BCLP Announces New Co-Chairs of I&D Action Board

International law firm BCLP has announced that Partners Sunita Chawla and Shelley Goto have been named the new co-chairs of the firm’s Global I&D Action Board.

The Global I&D Advisory Board, established in 2018, underwent a significant transformation in 2020, becoming the current Global I&D Action Board. Partners Meridyth Andresen and Segun Osuntokun have led the Board for four years. They are now stepping down from their roles, leaving a legacy of impactful I&D initiatives.

Sunita is a partner in the real estate sector team with extensive experience in advising on the full lifecycle of real estate transactions including the acquisition, development and financing of complex real estate assets, joint ventures and sale and leasebacks across a number of sectors. Sunita also currently co-chairs the BCLP UK Race and Ethnicity Inclusion Network

“BCLP has always been proactive around diversity initiatives, and I am excited to work with the I&D Action Board and firm leadership to make meaningful progress in our I&D goals and strategic plans,” said Sunita about her appointment.

Shelley practices with the firm’s Financial Services and Real Estate groups.  She primarily represents major financial institutions and CMBS/CME loan servicers in connection with both portfolio and securitized commercial mortgage loan transactions, with a particular focus on originations and defeasances. She also has broad experience with a variety of other real estate transactions, representing landlords and tenants in lease negotiations, and buyers and sellers in real estate acquisitions and dispositions “I&D initiatives remain a crucial component of law firm success. The I&D Action Board has important work to do, and I am looking forward to getting started,” added Shelley.

BCLP also announced that Partner Rebecca Campbell, practicing with the firm’s Real Estate Disputes Group, has joined the Global I&D Action Board.

BCLP recently released its 2023 Inclusion, Diversity & Wellbeing Report which highlight’s the firm’s ongoing efforts and successes around I&D supported by our core belief that an inclusive culture is essential to our success.

“Across every area of our firm, inclusion, diversity and wellbeing is embedded in our culture and critical to our firm strategy— these values are core to who we are, make us stronger and are key to a sustainable business,” BCLP CEO Steve Baumer said. “In 2024, we are committed to advancing our I&D and Wellbeing initiatives and goals across the firm, enhancing the experience of our people and results for our clients.”