Elected and Appointed

Blank Rome announced that associate Melanie Carter was appointed to the board of trustees for KIPP Philadelphia, a network of six college-preparatory public charter schools educating more than 2,000 students.

As a board member, Carter will play a role in setting the vision and policy for the schools, as well as ensuring fiscal, legal and academic accountability and raising necessary funds.

Carter concentrates her practice in complex commercial and corporate matters.

She has experience counseling clients on a range of business issues, such as corporate litigation and business disputes, including breach of contract, fraud and other business torts; real estate tax assessment, exemption and constitutional litigation; and energy litigation.

She also regularly represents pharmaceutical companies in national state and federal products liability cases.

Carter began her legal career as a federal law clerk to U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Carter serves as a member of the firm's Philadelphia attorney recruiting and retention committee, sits on the firm's alumni committee, and co-chaired the Philadelphia 2017, 2018 and 2019 summer associate programs.

She is a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Speakers

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young partners Jonathan Bloom and Danielle Banks served as speakers to the Association of Corporate Counsel in a webinar titled "Get Out of Your Own Comfort Zone: Repairing the Implicit and Overt Racial Bias in Your Organization."

The presentation provided viewers with insight on how to help uncover and repair both the subtle and not-so-subtle racism that may be embedded within an organization.

Bloom, chair of Stradley's employment and labor practice group, represents public and private companies, governmental entities and executives in all aspects of employment law and litigation.

He has a practice representing parties in employee departure matters, litigating noncompetition, nonsolicitation and confidentiality issues.

Bloom is actively involved in Meritas, an international affiliation of law firms in 200 markets in the United States and worldwide, and currently serves as chair of its race and equality committee.

He previously served as a member of the Meritas board of directors and on its executive committee for eight years.

Banks is a partner in Stradley's employment and labor group and a member of firm's diversity committee.

She devotes much of her practice to defending businesses, universities and governmental entities against employment discrimination claims.

Banks also regularly counsels clients on issues of race, diversity and inclusion.

Banks served as co-president of the board of directors of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group and currently serves as a member of that board.

Banks is a frequent lecturer on a variety of employment, race and diversity topics.

Announcements

Duane Morris' Meals for Healthcare Heroes program provided meals for more than 20,000 medical professionals in 16 cities.

Duane Morris' COVID-19 strategy team established the initiative, funded by donations from

Duane Morris attorneys and staff, to honor health care workers and support local restaurants.

The medical facilities and restaurants supported in the program included Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia and Murray's Deli in Philadelphia and UPMC Shadyside and Market Street Grocery in Pittsburgh.

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If you're a plaintiffs or defense attorney who has obtained a verdict or settlement in Pennsylvania county or federal court recently, email Zack Needles at [email protected].