Diversity & Inclusion 2025: Michael D. Cole

James Paul Ahearn is managing partner at Ahearn Kershman in Clayton and a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Wale Akinmoladun is a partner at Spencer Fane in Kansas City who has emerged as a leading advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion within Missouri’s legal community.

Mehwish Aslam is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell in St. Louis who serves as a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion within Missouri’s legal community.

Brittany Barrientos, partner at Stinson in Kansas City, has practiced environmental law for 15 years with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout her career.

Raina P. Brooks is an associate attorney at Sandberg Phoenix in St. Louis who serves as a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion within Missouri’s legal community.

Cyrus Dashtaki, founding attorney of Dashtaki Law Firm, is a Missouri trial lawyer who has dedicated his career to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through civil rights litigation.

Jittaun Dill is principal of the Law Office of Jittaun A. Dill in St. Louis and serves as president of the Mound City Bar Association for the 2025-2026 bar year.

Katerina Isabel Barquet Stege is managing partner at Barquet Stege Immigration Law, with offices in St. Louis, Miami, and New York, where she serves as a passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Diamond D. King is a paralegal at the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center in St. Louis, where she supports clients through criminal justice reform and civil rights litigation.

Patric S. Linden is president of Case Linden in Kansas City, which he joined in 2005.

Arsenio L. Mims is a partner at Dowd Bennett in St. Louis who has dedicated his career to advancing diversity and inclusion within the legal profession.

Jerina D. Phillips is a partner at Lewis Rice in St. Louis who serves as practice group leader for the labor and employment practice group and vice chair of the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

Maria Salcedo is a product liability litigator with expertise in legal writing and analysis.

Gregorio V. Silva is a member at Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice in Overland Park, Kansas, where he has litigated complex cases for more than ten years across nearly every legal area.