Spencer Fane was honored to return as a sponsor for the Lavender Law Conference & Career Fair, on July 13-15 in Chicago. Firm attorneys Jeremy Ashton, Nate Barker, Lydia Bayley, Colin Goodman, Suzanne Konrad, and Zachary Palomino, and professionals Erin Kapaska and Bernadette Lawson represented the firm at the event.
Hosted by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Lavender Law is the largest LGBTQIA+ legal conference in the nation. Its extensive programming includes specialty sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities for thousands of LGBTQIA+ and allied legal professionals from across the country.
In addition to the firm’s Advocate-level sponsorship, Erin and Bernadette managed the Spencer Fane booth at the July 13 Career Fair. The Spencer Fane team met with several top-level law students and lateral candidates and discussed the firm’s dynamic culture – which includes a focus on inclusivity and belongingness as well as ongoing growth, and career opportunities.
On July 15, Lydia was a panelist for the CLE, Intellectual Property and its Potential as a Sword and a Shield in the LGBTQ+ Community. This session provided a practical overview of U.S. intellectual property law through challenges affecting LGBTQ+ communities, nonprofits, creators, and small businesses. Drawing on recent cases and real-world disputes, the panel explored how patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets intersect with advocacy, creative expression, and community-based work.