Chip Cannon Named to The National Law Journal’s Inaugural List of Equality Trailblazers

(Washington, D.C.) – The National Law Journal has named Akin Gump energy regulation, markets and enforcement practice head Chip Cannon to its inaugural list of Equality Trailblazers, a look at the lawyers whose efforts have positively impacted the equality of women, the LGBTQ community and others.

Recognized for his “pioneer spirit,” Mr. Cannon said he has tried to take a leadership role on LGBTQ issues. Among the trails he has blazed is focusing his pro bono efforts on LGBTQ asylum seekers. “I took my first asylum case about six years ago and was shocked by what people in other areas of the world were going through,” he said. “I went back to [Akin Gump’s] pro bono partner [Steve Schulman], and we agreed to represent as many LGBTQ asylum seekers as we could.”

Looking to the future, Mr. Cannon said he is concerned about complacency toward LGBTQ issues. Wishing he were more optimistic, he thinks, at some point, “we’ll live in a society where human rights are not apportioned based upon how you identify, but that’s the kind of society we are living in now. It’s important for me,” he said, “to do what I can to get to the other side of this.”

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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