Our Mission

To increase the representation of lawyers of color in the state of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

Our Story
LCD began in 2003 as The Connecticut Lawyers Group, in response to the need to advance diversity in Connecticut’s legal profession.

Today, we continue to support our members’ efforts to identify, recruit, and retain attorneys of color.
As the meaning of diversity has broadened, so has our charge. Increasing recruitment, retention, and promotion of a diverse population of attorneys must be cemented as not just good social policy, but as a necessary practice.
The students and professionals that have participated in our programs over the years have gone on to have very successful careers.
Whether they are practicing at a law firm, within a corporation, or for a government agency, our program participants credited LCD’s programs with helping to advance their careers. We will continue to champion the development of future lawyers from diverse backgrounds and support our member organizations in creating environments that are authentically inclusive.
Our Team
  • Joelle A. Murchison
    Joelle A. Murchison
    Executive Director
  • Brittany N. James
    Brittany N. James
    Operations Manager
Executive Committee
  • Sheldon Poole
    Sheldon Poole
    President
    Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P
  • Evan Seideman
    Evan Seideman
    Co-President
    Holland & Knight LLP
  • Theresa Guertin
    Theresa Guertin
    President Elect
    Saxe, Doernberger & Vita, P.C
  • John H. Mutchler
    John H. Mutchler
    Treasurer
    Robinson & Cole LLP and South Asian Bar Association of Connecticut (SABAC) Representative
  • Marie Bertrand
    Marie Bertrand
    Secretary
    Day Pitney LLP
  • Ginny Kim
    Ginny Kim
    Assistant Treasurer/Secretary
    Connecticut Office of the Treasurer
Board of Directors
  • Noble F. Allen
    Hinckley Allen & Snyder LLP
  • Dr. Bridgette Baldwin
    Western New England University
  • Kenneth J. Bartschi
    McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP
  • David Bigger
    Shipman & Goodwin LLP
  • Amanda M. Brahm
    Carlton Fields
  • Karrol-Ann Brown
    George W. Black Bar Association Representative
  • Dana Bucin
    Murtha Cullina LLP
  • Kevin Budge
    Wiggin and Dana LLP
  • Gregory Chase
    Connecticut Hispanic Bar Association (CHBA) Representative
  • Jenny Chou
    Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association (CAPABA) Representative
  • Burt Cohen
    Office of Consumer Counsel
  • Valerie M. Ferdon
    Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, P.C.
  • Kelly Fitzpatrick
    Koskoff Koskoff & Beider PC
  • Marilyn J. Ford
    Quinnipiac School of Law
  • Inez Diaz Galloza
    Office of Attorney General
  • Kristi Gardner
    Hartford Healthcare
  • Rashad K. Glass
    CT Division of Public Defender Services
  • Kenna Hagan
    Avangrid
  • Janet M. Helmke-Elmore
    Eversource Energy
  • Kyle R. Johnson
    Brown Rudnick LLP
  • Zachary Kammerdeiner
    CATIC
  • Jessica Grossarth Kennedy
    Pullman & Comley LLC
  • Tamu Lewis
    Finn Dixon & Herling LLP
  • Andrea Lockenour
    Boehringer Ingelheim
  • Joaquin Madry
    Silver Golub & Teitell LLP
  • Eboni S. Nelson
    University of Connecticut School of Law
  • Moyahoena N. Ogilvie
    McCarter & English, LLP
  • Claudia Sklar
    Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C.
  • Sarah​​​​ R. Skubas
    Jackson Lewis P.C.
  • Viet Tran
    RTX Corporation
  • Phyllis Wallitt
    Booking Holdings Inc.
  • Calvin K. Woo
    Verrill Dana LLP

Members

ACC ConnecticutAG of CTAvanGridBoehringer IngelheimBooking HoldingsBrown RudnickCarlton FieldsCarmodyCatic ExchangeCT Division of Public Defender ServicesDay Pitney LLPEversourceFinn Dixon & HerlingHartford HealthcareHinckley AllenHolland & KnightJackson LewisLocke LordMcCarter & EnglishMcElroy DeutschMurtha CullinaNeubert Pepe & MonteithOCC CTPullman & ComleyRaytheon TechnologiesRobinson + ColeSax Doernberger & VitaShipman & Goodwin LLPShook Hardy & BaconSilver Golub & TeitellTreasurer’s Office CTVerrillWigginYale New Haven Health

Affiliate Organizations

CAPABAConnecticut Bar AssociationConnecticut Hispanic Bar AssociationCT Bar FoundationGeorge W. Crawford Black Bar AssociationSouth Asian Bar Association of Connecticut

Law Schools

Quinnipiac University LawUniversity of Connecticut LawWestern New England University LawYale Law School