On October 16, 2019, Chicago partner Avanti Bakane was a featured panelist at the DePaul College of Law Student Bar Association's Diversity Week. A Women's Bar Association and Women of Color Collective collaboration, the panelists explored the ways in which women of diverse backgrounds navigate the legal profession, and how allies can support them. Bakane, an alumnus of DePaul, spoke alongside Max Elliott, General Counsel of the Bernie Mac Foundation and an American Bar Association Fellow. The two shared valuable insight on the essential piece of inclusion within the diversity framework, combatting macroaggression, and how law schools can better prepare women for the legal profession. Dean Jennifer Rosato Perea kicked off the event with insight remarks about how the profession has changed, diversity of thought, and what women can do to prop each other up as they rise the ranks.
Bakane has global perspective that allows for understanding of diverse viewpoints. She serves as co-chair of the firm’s South Asian Affinity Group and member of its Diversity Committee, Avanti also dedicates her time outside of the office to the community. She serves as VP of Communications for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and a member of Leading India's Future Today's (LIFT) Board of Governors. Bakane is a past President of the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago, past Honorary Board Member for the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago (AABA), and volunteers with several non-profit organizations to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth, end gender violence, and find homes for rescue dogs.
In her legal practice, Bakane provides legal counsel to publicly traded and smaller companies in areas such as complex class action, antitrust, breach of contract, and general commercial litigation with a focus upon consumer class action defense. Her practice also includes representing businesses and creative professionals in software and e-commerce development, data privacy, data loss, licensing, and copyright infringement disputes. With experience in federal and state courts across the country, Bakane is a key asset in pre-suit negotiations, litigation, and compliance. She understands the importance of responsiveness, efficiency, and effective results to her clients.