SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Brooks Kushman is pleased to announce that Chanille Carswell, Shareholder and Co-Chair of Litigation, has been appointed Chief Diversity Officer of the firm. In her role, Carswell will be responsible for overseeing the strategic planning of the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives both within the firm and in our communities.
In her expanded leadership role, Carswell will continue to focus her efforts on broadening Brooks Kushman’s mentoring and recruitment programs, professional development strategies, pipeline initiatives, and community outreach programs. Carswell will work closely with the firm’s Executive Committee to implement internal strategies that foster hiring, mentoring, and promoting diverse professionals.
“At this critical juncture, when our work and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion must reach a new level, we are elated to have Chanille as our Chief Diversity Officer” said Sangeeta Shah, CEO of Brooks Kushman. “She is a proven leader and has an impressive track record. Throughout her career, she has seized opportunities to advance underrepresented groups, and to understand and pursue effective strategies for progress in the legal profession and broader community. She has been a pillar of Brooks Kushman’s DEI initiatives. Over the past decade, she has repeatedly demonstrated her willingness to go above and beyond to effectuate real change, which is why I know she is a great fit for this leadership position.”
Carswell is an active member of the legal community and is dedicated to advancing DEI not just within Brooks Kushman but throughout the greater community. As a part of these efforts, she facilitates the firm’s participation in the Wolverine Bar Association’s Summer Clerkship Program, which is designed to help increase the number of practicing minority attorneys. Carswell was also a 2015 Fellow within the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) and is the Membership Chair for the Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court. Carswell is an active participant of the Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC) community, and annually attends their Career Strategies Conference.
“I am honored to be appointed Brooks Kushman’s Chief Diversity Officer. I admire all of the work the team has done so far to elevate DEI issues not only in the firm but the wider legal community, and I can’t wait to continue to advocate for these efforts,” said Carswell. “I am passionate about pushing our firm to be a leader in the DEI space, and I have a lot of ideas about how we can get there.”
Carswell is passionate about giving back to her community and prioritizes civic engagement activities on a local level. She is a regular supporter of Alternatives for Girls, a nonprofit organization that serves homeless and at-risk girls and women in her hometown, Detroit.
As the new Chief Diversity Officer, Carswell will continue to improve transparency and objectiveness in our hiring and promotional processes, improve metric tracking so we are able to address our shortfalls and biases, create more opportunities for diverse individuals, and bridge gaps between our employees that are preventing significant equalization to take place regardless of how a person identifies.
The firm will also continue its involvement in the legal community through partnerships and relationships with key local, national, and international organizations, including the Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC), the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), diversity and women focused bar associations, and ChIPs. We are also proud to continue our relationships with organizations like the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (IPO) and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) to support their women-focused committees and events.
About Brooks Kushman P.C.
Brooks Kushman P.C. is a premier intellectual property (IP) and technology law firm dedicated to the advancement and protection of innovations and brands that propel businesses around the world. With offices in Michigan and California, we work alongside corporations, small to medium sized businesses, and leading universities to protect their intellectual property assets. Our attorneys have a broad range of experience in industries and technologies, including consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical device, computer technology, aerospace, chemicals, biotechnology, and retail.
Brooks Kushman counts a number of Fortune 100 companies across a variety of industries among its clients. The firm is also recognized by leading legal publications and rankings, including Corporate Counsel magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Law360, Intellectual Asset Management, Managing Intellectual Property, and Intellectual Property Today. For more information, please visit www.BrooksKushman.com.
