The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey Congratulates Michael J. Plata, the first Hispanic attorney promoted to partner at the LeClairRyan law firm
For Immediate Release: January 5, 2010
The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ) congratulates our friend and fellow board member, Michael J. Plata, Esq., on his achievement as the first Hispanic lawyer elected to partner at the LeClairRyan law firm, effective January 1, 2010.
Mr. Plata works in the Firm’s Litigation Group and focuses his practice on environmental, hazardous waste, complex commercial and employment litigation.
Prior to joining LeClairRyan, Mr. Plata served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable John E. Wallace, Jr., Associate Justice, Supreme Court of New Jersey. He was also a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ariel A. Rodriguez, Judge, Appellate Division, Superior Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Plata obtained his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law in 2002 and his B.S. in Political Science, with honors, and Criminology, magna cum laude, from Florida State University in 1998.
Miguel Alexander Pozo, HBA-NJ President, applauded Michael’s achievement saying, “Michael is smart and a talented lawyer. We also consider him a valuable asset to the HBA-NJ team. He is thoughtful, engaged, and an outspoken leader. We and LeClairRyan are fortunate to have him.”
LeClairRyan, a firm founded in 1988, has 21 offices across the country and over 300 attorneys firmwide. It is an entrepreneurial law firm that provides business counsel and client representation in matters of corporate law and high-stakes litigation. Mr. Plata is based in LeClairRyan’s New Jersey office, which is located at One Riverfront Plaza, 1037 Raymond Boulevard, in Newark.
The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, founded in 1980, is a 501 (c)(6) statewide Association that represents attorneys, judges, law professors and law students who share a common interest in addressing the issues affecting Hispanics within the legal community. The purpose of the Association is to serve the public interest (i) by cultivating the art and science of jurisprudence, (ii) by advancing the standing of the legal profession, and (iii) by preserving high standards of integrity, honor, and professional courtesy among Hispanic lawyers. The Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey cooperates with other bar organizations, with other legal organizations and with other Hispanic community, business, civic, charitable and cultural organizations in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes.
For press inquiries, please contact Nuris E. Portuondo, Esq., HBA-NJ Press Secretary, at NPortuondo@ssecz.com or (973) 301-0001 ext. 207. For more information about the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey and/or upcoming events, please visit our website at www.njhba.org or contact Miguel Alexander Pozo, Esq., HBA-NJ President, at mpozo@lowenstein.com or (973) 597-6212.
