Littler has appointed new leadership for two of its affinity groups: Reunión and the Veterans Initiative. Shareholder Alexa Laborda Nelson (Philadelphia) joins Shareholder Daniel Gomez-Sanchez (Long Island) as co-chair of Reunión, while Shareholder Wendy Buckingham (Philadelphia) joins Shareholder Matthew Hank (Philadelphia) as co-chair of the Veterans Initiative. Buckingham succeeds Shareholder Emily Haigh (New York), who helped start the Veterans Initiative and will continue to focus on her active practice.
“On behalf of the firm, we congratulate Alexa and Wendy and look forward to their contributions to further the firm’s inclusion, equity and diversity efforts,” said Managing Director Erin Webber and Chief Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Officer Paul Bateman, in a joint statement. “We would also like to thank Emily for her role in starting the Veterans Initiative and appreciate all her time and dedication in leading the group alongside Shareholder Matt Hank.”
In her practice, Alexa Laborda Nelson handles employment litigation, with a focus on whistleblower retaliation claims, and advises clients on personnel decisions, accommodation requests, leaves of absence, harassment claims, and other legal compliance issues. She also conducts workplace investigations, as well as employee and supervisor training. Laborda Nelson devotes a substantial amount of time to the advancement of inclusion, equity and diversity both at the firm and across the legal industry, through her involvement with Reunión and as a member of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative Steering Committee. Laborda Nelson earned her J.D, cum laude, from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Dickinson College.
Wendy Buckingham dedicates her practice to employment litigation and counseling, with a focus on background checks and military leave. She represents employers in a wide range of matters, including
employment discrimination and retaliation claims and alleged violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, among others. She currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, is a Purple Heart recipient and was named in President Obama’s 2010 Independence Day Celebration Remarks at the White House. Buckingham earned her J.D., cum laude, from Notre Dame Law School, her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame and her M.M.A.S. from Air Command and Staff College.
Littler’s affinity groups provide an inclusive community of support for diverse attorneys through professional development and mentorship initiatives, as well as offering a forum for members to connect on a personal level. Reunión is open to attorneys of Hispanic and Latin American descent, while the Veterans Initiative includes firm employees who are former servicemembers, current reserve and National Guard servicemembers, military spouses and family members.
In addition to Reunión and the Veterans Initiative, Littler offers the following affinity groups: Bollo (Black/African American), Individuals with Disabilities, ‘Ohana (Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, North African and Pacific Islander) and Pride (LGBTQ+). The firm also has a Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) which provides growth and development opportunities for Littler attorneys who identify as female and/or nonbinary.
