Ballard Spahr Names Maria Gall and Chittam Thakore to the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellows and Pathfinders Program

Ballard Spahr has chosen Maria Gall and Chittam U. Thakore to participate in the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows Program and Pathfinders Program, respectively.

LCLD comprises more than 350 corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners committed to advancing diversity. The Fellows Program includes relationship-building, virtual training, peer group projects, and extensive contact with LCLD's top leadership, including the managing partners and general counsel who host the Fellows for Learning Experiences and Leadership Lunches.

The Pathfinders program is designed to train high-performing, early-career attorneys in professional development strategies. The program offers participants intensive online learning, and opportunities to network with peers and LCLD Fellows and alumni.

Ms. Gall, a partner in Ballard Spahr’s Las Vegas office, is a business litigator who focuses on corporate governance and securities litigation, as well as contractual liability, complex construction disputes, and high-value, post-judgment collection matters. She co-chairs the firm’s business resource group for women, Ballard Women.

Dr. Thakore, who holds a Ph.D. in cell biology, is an intellectual property litigator focused patent, trademark, and trade secret litigation. She also advises clients on patent litigation strategy, including preparing invalidity or non-infringement positions. An associate in the firm’s Atlanta office, Dr. Thakore also serves as a Ballard Women co-chair.