Co-Managing Partner, Venable LLP
Lawrence Gesner is the former Chair of Venable’s Business Division and has been with the firm for 13 years. He was named Co-Managing Partner in 2016. Lawrence is frequently recognized as a top real estate lawyer and also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of an Anne Arundel County community organization.
Venable’s diversity initiatives include recruiting diverse lawyers through a variety of organizations, a Preceptor Program that provides mentoring to all first- and second-year attorneys, a women’s initiative, and pro bono activities for minority communities. The firm also sponsors many diversity events and has been named a top firm by MultiCultural Law magazine.
In 2022, Venable was named an LCLD Top Performer for the fifth consecutive year.
Joined LCLD 2011
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Hosted Leadership Lunch: 2019, 2018
Fellows nominated:
2023: Prajakta Sonalker; 2022: Christopher Kim; 2021: Witt Chang; 2020: Tamatane Aga; 2019: Calvin Nelson; 2018: Rishi Kapoor; 2017: Moxila Upadhyaya; 2016: Kishka Ford McClain
Pathfinder Program
Pathfinders selected:
2023: Waymon Peer, Becky Steephenson; 2022: Lauren Williams, D'Sean Williams-Brown; 2021: Dhananjay Adusumilli, Danielle Lawrence; 2020: Cindy Zuniga, Judith Kim; 2019: Mario Richards, Wenning Xu; 2018: Kerri Patterson, Ebony Thompson; 2017: JaMar Mancano, Jean Yin Crews; 2016: Gueter Aurelien, Witt Chang
1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted:
2022: Ashley Barnett, Julia Gan, Deana Gonzales, Annie Xu, Nicholas O'Connor, Bruce Dixon IV, Ashley Washaya, Candace Thomas; 2021: Jarius McDade, Bria Manlove, Javen Kostrzewa, Cara Ta, Daniel Schwartz, Virinchi Sindhwani; 2020: Jennifer Couch, Aneesa Mazumdar, Abigail Rose, Kristie Sham; 2018: Jayne Chung, Amanda Mitchell, Maria Nava Gutierrez, Sydney West; 2017: Karachi Achilihu, Makalia Griffith, Adam Kwon, Purti Pareek; 2016: Steven Morris, Ra'anaa Samad
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors provided: 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015)
Member: Lawrence Gesner, Daniel Moylan
Diversity Professionals: Jennifer Reddien, Noelle Kellogg, Stephanie DeLong, Victoria Sievers
Communications: Paul Bonner
