KMK Law Congratulates the Participants of the Second 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’s Center for Professional Development, hosted the second annual Diversity Case Competition for first-year minority law students on January 17&18, 2020. This year the competition was comprised of 17 teams from 8 area law schools.

The competition simulates the real-world associate experience, complete with the 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 key to success in the legal industry. The competition also exposed students to practicing attorneys and Fortune 500 corporate counsel, who served as coaches and judges.

“This program is a part of an ongoing commitment to inclusion and diversity by KMK Law,” said Bethany P. Recht, KMK Partner and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. “We want to modernize the way law firms and employers identify and hire diverse talent. The competition provides young law students the opportunity to showcase their legal abilities and sharpen their professional skills early in their career.”

Prizes were awarded to the following:

2020 Diversity Case Competition Winners

First Place ($3,000) – University of Cincinnati College of Law

    • Rosie Ortiz
    • Janelle Thompson

Second Place ($2,000) – The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

    • Pierre Collins
    • Shayla Kendricks

Third Place ($1,000) – Case Western Reserve University School of Law

    • Makela Hayford
    • Sierra Lipscomb

2020 Case Competition Participants

Law Schools:

  • University of Akron School of Law
  • University of Louisville Louis D. Brandies School of Law
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law
  • University Cincinnati College of Law
  • University of Dayton School of Law
  • University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
  • The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
  • University of Toledo College of Law

Volunteer Judges, Panelists, and Legal Community Participants:

  • Emily Bae, Assistant Vice President, Senior Counsel, Fifth Third Bank
  • Ken Blackburn, Associate Director & Associate General Counsel, The Procter & Gamble Company
  • Tanya Brady, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Phillips Edison & Company
  • Ray Bullucks, Staff Counsel, Mercy Health
  • Kasey Bond, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Jim Burke, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Joel Chanvisanuruk MPA, JD, Assistant Dean of Academic Success and Bar Programs, University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • Joe Callow, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Steve Coffaro, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Paul Dorger, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Belcan, LLC
  • Alan Fershtman, Managing Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Renee Filiatraut, Litigation Counsel, AK Steel Corporation
  • Tom Hankinson, Senior Counsel, Supply Chain, GE Aviation
  • Miranda Hogg, Bank Counsel, First Financial Bank
  • Remington Jackson, Associate Counsel, The Port Authority
  • Pramila Kamath, Corporate Counsel, Litigation, The Kroger Company
  • Shelly Kendricks, Corporate Counsel, Fujitec America, Inc.
  • Mina Jones Jefferson, Esq., Associate Dean & Chief of Staff, University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • Jody Klekamp, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Ken Kreider, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Max Langenkamp, Vice President of Human Resources, Cintas Corporation
  • Shannon Lawson, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Joe Lehnert, Associate, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Rob Lesan, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Melanie McKinney, Vice President, Legal Counsel, Fifth Third Bank
  • Lisa Wintersheimer Michel, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Julie Mulhern, Director of Legal Recruiting and Professional Development, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Erica O’Brien, Senior Labor & Employment Practices Counsel, Cintas Corporation
  • Jim Parsons¸ Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Bill Posey, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Bethany Recht, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Jacob Rhode, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Adrienne Roach, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Bob Sanker, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Mark Sims, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Ben Stewart, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Brandi Stewart, Assistant US Attorney, US Department of Justice
  • Jason Stitt, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Adreanne Stuckey, Environmental Counsel, Duke Energy
  • Tom Tepe, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Kelley Brandstetter Tracy, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Phil Tracy, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Bear Tullis, Partner, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
  • Andres Velarde, Senior Counsel, The Procter & Gamble Company
  • Anitra Walden-Jacobs, Labor and Employment Counsel, Speedway LLC
  • Verna Williams, Dean and Nippert Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati College of Law
  • John Williams, Associate General Counsel, FirstGroup
  • Danyelle Wright, Vice President, Employment and Labor Law and 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 100 corporations to start-up companies. Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers® 2019 recognized KMK as a leading law firm in Ohio in Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions, General Commercial Litigation, and Bankruptcy & Restructuring. KMK Law earned five National Rankings in Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, Project Finance Law, and Venture Capital Law as well as 37 Metropolitan Rankings in the U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers publication of its 2020 “Best Law Firms” Report. Founded in 1954, KMK has 120 lawyers and a support staff of approximately 150 employees. Additional information is available at www.kmklaw.com.

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