The Business Law Section Diversity Fellowship Program is designed to assist a diverse and inclusive group of lawyers in becoming better leaders within our profession and the Business Law Section, while enhancing their leadership skills, as an encouragement and commitment to attract young and diverse lawyers to join, participate and ultimately serve in leadership positions of the Business Law Section. The Business Law Section will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Fellowship Program with the incoming 2023 class. Applications are being accepted until April 1st. The Inclusion/Mentorship/Fellowship Committee will be sharing Fellow Spotlights to allow the Section to get to know our outstanding current fellows on a weekly basis leading up to the application deadline.
If you know a dynamic business law attorney, encourage them to apply here.
Zachary Needell is a Litigation Associate at Greenberg Traurig, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Zachary clerked for the Hon. Tom Barber in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (2019-2020), and the Hon. Peter Russin in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida (2020-2022). Zachary is a member of the 2022-2024 Florida Business Law Section Fellowship class.
Why did you apply to the Business Law Section’s Fellowship Program?
I heard about the Fellowship Program for the first time from Nicole McLemore, a 2021-2023 Fellow who also clerked in the Bankruptcy Court. She encouraged me and several other clerks to apply to the program. After doing some research, I applied hoping that the Fellowship Program would be a fun and successful way to advance my career; it has not disappointed!
What has been your best experience from your time as a Fellow?
I enjoy the work I do for the Business Law Section and am lucky to count myself among my co-Fellows, who are smart, driven, thoughtful, and fun people. Making friends within the BLS, and particularly amongst the Fellows, has absolutely been the best part of the Fellowship.
What kinds of cases/matters excite you most to work on?
Coming out of a clerkship, I am largely a blank slate that is more excited by the litigation process. What stimulates me the most is getting to dig deep into the facts or law and develop a complex argument, regardless of the practice area or subject matter.