KMK Law Congratulates the Participants of the Fifth Annual Diversity Case Competition for First Year Law Students

The Cincinnati law firm of Keating Muething and Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®), in partnership with the University of Cincinnati College of Law, hosted the fifth annual Diversity Case Competition for first-year law students from underrepresented racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds on January 13 & 14, 2023. This year the competition was comprised of 17 teams from 6 law schools in Ohio and Kentucky.

The competition simulates the real-world associate experience, complete with the assignment, evaluation and feedback processes used in most law firms. Using the case model, students competed for cash prizes by displaying their analytical, problem solving, and communication skills – all skills that are keys to success in the legal industry. The competition also exposed students to practicing attorneys and Fortune 500 corporate counsel, who served as assigning partners, coaches and judges.

“We were thrilled to host this year’s competition back in person in our downtown Cincinnati office,” said Bethany P. Recht, KMK Partner and Co-Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “We delivered a premier learning experience for racially diverse law students through challenging case competition and provided networking opportunities with legal professionals from around the Greater Cincinnati area. This program will continue to be a part of KMK’s ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity at KMK Law.”

The top teams of the competition included:

First Place – University of Cincinnati College of Law

  • Desianique Hamm
  • Marques Jones

Second Place – University of Cincinnati College of Law

  • Lilian Tapia Fernandez
  • Micaela Betham-Garcia

Third Place – University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law 

  • Angel Chapman
  • Nina Dickerson

“Thank you to the KMK attorneys, volunteer judges, coaches, and law students that helped to make this program possible,” said Alan Fershtman, Managing Partner. “KMK Law is excited to host the nation’s first and only diversity case competition. We hope this program will further develop each student’s passion for the legal industry as they continue their law school education.”

2023 Case Competition Participants

Law Schools:

  • Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University
  • University of Akron School of Law
  • University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
  • University of Louisville Louis D. Brandies School of Law
  • University of Toledo College of Law

Volunteer Judges, Coaches, Assigning Partners, and Planning Team:

  • Stephanie Bisselberg, Director of Human Resources, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Kasey Bond, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • David Boyles, Commercial Counsel, GE Aviation
  • Michael Brumm, Vice President & General Counsel, TREW, LLC
  • Raymond Bullucks, Associate General Counsel, TriHealth
  • Joe Callow, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Adam Centner, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Melanie Cheek, Employment Practices Counsel, Cintas Corporation
  • Kate Christoff, Director of Legal Talent & Diversity, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Nicole E. Cloyd, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Steve Coffaro, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Stacy Cole, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Jack Dahm, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Madeline O’ Toole Darling, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Denise Durbin, Assistant Dean, Center for Professional Development, University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • Alan Fershtman, Managing Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Renee Filiatraut, Retired / Former Litigation Counsel, AK Steel Corporation
  • Karin Goitman, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Miranda Hogg, Counsel, Cross River Bank
  • Mike Hurst, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Elizabeth Hutson, Staff Attorney, ProKids
  • Dan Izenson, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Vince Jabour, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Meg Johnson, Assistant Corporate Counsel, Total Quality Logistics
  • Andy Kaminski, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Ken Kreider, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Shannon Lawson, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Joe Lehnert, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Mel Matthews, Senior Litigation Counsel, Cintas Corporation
  • Melanie McKinney, Senior Bank Counsel, First Financial Bank
  • Lisa Wintersheimer Michel, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Tim Michel, Attorney & Vice President, Haverkamp Riehl & Michel
  • Carson Miller, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • John Milligan, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Priya Mistry, Senior Counsel, The Procter & Gamble Company
  • Erica O’Brien, Senior Labor & Employment Practices Counsel, Cintas Corporation
  • Dan Porembski, Litigation Counsel, Washington Prime Group, Inc.
  • Jim Parsons¸ Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Zach Peterson, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Bill Posey, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Laura Gates Rai, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Bethany Recht, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Adrienne Roach, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Andre Rickman, Legal Counsel, Fifth Third Bank
  • Greg Robinson, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Carlos Schemmel, Law Clerk, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Antoinette Schindel, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Matt Slovin, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Ben Stewart, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Jason Stitt, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Kelley Brandstetter Tracy, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Phil Tracy, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Taylor Stott-Trout, Contract Administrator, ProLink Staffing
  • Taylor Trout, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Anitra Walden-Jacobs, Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment, 7-Eleven, Inc.
  • Darcy Watt, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Allie Westfall, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • John J. Williams, Associate General Counsel, First Group America
  • Danyelle Wright, VP, Employment & Labor Law, Chief Diversity Officer, The E.W. Scripps Company

 About Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL

The law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK Law®), based in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a nationally-recognized law firm delivering sophisticated legal solutions to businesses of all sizes—from Fortune 50 corporations to start-up companies. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers® 2022 recognized KMK as a leading law firm in Ohio in Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, and General Commercial Litigation. KMK Law earned four National Rankings in Corporate Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Project Finance Law and Venture Capital Law and 39 Metropolitan Rankings in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers publication of its 2023 “Best Law Firms” Report. Founded in 1954, KMK has approximately 135 lawyers and a support staff of 150 employees. Additional information is available at www.kmklaw.com.

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