Overview
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce the selection of new lawyers to participate in the 2025 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) programs: Partner Ian Brooks as an LCLD Fellow and Associates Kimberley Smith and Jennifer Hill as LCLD Pathfinders.
“We’re incredibly proud of our three distinguished lawyers who have been selected to participate in the 2025 LCLD programs,” said Anthony (Tony) Upshaw, McDermott’s Global Head of Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “This recognition is a testament to their dedication, leadership, and commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the legal profession. At McDermott, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and excellence, and we’re excited to see the positive impact our lawyers will make through this prestigious program.”
Ian is a Partner in McDermott’s Intellectual Property practice, where he has led teams at all stages of litigation. His experience has included patent matters involving computer, wireless communication, semiconductor fabrication, and pharmaceutical technologies in district courts, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the International Trade Commission, and the Court of Federal Claims. He was named to The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Washington DC, 2024 to 2025.
Based in London, Kimberley focuses her practice on commercial litigation and arbitration. She has considerable experience in contractual dispute proceedings before the High Court, in particular in the energy, commodities and healthcare industries. She was named a Leading Associate, Commerical Litigation: Mid-Market by Legal 500 UK, 2022-2025.
Jennifer is an Associate in McDermott’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice, where she routinely reviews qualified retirement plans, executive compensation and employment agreements and equity compensation to ensure conformity with Section 409A, ERISA and COBRA. While in law school, Jennifer served as a law clerk at The Tax Foundation where she worked directly with the general counsel to draft and edit two amicus curiae briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the imposition of sales and use taxes on nonresident vendors. She was named to The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, 2025.
The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity is made up of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners —the leadership of the profession—who have pledged themselves to creating a truly diverse US legal profession. The LCLD Fellows Program aims to identify, train and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal professional by connecting high-potential, diverse attorneys in a year-long program devoted to relationship-building, in-person training and peer-group projects. The Pathfinder Program connects high-potential, early-career diverse attorneys from LCLD Member organizations for a professional development program focused on foundational leadership and relationship-building, offering promising diverse associates an opportunity to set themselves up for success.
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
