Chicago partner and active nonprofit volunteer Avanti Bakane delivered a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of a nonprofit board to the West Humboldt Park Development Council (WHPDC) on September 23, 2019. Sufyan Sohel, Deputy Director and Counsel of CAIR-Chicago, joined Bakane in discussing the board's fiduciary duties to the WHPD Council, the interplay between staff and its directors, and ensuring a strong and current strategic vision to guide the organization. Bakane stressed the importance of each board member's commitment and dedication to the organization as well as ways to promote and ensure growth of the board to better serve the community while fostering diversity of board make-up and thought.
The WHPDC's purpose is to create and serve a stronger and more vibrant community through working with stakeholders to improve quality of life in West Humboldt Park. For more information on the West Humboldt Park Development Council, please click here.
Bakane has global perspective that allows for understanding of diverse viewpoints. She serves as co-chair of the firm’s South Asian Affinity Group and member of its Diversity Committee, Avanti also dedicates her time outside of the office to the community. She serves as VP of Communications for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and a member of Leading India's Future Today's (LIFT) Board of Governors. Bakane is a past President of the South Asian Bar Association of Chicago, past Honorary Board Member for the Asian American Bar Association of Chicago (AABA), and volunteers with several non-profit organizations to provide opportunities for underprivileged youth, end gender violence, and find homes for rescue dogs.
In her legal practice, Bakane provides legal counsel to publicly traded and smaller companies in areas such as complex class action, antitrust, breach of contract, and general commercial litigation with a focus upon consumer class action defense. Her practice also includes representing businesses and creative professionals in software and e-commerce development, data privacy, data loss, licensing, and copyright infringement disputes. With experience in federal and state courts across the country, Bakane is a key asset in pre-suit negotiations, litigation, and compliance. She understands the importance of responsiveness, efficiency, and effective results to her clients.