Sidley is pleased to announce its selection of four rising leaders to participate in the premier professional development programs of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). As a law firm member of LCLD, which prepares future generations of diverse talent for the highest positions of leadership, Sidley is sponsoring partner Deeona R. Gaskin as a 2021 LCLD Fellow and associates Chanse J. Barnes, Natalie C. Chan, and Mario R. Samos as 2021 LCLD Pathfinders.
Deeona R. Gaskin is a partner in the firm’s Food, Drug and Medical Device Compliance and Enforcement group and is based in the Washington, D.C. office. She holds a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School and a master’s degree in public health from Harvard School of Public Health, and previously served as Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Lawyers selected for the flagship LCLD Fellows program demonstrate leadership skills, impact in their organization, engagement within the community, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Throughout her Fellows year, Deeona will receive professional and personal development opportunities, leadership training, and relationship-building opportunities, including access to LCLD members and alumni.
Chanse J. Barnes is an associate in the Energy group at Sidley’s office in Houston, with a focus on representing private businesses and private equity funds in the energy and infrastructure space. Chanse has previous industry experience representing private companies, portfolio companies, and management teams in a range of complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and general corporate matters.
Natalie C. Chan is an associate in Sidley’s Chicago office, where she focuses on employment and labor law and commercial disputes. Her practice includes litigating, counseling, conducting internal investigations, training business leaders, and advising on corporate transactions. Natalie serves as the associate deputy co-chair of the firm’s Chicago Diversity and Inclusion Committee, among other leadership roles within and outside the firm.
Mario R. Samos is an associate in the firm’s Houston office, with a focus on power sales, structured finance, and mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry. Prior to law school, he worked at the U.S. Department of Justice as an analyst covering emerging security threats and during law school, he interned at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission researching investment fraud.
As 2021 LCLD Pathfinders, Chanse, Natalie, and Mario will receive practical tools for developing and leveraging internal professional networks, foundational leadership skills, and career path strategies through online experiential learning, conversations with LCLD alumni, peer networking, and other experiences throughout the year.
