Message from our Diversity Committee Chair

Celebrating the Growth of Our Fellowship Program and Launch of Our Mentorship Program!

By Malinda Lee

Four years ago, the Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section started the Inclusion and Diversity Fellowship Program to encourage law students from diverse backgrounds to join the practice of antitrust and unfair competition law and increase the level of diversity in these fields. The Section’s Diversity Committee manages the year-long program and celebrates its expansion with a second Fellowship award this year. The Fellowship includes a stipend and summer internship with the California Attorney General’s Office in the Antitrust Section and Competition Unit of the Healthcare Rights and Access Section. We are about to welcome our fourth class of Fellows and congratulate Catalina Martinez-Baenen on completing her successful term as our 2023-2024 Fellow (watch our interview with Cataline here). The program continues to attract exceptional and growing applicant pools year-over-year, and generous sponsorships have supported its expansion.

Building on our mission to increase the participation and visibility of diverse and underrepresented lawyers in our practices, the Committee is pleased to announce the launch of our Mentorship Program, which pairs newer attorneys and law students interested in pursuing careers in antitrust and unfair competition law with more experienced attorney mentors. The goal of the program is to facilitate meaningful professional connections between mentors and mentees. Mentorship can play an important role at any stage of career or student life. We encourage you to apply to become either a mentor or mentee and join our diverse and inclusive network.

The positive impact of our work is only possible because of your support in promoting the next generation of antitrust and unfair competition practitioners and leaders. We are proud to introduce two such individuals, our 2024-2025 Inclusion and Diversity Fellows, Iman Eslami and Karla Lora !

2024-2025 Inclusion & Diversity Fellows

Iman Eslami (UC Berkeley Law School, Class of 2026)

“I will be the first member of my family to become a lawyer and I hope to use my experience in finding my identity as inspiration to add empathy to the legal profession. . . I now recognize the power I have as a future lawyer to make sure American consumers are protected.”

Karla Lora (University of San Diego School of Law, Class of 2026)

“By breaking the mold and venturing into areas traditionally underrepresented by individuals from marginalized backgrounds, we can challenge stereotypes and contribute to a more equitable distribution of voices within the legal field.”