Overview
CHICAGO – McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to announce that Michael Chu and Christina Martini have been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as among “Chicago’s Notable Minority Lawyers” for 2018. The list highlights diverse lawyers in Chicago who have made a significant impact on their firms and within the broader legal community and who drive and maintain robust, client-first practices. The two intellectual property partners were both selected to Crain’s Chicago Business’ inaugural “Most Influential Minority Lawyers” list last year.
“McDermott’s culture is one of inclusivity, and our success is directly related to our ability to draw on diverse perspectives and collaborate to offer creative solutions for our clients,” said Anthony Upshaw, the Firm’s Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion. “We are tremendously proud of the leadership and dedication of lawyers like Tina and Mike, who catalyze change and drive progress at the workplace and within their communities.”
Michael focuses his practice on all aspects of intellectual property, including litigation, prosecution and counseling of patent and trademark issues. He advises clients in a range of industries on strategic growth and management of worldwide IP portfolios, including audits, competitive analyses, and prosecution to maximize the value of their assets. As chair of McDermott’s Racial & Ethnic Diversity Committee, he recently initiated and directed firm-wide programing on addressing unconscious bias. As a past president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, he consulted on McDermott’s pro bono involvement in the organization’s amicus brief challenging President Trump’s third Muslim and refugee ban.
Michael dedicates his time outside of the office to leading organizations that address underserved communities of color, including serving as board chair for Asian Americans Advancing Justice. He has been recognized with the Justice Laura C. Liu Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chinese American Bar Association for “a lifetime of exemplary service to the community and organization” and with the 2017 Trailblazer Award by the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago.
Christina focuses her global practice on trademark, copyright, domain name, Internet, advertising and unfair competition. Termed “a juggernaut in the trademark market,” she has received numerous professional accolades over the years. In 2017, Martini was one of four recipients of the Anti-Defamation League’s Women of Achievement Award, which is presented each year by the Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Regional Chapter of the ADL and recognizes women who are outstanding in their respective fields and embody the spirit and philosophy of the ADL. Her extensive leadership experience runs across the local and national legal and business communities and has included serving on numerous boards of directors, as well as leading practice groups and national recruiting teams and spearheading diversity, inclusion and women’s initiatives.
Christina is also a multimedia journalist and thought leader who frequently comments on current issues and trends impacting both the legal and business landscapes. She is co-host of WGN Radio’s nationally recognized radio show Legal Face-Off, and she is creator, producer and host of her own podcast Paradigm Shift, which explores important issues at the intersection of business and law.
McDermott is dedicated to attracting top talent from a variety of diverse backgrounds and fostering an inclusive work environment. The Firm recently achieved Mansfield Certification for its progress in building a diverse leadership pipeline and has committed to “Mansfield 2.0,” which adds consideration for LGBTQ+ lawyers. McDermott has frequently been recognized as a leader in inclusivity, including earning a perfect score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for the past 12 years.
For the full list of “Chicago’s Notable Minority Lawyers,” please click here.
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery is a premier international law firm with a diversified business practice. Numbering more than 1,000 lawyers, we have offices in Boston, Brussels, Chicago, Dallas, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, Munich, New York, Orange County, Paris, San Francisco, Seoul, Silicon Valley and Washington, DC. Further extending our reach into Asia, we have a strategic alliance with MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai.
