Miles & Stockbridge is pleased to announce that José Bahamonde-González, the law firm’s chief diversity, inclusion & professional development officer, has been honored by his alma mater Syracuse University College of Law with the 2020 Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) Legacy Award. Bahamonde-González founded the first Latino/a Law Student Association at Syracuse law school in 1990.

The LALSA Legacy Award recognizes Syracuse University College of Law alumni and alumnae who have made significant contributions to the community and have achieved excellence and recognition in their fields. This award also celebrates and recognizes the dedicated efforts that members of the Latin American community and other members from these countries of origin have made in overcoming the underrepresentation of Latinx in the legal field.

“José’s trailblazing diversity and inclusion efforts as a law student, associate law school dean and law firm professional serve as inspiration to the College of Law's students, staff and faculty,” said Craig M. Boise, Dean of Syracuse University College of Law. “José’s recognition by the Syracuse University Law Alumni Association’s Inclusion Network is very well-deserved, and the College remains grateful for all he does in support of his alma mater and our students and in support of inclusion and equity throughout the world.”

Bahamonde-González was recognized on September 26 during the virtual Syracuse Law Alumni Weekend’s Alumni of Color Awards ceremony. Also honored during the ceremony was Felicia Collins Ocumarez, in-house counsel in the legal division of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the corporate, consumer, insurance and legislation branch. Collins Ocumarez is the 2020 recipient of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) William Herbert Johnson L’1903 Legacy Award.

About José Bahamonde-González

A highly-regarded diversity and inclusion professional, Bahamonde-González joined Miles & Stockbridge in 2019 as the law firm’s first chief diversity, inclusion & professional development officer. With the hiring of Bahamonde-González, Miles & Stockbridge elevated this role from a director to a chief officer position and the firm’s executive team—a demonstration of the firm’s commitment to driving its diversity and inclusion efforts to an even higher level. In addition to serving on Miles & Stockbridge’s leadership team, he serves on the firm’s pro bono committee.

Bahamonde-González previously spent 23 years at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, serving as associate dean for professional education and in other related associate dean positions. He continues to provide the Professional Development Lecture Series to students in the master of science in law and master of laws programs, as well as promote pro bono opportunities to juris doctor students.

He was the inaugural chair of the Diversity Advisory Council for the president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus and, throughout his career at the law school, served as advisor to the Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA) and the OUTLaw student groups. An active member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) since 1992, he has served as vice president, and currently serves as chair of the NALP Diversity Committee, LGBTQ Work Group. He is a member of the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA) and received the MHBA 2018 Outstanding Achievement Award for his work counseling and mentoring Latinx law students and lawyers.

About Miles & Stockbridge

Miles & Stockbridge is a leading law firm with offices in the mid-Atlantic region. Its lawyers help global, national, local and emerging business clients preserve and create value by helping them solve their most challenging problems.

The firm strives every day to elevate diversity and inclusion from an initiative to a way of life for all firm colleagues. Among its efforts, the firm supports four active affinity groups led by its lawyers—the Miles & Stockbridge Jewish Alliance, LGBTQ Alliance, Minority Network and Women’s Network.

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