Nimesh Patel is the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for Akin. In this role, he works closely with the firm’s chairperson and Management Committee and is responsible for leading the firm’s global DEI strategy and initiatives. This includes ensuring that the firm’s core values of inclusiveness and diversity are reflected in all efforts related to recruiting, professional development, advancement and strategic partnerships. Nimesh has more than 20 years of experience advancing DEI issues in both the private sector and the federal government. 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, with 230,000 employees worldwide. Nimesh’s prior work experience also includes being an associate in the labor and employment practice at two large international law firms, with a specialty in corporate diversity counseling. He started his career as an Honor’s Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, where his experience included serving as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section and as an assistant general counsel for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Nimesh’s numerous leadership experiences include currently serving as the President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation, as well as former President of NAPABA, former board member of Asian Americans Advancing Justice: AAJC and former vice chair of the D.C. Commission on Human Rights.