Chair and Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
Jon Van Gorp has practiced at Mayer Brown for more than 20 years and has been consistently ranked as an outstanding lawyer by Chambers USA, Chambers Global, Legal 500, and IFLR1000 each year since becoming a partner. As an industry-recognized thought leader, Jon frequently provides insight and analysis in top-tier media, including The Associated Press, Bloomberg News, Dow Jones Newswires, Financial Times, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He is also the creator and co-host of Mayer Brown’s internal podcast Tools of the Trade, which uses “candor, humor, insights, and experiences” to discuss practice-development topics not taught in law school.
Jon is an active leader in the community. Among other organizations, he is a member of Bottom Line’s National Board of Directors, Chairman of its Chicago Regional Board, and the former Chair of its Fundraising and Visibility Committee. He is also a Carrington Charitable Foundation Advisory Board Member.
As part of LCLD's Leaders at the Front initiative, Jon created a Leader's Pledge detailing his personal and organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read Jon's pledge here.
Mayer Brown’s diversity efforts use a variety of methods to reach out to up-and-coming lawyers from high school to law school, including a diversity scholarship, LGBTQ+ initiatives, and programming specifically aimed at ensuring the success of female partners at national and local levels. In 2021, the firm hosted its Black in America Speaker Series and Virtual Pride Parade, and in 2020, earned its tenth consecutive perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
Mayer Brown was named an LCLD Top Performer in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.
Joined LCLD 2009
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Fellows nominated:
2023: Marjan Batchelor; 2022: Anthen Perry; 2021: Gretel Echarte; 2020: Oral Pottinger; 2019: Lei Shen; 2018: William Barrow; 2017: Melissa A. Anyetei; 2016: Erin Gladney; 2015: Charles E. Harris; 2014: Marcus A. Christian; 2012: Kaleb Sanchez
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders selected:
2023: Julyana Dawson, Frances Guerrero; 2022: Jengeih Tamba, Anjanique Watt; 2021: Marjan Batchelor, Anjali Garg; 2020: Amber Thomson, Joy Tsai; 2019: Tiffany Brown, Charity Fort; 2018: Anita Lam; 2016: Cody Gillians, Quinncy McNeal
1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted:
2021: Manuel Asprilla-Hassan; 2019: Amber Jones; 2018: Olivia Volpe; 2017: Halli Spraggins
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors provided: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2016, 2015, 2014)
Leadership Summit (2016)
Member: Jon Van Gorp, Jeremy Clay
Diversity Professional & Communications: Jeremiah A. DeBerry
