Firm News

Kegler Brown proudly announces the selection of two deserving recipients of its annual Diversity Scholarships, recognizing their academic excellence, social and community contributions, and their potential impact on the future of the legal community. This year’s recipients, Reema Rao and Joseph Okeke, stand out for their remarkable achievements and dedication.

Reema earned a B.S. in Business Administration (finance specialization) from OSU’s Fisher College of Business and a B.A. in History from OSU. Along with serving as a member of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, her work experience includes being a teaching assistant at OSU’s Fisher College of Business, a corporate finance and accounting intern with PNC, a board of revision intern with the Franklin County Auditor’s Office, and an instructor at the Worthington Martial Arts Institute.

Joseph also earned a B.S. in Business Administration from OSU’s Fisher College of Business. He serves as a member of the Black Law Student Association and earned the Diversity Enrichment Scholarship. His work experience includes nearly three years at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in various roles.

"Diversity isn't just a goal; it's the driving force behind our commitment to a richer, more inclusive legal landscape,” said Managing Director Chris Weber.

In its twenty-first year, the Kegler Brown Diversity Scholarship program, comprising $10,000 scholarships and paid summer clerkship positions, reaffirms the firm's dedication to nurturing diverse legal talent and fostering an inclusive environment.

Kegler Brown maintains an internal Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Committee to formalize and further the firm's commitment to achieving diversity at all levels of the organization. Alongside our long-standing Women’s Collaborative, we are charter members of the Columbus Bar Association’s Managing Partners’ Diversity Initiative. This initiative collaborates with local law firms, law schools, and the CBA to significantly increase the recruitment, hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse attorneys in our firm and others. Additionally, our firm has achieved Mansfield Certification, measuring the structural changes and steps taken over the past year to ensure transparent and accessible paths to leadership for all qualified lawyers, including lateral hiring, client pitch teams, promotions, appointments, and more.

Learn more about our Diversity Scholarship program here.