MCCA Announces JPMorgan Chase’s Jean Lee as New CEO

MCCA Announces JPMorgan Chase’s Jean Lee as New CEO
Lee, a trailblazer in the legal profession, becomes first Asian American to head the Minority Corporate Counsel Association

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Board of Directors of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) announced today the appointment of Jean Lee as the association’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Lee currently serves as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase & Co and brings more than a dozen years of relevant industry experience in the legal profession, including her work as a member of the Global Legal Diversity Committee at JPMorgan Chase. Ms. Lee will officially take office in mid-March, replacing Joseph West, who recently joined Duane Morris as Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Trial Partner.

“After conducting a nationwide search, we are very proud to have such a highly accomplished attorney with a history of delivering top and bottom line results lead us into the next great era for MCCA,” said Michelle Banks, Global General Counsel of GAP Inc. and Chair of MCCA’s Board of Directors. “Among her many assets, Jean brings to the role an extensive knowledge of MCCA having been an active board member as well as a demonstrated commitment to leadership in diversity within the profession. Her experience and relationships with corporations, law firms, and bar associations make her well equipped to continue the great work MCCA does, advocating for the expanded hiring, retention and promotion of diverse attorneys across the profession.”

Ms. Lee has demonstrated her leadership skills throughout her personal and professional life having been honored as a Trailblazer by the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York and a Catalyst Agent by the Council of Urban Professionals. As a member of the largest affinity bar in New York State since 2008, she served as the President of the Asian American Bar Association of New York in 2012 and continues serving on its Board of Directors to this day. Prior to her role at JP Morgan Chase, she was a Senior Litigation Associate and member of the firm-wide Diversity Committee at Milberg LLP and, earlier in her career, served as a law clerk to the Honorable John J. Hughes (retired), United States Magistrate Judge in the District of New Jersey. Ms. Lee also serves as a member of the New York City Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award Selection Committee.

“I am deeply honored by this opportunity to build on the legacy of MCCA as an organization that not only impacts the lives of diverse legal professionals, but also has a direct impact within the decision-making offices of corporate America,” said Jean Lee. “As an MCCA board member for several years, I have always admired the dedication of its staff in helping diverse attorneys at all stages of their careers to excel within our profession. As CEO, I look forward to building on our success and furthering our mission to inspire all people to achieve a diverse and inclusive legal community.”

“As a past Chair of MCCA, I am passionate about our mission and commitment to diversity within the profession,” said Don Liu, General Counsel of Xerox. “I believe that Jean shares in that passion and has the skills to further break the mold and stereotypes of who is considered a leader within the walls of corporate America. I am excited about the road ahead under her leadership and expect MCCA will continue to grow in its role as a leader in diversity and inclusion.”

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About Jean Lee
Jean Lee graduated from New York University with a B.A. degree in politics and psychology and a M.S.W. in social work. Ms. Lee received her J.D. degree from Rutgers School of Law. During law school, Ms. Lee was a Senior Editor of the Rutgers Law Record.

About MCCA
The Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) was founded in 1997 to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. MCCA furthers its mission through the collection and dissemination of information about diversity in the legal profession. MCCA takes an inclusive approach to the definition of “diversity.” Therefore, its research addresses issues of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and generational differences which impact the legal profession’s workforce.