Mintz is pleased to announce that DC Office Managing Member Michelle Lipkowitz and Associate Courtney Herndon have been selected for the National Black Lawyers (NBL) “Top 100” list. Additionally, Associates Alain Mathieu, Allanah Wynn, Laura Martin, and Chris Lighten have been named to the National Black Lawyers' “Top 40 Under 40”.

The NBL Top 100 celebrates legal excellence by promoting attorneys from each state or region as subject-matter authorities, developing a strong national network of top African American attorneys, and facilitating the exchange of timely information, enabling its members to maintain their status as leaders.

Michelle is a seasoned litigator with a multifaceted practice that encompasses complex commercial litigation, white collar defense, and government investigations. She has extensive experience with shareholder, construction, product liability, and contract disputes as well as consumer class actions and criminal defense matters. She represents clients in a broad spectrum of industries, including pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, education, financial services, health care, construction, technology, retail, and telecommunications, as well as governmental entities and nonprofits.

Courtney is an intellectual property attorney whose practice is focused on patent litigation in Federal District Courts and before the US International Trade Commission. She is also a key member of teams arguing cases at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

The NBL "Top 40 Under 40" recognition celebrates 40 of the most talented Black attorneys from each state or region that have an outstanding reputation among peers, notable achievements, leadership and membership in other legal organizations, and rankings by leading national organizations.

Alain’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes, business litigation, and government investigations, as well as institutional class action recovery and product liability. He is an active member of the firm’s Sports & Entertainment Practice, where he counsels clients in personal business, branding and licensing, league compliance, investigations, and litigation. Mr. Mathieu is also an active member of the firm’s Institutional Class Action Recovery Practice, where he advises institutional investors with respect to the monitoring and evaluation of both foreign and domestic securities class actions. Mr. Mathieu represents clients across numerous industries including sports & entertainment, financial services, retail and consumer products, healthcare, and technology and software. In addition, he maintains an active pro bono practice, in which he counsels and represents clients in matters related to domestic and sexual violence, immigration, and civil appeals.

Allanah concentrates her practice on corporate and securities matters with an emphasis on securities offerings, venture capital, and corporate governance.  She regularly represents start-ups and emerging companies, venture funds, private equity investors, and family offices in private securities transactions, including early and late-stage equity financings, convertible debt, and other structures. As an advisor to start-ups and emerging companies, Allanah provides day-to-day counseling and strategic advice, and regularly counsels clients on all issues and transactions that arise during a company’s lifecycle, such as those involving strategic alliances, technology transactions, and exit/M&A. 

Laura’s practice encompasses internal investigations, government investigations and enforcement proceedings, white collar criminal defense, and complex litigation matters for clients in a wide variety of industries including education, healthcare, and financial services. She has experience guiding clients through pre-litigation investigations and managing the electronic discovery process for internal investigations and government inquiries.  Laura’s practice also includes advising clients in the sports & entertainment industry in matters concerning sponsorship agreements, marketing representation agreements, and Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for collegiate athletes.  In addition, Laura maintains an active pro bono practice, in which she counsels and represents clients in matters related to unemployment benefits, evictions, immigration, and sealing criminal records.

Chris focuses his practice on complex real estate transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, leasing deals, and the financing of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. He has experience negotiating real estate transaction agreements, conducting due diligence, and handling title and survey matters. Chris has represented real estate developers and property owners in a variety of industries.