MIAMI, FLA., March 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced that Larry W. Ross II, an associate with the firm's Corporate Practice Group, has been nominated by the firm and selected to participate in the 2014 Fellows Program of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).
"We're thrilled for Larry that he has received this honor," said Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. "We're happy to partner with the LCLD Fellows program as it continues to promote diversity with talented legal professionals like Larry."
Launched in 2011, the LCLD Fellows program is a highly structured initiative built to increase diversity at the leadership levels of the nation's law firms and corporate legal departments. Over the course of the year-long program, participants will be challenged to improve their professional brand, build relationships that enhance professional development, participate in corporate learning experiences, and sharpen stewardship and leadership skills.
Ross practices in the areas of corporate law, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Oklahoma, his M.B.A. degree from Texas Christian University, and his J.D. degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Ross joins a class of more than 170 attorneys from around the country who have been se-lected as LCLD Fellows for 2014—the largest class in the program's history.
"Our Fellows program is a unique learning experience designed to empower a new generation of lawyers," said Brad Smith, LCLD Chair and Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Microsoft Corporation. "These talented individuals have been singled out for leadership by their organizations, and represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds that are as diverse as the country they serve."
With 215 members, LCLD is a national organization comprised of the general counsel and managing partners of the leading corporations and law firms in the United States. The Fellows initiative is one of several launched by LCLD since the organization's founding in 2009. Other programs include a national mentoring initiative serving more than 2,000 mentors and mentees, a 1L Scholars program involving more than 200 first-year law students, and special programming for members through CLE presentations and other platforms. For more information on the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, please visit www.lcldnet.org.
About Akerman LLP
Akerman LLP is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle market M &A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse Latin America practice. With more than 600 lawyers and government affairs professionals and a network of 20 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States by The National Law Journal NLJ 350 (2013). Akerman also is ranked among the top 50 law firms for diversity in The American Lawyer's Diversity Scorecard (2013). More information can be found at akerman.com or twitter.com/akerman_law.