Jade O. Laye, an associate in the Intellectual Property Practice Group at Haynes and Boone, LLP, has been selected for the 2016 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD).
Laye joins an esteemed class of lawyers nationwide who have been selected to participate in the year-long program designed to offer fellows an opportunity to network and learn from top leaders in the legal field.
The program centers on purpose-driven curriculum designed to help fellows develop three core competencies: professional branding, relationship building, and transformational leadership. Program components include in-person meetings such as panel discussions and guest speakers, interactive professional development and networking events hosted by sponsor corporations, and small group gatherings that focus on personal interactions with key business leaders of large US corporations and preeminent leaders in the legal field.
“Being selected as an LCLD fellow is a great honor,” said Laye. “I look forward to expanding my leadership capabilities through this unique opportunity and applying the skills at our great firm.”
LCLD Fellows are leaders that have distinguished themselves within their corporation or law firm. They are nominated for the fellowship by a general counsel or managing partner for demonstrating a career history that reflects strong performance and leadership skills.
“Jade is most deserving of this recognition,” said firm Managing Partner Tim Powers. “He has consistently exceeded expectations of clients and colleagues, and has proven to be an outstanding contributor to the firm and our continued success.”
Laye will be participating in the Fellows First Meeting in Austin, Texas from March 4 to 6, which will recognize the 2016 LCLD Class of Fellows.
At the firm, Laye focuses his practice on intellectual property law with an emphasis on patent prosecution and counseling, as well as the acquisition, licensing and divestiture of patent rights. He was honored on the Houston Business Journal’s 2015 List of Top Patent Practitioners.
In addition to his work as a registered patent attorney, Laye’s patent examination experience provides his clients with a significant advantage in both prosecution and litigation. He is a former patent examiner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in its telecommunications division. While at the USPTO, Laye’s technical focus was in the area of video and data distribution systems, networks, electronic programming guides, and related technology, such as video recording devices, modems and hand-held communications devices.
The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) was formed in May 2009 and is an organization of corporate chief legal officers and law firm managing partners dedicated to creating a truly diverse legal professional. LCLD’s vision is to significantly advance diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Its mission is to continue the work of its “Call to Action” initiative by having its organizations hire, retain, promote and engage the best talent, and that a critical and necessary element of having the best talent is having diverse talent.