Chair of the Firm, Ballard Spahr LLP
Mark Stewart became Chair of Ballard Spahr in 2011, and was previously Strategic Planning Partner; he has led the expansion of the firm in both roles. Mark also spent 18 years as director of the Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, a world-class half-marathon that is run each September in Philadelphia, and is Chairman of the Board of Students Run Philly Style.
A leader in diversity, Mark is a member of Ballard Spahr’s Diversity and Inclusion Council and former Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee. In 2016, he received the Albert S. Dandridge III Business Law Section Diversity Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association for promoting inclusion in the legal profession. His efforts include appointing diverse lawyers to firm leadership positions, ensuring diverse client teams, and regularly speaking to high school students to develop a pipeline of diverse students interested in legal careers. Mark’s leadership has contributed to Ballard Spahr being ranked one of the top 5 law firms in the country for percentage of women lawyers and one of the top 10 law firms for minority lawyers compared to similarly sized firms.
Joined LCLD 2019
Highlights of LCLD Participation
Fellows Program
Fellows Nominated:
2023: Kahlil Williams, Emilia McKee Vassallo; 2021: Maria Gall; 2020: Judy Mok; 2019: Damon Rivers
Pathfinders Program
Pathfinders nominated:
2023: Chittam Thakore; 2021: Chittam Thakore; 2020: Kahlil Williams
1L LCLD Scholars Program
Scholars hosted:
2022: Kevin Sun, Melissa Rezzag, Yanan Wang, Habiba Cheema, Uzorma Owete, Pooja Patel, Cassandra Lewis, Alixa Brobbey, Patrick George; 2021: Samay Kindra Feroz Khalidi Samia Osman, Mustafa Hameed, Sukhandeep Kaur, Emma Shi, Miles Jasper, Claire Stanley; 2020: Trezell Ragas, Suhayla Ahmed, Jose Garcia-Madrid, Ricardo Johnson, Azeezat Adeleke, Shae Randolph, Ignacio Martinez Castellanos, James Collins; 2019: Naphtalie Librun-Ukiri, Andrew Hahm, Eunice Ahaghotu, Anjie Zhi, Charlene Minatee
Success in Law School Mentoring Program
Mentors Provided: 2021, 2020, 2019
Attendance
Annual Meeting (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018)
Leadership Summit (2022, 2021, 2019)
Member: Mark Stewart
Diversity Professional: Virginia Essandoh
Communications: Robin Ireland
