Kim Koopersmith Named Co-Chair of NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Board of Directors

(New York) – The Board of Directors of the  NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) today announced that Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith and Angela Vallot, Co-Founder and Partner at VallotKarp Consulting, will become the new co-chairs of LDF’s Board of Directors. This marks the first time that women will lead the LDF Board. The two will formally assume their leadership roles at the board’s annual meeting in November.

“Co-chairing the board of LDF is one of the greatest honors of my legal career,” said Ms. Koopersmith. “This is an organization I care deeply about and our firm’s long history of involvement with LDF – starting with Vernon Jordan’s many years of service on the LDF board – makes this honor even more special. To take on this opportunity with Angela Vallot, a professional colleague and good friend, leaves me humbled and filled with a sense of possibility. There is much to be done and I couldn’t have a better co-chair for the challenging road ahead.”

Ms. Koopersmith has sat on LDF’s board since 2015, serving on its Compensation, Pension, and Finance committees. As chair of Akin Gump, Ms. Koopersmith has been a leading voice on issues of diversity in the legal profession and the role of law firms in addressing racial injustice. She has also been a champion of the special responsibilities of members of the legal profession to provide pro bono legal services to those in need, and the firm has been recognized for aligning its pro bono work with racial justice issues.

Ms. Koopersmith is a former chair of the board of directors of Equal Justice Works, an organization funding fellowships for law students pursuing public service careers, and remains a member of its board. She also serves on the board of directors of Her Justice, an organization dedicated to assisting women in poverty. Ms. Koopersmith has been recognized on numerous occasions for her law firm leadership and her focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and pro bono in the legal profession.

“Angela Vallot and Kim Koopersmith have been invaluable members of LDF’s Board of Directors for many years, serving on key committees, and contributing their vast knowledge and expertise to our work. Their deep commitment to racial justice and civil rights has been an integral part of their Board service and the tremendous impact they have had over the years,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, LDF’s President and Director-Counsel. “I am thrilled about what their leadership will bring to continuing to strengthen LDF well into the future, and for the historic nature of their election as the first women to lead our Board.”

To learn more about Ms. Koopersmith’s appointment, please click here.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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