Nimesh Patel Wins Inclusive Excellence Award by Alma Mater

Nimesh Patel, the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Akin, has won the Inclusive Excellence Award by his alma mater, the Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University. The 2024 Alumni Awards recognize “distinguished and committed alumni” who help “shape our world and strengthen communities.”

With over 20 years of advancing DEI issues in both the private sector and the federal government, Nimesh has led Akin’s diversity initiatives and programs, and ensuring that inclusivity it reflected in the firm’s recruiting, professional development, advancement and partnerships.

Through his efforts, Akin has been awarded a perfect score for 15 consecutive years, in the annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. He currently serves as President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation and is a former board member of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) and former vice chair of the D.C. Commission on Human Rights. Prior to joining Akin, he served as the head of diversity and inclusion at another prominent global law firm. During the Obama Administration, Nimesh also served as the first Chief DEI Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Nimesh joins Yvette McGee Brown, Gregory J. Vincent and Dr. Robert J. Weiler, Sr. in the category from previous years. Yvette is the first Black woman to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court, while Gregory is a prominent voice and advocate for social justice and civil rights, recently serving as the 21st President of Talladega College. Robert Weiler serves as Chairman of the Board at The Robert Weiler Company.

Nimesh, along with all other honorees, will be recognized at a reception in October.