Mariah Whitner and Taylor Wirth Selected to Represent Firm for Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Pathfinder and Fellow Programs

Barnes & Thornburg has selected Mariah Whitner and Taylor Wirth as participants in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity's (LCLD) Pathfinder and Fellows programs, respectively. LCLD is one of the nation’s leading organizations promoting diversity and consists of more than 430 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners who have dedicated themselves to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession.

Whitner, who will be participating in the Pathfinders program, is a litigator who focuses her practice on complex antitrust, commercial litigation, product liability, and securities regulation. Whitner started her career at the firm as a summer associate and is now in her fourth year as an associate in the Chicago office.

LCLD's Pathfinder Program, initiated in 2015, aims to bridge learning and support gaps for early-career attorneys, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential. The Pathfinder Program's unique curriculum empowers participants like Mariah to develop crucial leadership skills, establish professional relationships and networks, and formulate effective career development strategies.

Wirth, a partner in the firm’s Nashville office, joined the firm in 2023; he will participate in this year’s Fellows program. Wirth concentrates his practice on counseling public companies across a wide range of industries, including retail and consumer products, healthcare and real estate investment trusts (REIT). Wirth also dedicates a significant portion of his time to pro bono efforts, with a particular focus on organizations that further diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Wirth was part of LCLD’s Pathfinder program in 2021.

LCLD's Fellows program, established in 2011, addresses learning and support needs for mid-career attorneys, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, who exhibit promising leadership potential.

"We are committed to providing opportunities for rising stars to grow and thrive, and we are confident that Mariah and Taylor will make the most of this experience and will lead well," said Dawn R. Rosemond, Barnes & Thornburg’s firm diversity partner.

With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.