack Paakkonen, Portland Legal, LLP, Portland, ME