AmLaw 200 law firm Benesch is pleased to announce that Crain’s Chicago Business has selected Partner Juan Morado Jr. as a 2023 Notable Leader in DEI. The list recognizes the top DEI leaders in Chicago who are making a difference in their workplaces and communities.
In addition to his role as a leading healthcare and corporate attorney at the firm, Juan serves as co-chair of Benesch’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. In this role, he is responsible for executing the firm’s multi-year DEI strategic plan that is focused on increasing representation through intentional recruiting, equitable policies and mentorship.
These efforts have led to the firm achieving certification through the esteemed Mansfield Rule Certification process. Juan also serves as a point of contact for clients interested in furthering their DEI efforts and initiatives.“DEI is woven into the firm’s decision-making process at all levels, largely because of the strategic plan developed with Juan’s leadership,” noted Benesch Managing Partner Gregg Eisenberg. “We are thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved recognition.”In the legal community, immediately following his election as president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) in 2018, Juan identified a massive opportunity gap wherein its Latina members lacked consistent access to mentorship and exposure opportunities deemed critical to rising through the ranks in public and private practice. Juan immediately bolstered programming aimed at providing executive-level mentorship to Latina members focused on networking, visibility and growing their books of business. In 2021, Juan was recognized by the Chicago Bar Association as HLAI’s Vanguard Award recipient, a special award that honors individuals and institutions who have made the law and legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large.“We have an incredibly diverse population here in Chicago, but we don’t see a reflection of our city in leadership positions—whether it’s law firms, corporations or government itself,” explained Juan in a recent collaboration with Crain’s Content Studio. “It’s important to me, because of the inspiration I got as a law student, to advocate for more representation at every level. I bring that to my work here at Benesch; I want to see our firm be a leader in DEI and set an example for other firms.
”Besides being a board member and past president of HLAI, Juan serves as a board member and Board VP for La Casa Norte, chair of the Latino Leadership Council, and he is active on the boards of Teatro Vista, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois and the We CAN Achieve Foundation.
According to Crain’s, “Notable Leaders in DEI are entrusted with making sure their organizations create and maintain a workforce, supplier chain and ecosystem that represents all people, regardless of such factors as skin tone, gender, age bracket or physical and neurological characteristics.”
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